The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-06-18
SIGNAL HONOR FOR
The WRIGHT 8R0THERS
President Taft Presents the Aero
Club Medals.


In The Presence OF A Brilliant Gath
ering The President Accor1s Ma
tional Recognition OF Their
Achievements "A Witty Speech,
In Which He Tells What ROose-
welt Would Have Done And Re-
fers To Own Limitations Plans
For Fort Myer Flight.
Washington. D. c. tSpeciai).--
To Orville Wright and his brother,
Wilbur Wright, the men who. as
President Taft. told them had 'scon-
quered the winds Of the air." were
presented at the hands of the Presi-
dent the gold medals prepared for
them by the Aero Club of America
in recognition of their scientific and
practical work in the perfection Of
mechanical fight. Only few years
ago this government dismissed as
cranks these same men when they
made application for an official in
spection of what they had accom-
plished. 1t was necessary that they
go abroad and receive the approval
OF foreign governments before they
were honored in their own home.
In the great East Room of the White
House, in the presence of a thrOng
of men distinguished in science, in
literature, in diplomacy, in affairs of
the world, President Taft presented
them with their gold medals and adj
dressed to them such words of APP
probation of their work and of con-
| UrqfnIafinn On fhni- q
have been rich recompense for all
the neglect they have suffered here
tofore at the hands of their own
country.
1t was nearly o'clock when Pres
ident Taft entered the East Room.
The two Wrights had entered the
room few minutes before and had
held levee of friends and admir-
erS.
Orville Wright was familiar fig-
ure here, and he was able, because
of his wide acquaintance, to present
to his long, thin, bald brother scores
of old friends. Orville made series
of experiments at Fort Myer last fall
eliminating in the accident that cost
Lieutenant Selfridge his life. Near
them stood their sister, Miss Kath-
crime Wright, whose patient courage
and constant encouragement have
been not the least factor in the sue
cess of the two men.
A small, dark-haired woman, very
quietly dressed, she seemed content
to stand in the crowd that gathered
around her distinguished brothers
and to share in the honors that were
done them, until from time to time
one or the other of the two men
would insist that she, too, come for,
ward and meet some of the dis
tinguished men who pressed around
to tell their pleasure at meeting the
two great aviators.
In the immediate group around the
brothers was distinguished gather
ing of Army men, whose brilliant uni
forms lent color to the picture. Gen.
James Allen, the chief of the Signal
Corps; Major Geo. o. Squier, of the
Signal Corps; Lieut.. Frank Lahm and
Lieut.. Benjamin Foulois, all of them
enthusiastic aviators; Gen. Franklin
Bell, chief of staff; Major General Ell.
lott, commandant of the Marine
Corps. There were present, too. Hol-
land Forbes, the acting president OF
the Aero Club of America, who came
to Washington fresh from his victory
in the Indianapolis race; William A.
'DeCaindry, the vice president of the
Cosmos Club, and G. R. Putnam, the
secretary of that club, who were the
Wrights' hosts during their stay here.
When at last the big central doors
of the East Room swung open and
President Taft, accompanied by his
aide, Capt. Archibald Butt, entered
the room, Mr.. Herbert Parsons pre-
sented the brothers to the President.
He greeted them warmly and was
particularly cordial to Miss Wright,
whom he congratulated as ''the most
important member of the family
President Taft then stood aside
while Mr.. Parsons made the opening
address, in which he set forth the
purpose. of the gathering.
President Taft spoke briefly. He
was very happy in his remarks. In
deed, his little address was punctu-
ated almost equally with hearty
laughter at his humorous suggestions
and earnest applause at his graceful
appreciation of the work of the
Wrights. When he referred to the
fact that If the work of the Wrights
had been sufficiently completed his
immediate predecessor, who had gone
down to the sea, would also have
gone cup in the air. his audience
burst into such loud laughter and ap-
plause that it was sometime before
the President could regain control Of
the meeting. 1t Is seldom that the
President does not make. some hu-
morous allusion to his own size.