Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-06-11
AIR RCONQUERORS
RECEIVE MEDALS
FROM PRESIDENT
AERO CLUB HONoRS GIVEN TO
WRIGHT BROTHERS
REPRESENTATIVES OF FOREIGN
NATIONS ATTEND
Brilliant Reception at White House
Marks First Public Recogni-
ton of Achievements by
AVlators
tRx Associated Press.l

WASHINGTON, June 1O.-The ap-
w probation, good will and con-
" gratulations of the American
people were extended TODAY to Wilbur
and Orville Wright, the American avi-
ators, by the president of the United
States.
The occasion was the presentation at
the White House of the gold medals
awarded to the Wright brothers py the
Aero club of America to commemorate
the conquest of the air.
| In the presence of distinguished
statesmen, foreign diplomats, members
| of the cabinet, noted scientists and
prominent aeronauts and aviators, the
| two inventors of the first successful
flying machine "heavier than air re-
ceived the first public recognition OF
| their achievements from their relloW
countrymen.
Praise from President 4
| President Taft expressed keen ad-
miration for their work, and ventured
the belief that their machine would be
the basis for the future aerial craft,
| and prophesied that the dawn of the
age of flight is here
The Wrights were introduced to the
president by Representative Herbert
Parsons of New York, who paid glow
| ing tribute to their personal qualinca-
| tionS.
A. Holland Forbes, winner of the re-
cent national balloon race, and actlng
president of the Aero club of America,
| turned the medals over to the presi-
dent on behalf of the Aero club.
Miss Katherine Wright, sister OF the
aeroplanists, accompanied her brothers,
and was quite as much lionized. Presi-
dent Taft said to Miss Wright:
"And 1 want to congratulate the most
important member-of the family"
More AeropIane Trials
| The day was one of celebration in
honor of the Wrights from the time
they arrived until Z o'clock tonight,
when they left for Dayton The two
brothers consulted Gen. James Allen,
the chief signal officer, about the Of
| fetal trials of their aeroplane, which
are to be resumed by Orville Wright.
C. e. Taylor, the mechanic who ac-
| companied Orville to Fort Myer last
summer, will set up the aeropiane at
Fort Myer, and it Is expected the
| flights will be resumed June Il. The
tests were to have been concluded by
June 2S, but 1t is believed the time will
| be extended, If necessary.
Orville Wright said the machine
would be practically identical with that
used by him last year. 1t will be sent
to Washington early next week.
President Taft Speaks
In presenting the medals President
| Taft said:
"I esteem it a great honor and an
opportunity to present these medals to
| you as evidence of what you have done.
1t is especially gratifying thus to note
| a great step in human discovery by
paying honor to men who bear 1T so
modestly. You made this discovery by
a course that we of America like to
feel is distinctively American-by keep
| ing your nose right at the job until you
had accomplished what you had deter
mined to do.
'It has been said this is the first
presidential recognition of aeronauts
since President Washington. Well, all
[ have to say is that l had prede-
cessor who, If aeronautics had pro-
ceeded as far when he left office as
they have today, would not only gone
down under the water lin a submarine
boat, but would have gone up into the
air in flying machine.
"There may be some reason why
some presidents have not figured in
| aeronautics. / see that these gentle
men who have flown in the air are con-
structed more on the plan of the bird
than some of us.
Last Step Counts
| "Mr. Justice Brown in commenting
on the law of patents says in the pat
ent law it is the last step that counts
that is the difference between failure
and success, and that step you gentle
men have taken. 1 doubt not that
whatever improvements are hereafter
made in machines heavier than air the
principles that you have discovered and
applied and the method of their appli-
cation will be the basis of all success
full flights.
ST don't like to tl6pk and I decline
| to think that these fnstrumentalities
that you have invented for human use
are to be confined in their utility to
war. I presume they will have great
value in war, but I sincerely hope
these machines will be increased in
usefulness to such a point that even
those of us who now look at them as
not for us may count on their ability
to carry more than thin passengers in
| times of peace.
"You planned what you wished to
find and then you worked it out until
you found it.
II congratulate you on the result. I
congratulate you on the recognition you
have received from all the crowned
heads of Europe, and | congratulate
you that in receiving it you main
| tanned the modest and dignified de-
meanor worthy of American citizen
| chin