Evening star., 1909-05-13
AERO CLUB WR|eHTS' HOST
WILBUR SAYS GOVERNMENT
HAS BEEN GOOD TO HIM.
Bears No Grudge-0rville Says
Brother Left Nothing for Him
to Talk About.

NEW YORK, May 13.-Wilbur and Or
Vile Wright were the guests of the Aero
Club of America yesterday afternoon at
q luncheon given at ! o'clock in the
Lawyers Club. There were seventy-fve
diners.
A. Holland Forbes was the POSTMASTER.
When he introduced the famous aviators
they were received with loud and per-
sistent applause. Both spoke.
When Wilbur Wright arose to speak
and the applause and the cheering would
not cease. his eyes travelled around the
room. and his mouth twitched as IL his
feelings were getting the better of him.
When he was permitted to talk he be-
gan In husky voice, pitched so low that
1t hardly reached the ears of those ten
feet from him.
No Grudge Against America.
This reception reminds me of my voy-
age" he began. 1T makes me dizzy.
Ever since have set my feet upon the
shore things have been swaying before
me, and at this moment they seem to
sway more than ever.
But I want to say that we are CRATE
full for this reception We are not given
to talking much. There are many people
who seem to be able to read our minds
better than we read them. Yet there
is one thing they have not read Alright.
1T has been said that we have
grudge against America and the Ameri-
can government. I want to deny that
statement. We have no grudge against
anything American. Indeed, it was the
Aero Club of America that gave us our
the Aero Club of America which was
the first to youch for us with the world.
I'VE have no grudge against America
We have returned to America to carry
TynyH>
government. which was the first govern
ment in the world to give us an order for
our aeroplane.
Brother Left Nothing to Say.
Orville Wrights first remark caused
laughter.
My brother has talked so long," he
said, that he has left nothing for me
to say. But I wish to reiterate the
thanks which he has voiced. l am glad
we are here, and I thank you.''
Treasurer Charles Jerome Edwards of
the Aero Club said:
This occasion Is tinged with sadness
to most of us, as we realize that the
great contribution you have made to the
scientific and material wealth of the
world lay dormant it were, at the feet
of our nation, rejected by our govern
ment, while you were forced to seek
moral and financial support beyond the
seas.
1T is shame that cries aloud that
our nation should so force its sons to
demonstrate on foreign soil and seek sup
port from alien hands for the product
of their genius. This is exemplified anew
in the failure Of the recent Congress to
make appropriation of 100000 which had
been inserted in the appropriation bill.
However, June 10 as we all gather at
the White House we shall hear from the
mouth of the President himself some
reflection of the sentiment and apprecia-
tion which the American people feel
toward you, even If her lawmakers be
careless or thoughtless.''
Taft Sent Regrets.
Mr.. Edwards read letter from Secre-
tary Augustus Post. who is in st. Luke's
Hospital, a cablegram from Cortlandt
Field Bishop. and letters Of regret from
President Taft, Gen. Allen. Gov. Hughes.
Mayor Mcclellan. Representative Parsons
and the Secretary of War.
Colgate Hoyt welcomed the Wrights
on behalf Of the automobolists of Ohio
L. d. Dozier. president of the Aero Club
OF st. Louis, invited everybody present
to visit st. Louis at his expense in
who came in Unexpectedly, expressed
chagrin that the Wrights had to go
abroad to demonstrate their marvellous
invention.
After luncheon the wrights held a
short reception In the clubrooms and
then left to attend to some business.
Late in the afternoon the Wrights were
visited in the Park Avenue Hotel by
Laurence ]. Lesh, the seventeen-year-old
aeronaut, who was hurt trying a glider
praised him for what he had done and
told him he was regarded very highly
by every one who had an intelligent
knowledge of what he had accomplished.