The Washington herald., 1909-05-14
AERO CLUB ELECTS
WALSH PRESIDENT
Millionaire to Take Place of
Truman H. NewbePry.
CLUB HOLDS FIRST MEETING
Plans Diseased for Entertainment
Of New York Delegation, Who
Medals TO WriEhfs-Indfan Head
as Place for Government Tests.

The first regular meeting OF the Aero
Club OF Washington vas held last night
al the residence Of Dr.. Alexander Graham
Bell, Robert Shaw oliver, Acting Secre-
tary Of War, presiding.
Mr. Oliver announced TO the members
that the resignation Of Truman H. New
berry. former Secretary Of the Navy, as
president OF the club was accepted with
regret by the board Of governors. and
that Thomas F. Walsh, OF this city and
Denver. had been unanimously elected TO
the chair AR. walsh has not been no.
tiled Of his selection for the post, but il
IS expected that he will accept
DR.. A. r Zahm, the secretary. told the
club Of the plans for the presentation OF
medals Of the Aero Club OF America TO
the Wright brothers, on June 10, by
President Taft. al the White House. and
plans were discussed for the entertain
ment Of the Aero Club delegation which
VIII attend from New York. Inasmuch
as their stay is 10 be for one day only
and because the Wrights are scheduled
to make a demonstration in the morning,
followed by the medal presentation in
the afternoon. il was decided there would
be no time for further entertainment Of
the visitors.
Gen. Allen Speaks.
Brig Gen Allen. chief signal officer Of
the army, told Of the recent explosion
OF the balloon near Omaha. in which
Capt. G. De F. Chandler and Lieut.. Ware
were slightly injured. and Of the strange
cause OF the Gre. from an electric charge
leaping from the balloon 20 the earth as
the airship swsyed downward at the end
Of its anchor rope
NO parable" said Ger. Allen. is
known 10 this accident. with the possible
exception Of that 10 the Zeppelin airshlp
last summer"
Gen Allen then Informed the club that
what was urgently needed not only by
the organization. but by the Signal Corps,
was a proper flying ground for aero
planes. that AZ Fort Myer being TOO
small
We may succeed in finding suitable
ground near Indian Head" he continued.
for the instruction OF the officers by the
Wrights"
DIT. Bel spoke OF the need for men
OF wealth IN the ranks OF the club. "Our
yearly dues are al once too small and too
large" he said. TOO small for the men
who can afford more. and wish 10 develop
the art OF flying too large for many
man Of modest means, wiso is vet an ex-
pert and able 10 contribute much 10 the
science Of ser0nauJics-for instance. ex-
perts in the Patent Office
Honorary Members Elected.
DR.. Zahu announced that the Wright
brothers. Octave Chanute. and Count
Zeppelin had been made honorary mem
bers OF the club Dr- Bell asked consid-
Grafton Of the formation Of an aerons uti-
cal society as distinct from the club. for
the special consideration Of the number
less inventors whose work was retarded
BY lack OF sympathy and funds. and sug-
gested that the development % some of
these latent ideas might be as profitable a
held for the activities Of the club as the
purchase and flying OF a free balloon.
or seToPlane. as suggested by
David Fsirchild.
Dr.. Bel served buffet supper 20 the
members and guests after the club ad-
journed- Among those present were Brig
Gen. James Allen. NJ. Oliver. Brig. Gen
GTeeiy. l. : A. retired. Dr. Bell MI
Grosvenor. NJ Fairchild. Prof Zahm.
O. H Tittman Dr. BOvee. c J. Bell. Nj
Porter Prof HUMPHREYS Willis y Moore.
8Ir. Totten. Mai. George Squiers, L. s A.
Lieut. Lahrn. L. s. A. Mr WaGsworth,
Mrs Fairchild. and Mrs Emmons