The Washington herald., 1909-06-11

this city from his recent balloon victory
Al 81 Louis IN time 70 take part n the
presentation. Mr. Forbes IS the acting
president Of the Aero Club.
The Presidents Speech.
President Taft's presentation speech was
warmly applauded. He said:
Mr.. Wilbur and afr. Orvile Wright.
esteem Il a great honor and an oppor-
tunity TO present these medals 70 YOU as
an evidence OF what you have done. I
am glad-perhaps at a delayed hour-to
snow that In America I: is not true thai
a prophet is not without honor save IN
his own country II Is especially eratifv-
ing thus to note a great step n human
discovery BY paying honor 10 men who
bear L 90 modestly. You made this dis
covery by course that we Of America
IKE TO feel is distinctfvsly Arnerican-bv
keeping your nose right at the fob until
you had accomplished what you had de-
termined TO do
Il has been said that this is the first
Presidential recognition OF seronautics
since President Washington. Wen. an
have to say IS that had a predecessor
VINO. II aeronautics had proceeded as far
when he left once as they have today
would not only have gone down under
The water In submarine boat, but would
nave gone I'D into the air IN flying ma
chine No one had a more earnest inter
est & more active interest and a greater
desire 70 see INTO the things that make
FOR progress than my predecessor.
There may be some reasons why some
Presidents have not figured in aeronau-
ties ! see that these gentlemen who have
flown in the aiz are constructed more OF
the plan Of the birds than some OF US
Mr.. Justice Brown. in commenting on
the law CT patents. which is supposed 70
follow the proper rule in awarding merit
10 discovery. says that IN the patent law
II IS the last step that counts-that Is
the difference between failure and suc-
cess. and that step you gentlemen have
taken I doubt not that whatever i'm
provements are hereafter made for sail
ing the air IA machines heavier than the
ar, the principles that you have discov-
cred and applied and the method OF IheiF
application viii be the basis OF al sue
cessfuI ones.
7 don't Ike 70 think. and I decline 10
think that these instrUmentaIIties that
ycu have invented for human use are 70
be confined IN their utility 20 war. I ure-
sumo that they viii have great value In
war, and I suppose that sll OF Us reDre-
sentatives OF the various governments
ought 70 look az this matter following
the rule Of governments to-day. from the
standpoint OF their utility in war: but I
sincerely hope that these machines win
De increased in usefulness 20 such a
point that even those OF Us who now look
az them as not for as may count on their
ability 70 carry more than thin PAS
sengers In times Of peace
Many great discoveries have come nv
accident Men working IN one direction
have happened on 2 truth that developed
itself into q great discovery but You
gentlemen have illustrated the other. and.
on the whole much more commendable
method You planned what you wished
20 md. and then you worked Il out until
you found II.
l congratulate you on the result. I
congratulate yOu on the recognition that
you have received from all the crowned
heads OF Europe. and I congratulate you
that IN receiving Il you maintained the
modest and dignihed demeanor worthy OF
American citizenship"
Presented the Medals.
When the President concluded his
speech he presented the medals On one
side Is a medallion OF The heads OF the
brother aviafors. The other side bears
the record Of their most remarkable
achievements IN the air. They are the
three fights OF Orville al Fort Bfyer.
September 8. 1906. and the two made By
Wilbur IN France. September p. 1905.
After the presentation Of the medals
the spectators cheered again. and con-
tinued II until the Wrights ard the Presi-
Dental party passed out OF the room
Accompanied By Mr.. Forbes. the avia-
tors and Miss Wright were driven to the
Willard Hotel. where they had engaged
rooms on their arrival in the city in the
morning. They refused themselves TO all
callers except g few friends whom Or
Vile and Miss Wright met during their
stay here last year.
At $50 O'Clock they were the guests Of
Gen. Clarence Edwards. OF the Washing
ton Aero Club. az dinner in the Willard.
They left this city for their homa In
Dayton, Ohio. on the west-bound train At
Z o'clock last evening.
When the Wright party arrived at the
Union Station at $40 O'Clock Yesterday
morning they were met by a large num-
Der OF automobiles. one Of them bearing
the crossed flags OF the Signal Service. I
on the platform awaiting the train were
Maj. George .. SQuier. William A. De
Csindry, G. R. Putnam. c. J. Bell. Dr.
Albert Zahm. G. Oakley Totten. ID ]
McComb. and Allen Eawley. The partv
was driven TO the Willard. and after a
short rest the brothers went TO the War
Department. where they had q confer
ence with Gen. Allen.
VIII Return June II.
As result OF this. II is understood thar
the wrights have tentatively agreed 70
return on June p and complete the gov
ernment tests with their aeroplane. II
is understood the reasons given by the
wrights for not making the tests sooner
is the reception which the citizens o.
Dayton have prepared TO give them on
June Il and IS
At noon the brothers ard Miss Wright /
we're the guests OF the Aero Club OF /
Washington az & buffet luncheon in the
Cosmos Club.
An informal reception followed in the
club rooms. and the visitors remained /
there until the time arrived FOR going 4
10 the White House.
Guests at white House.
Among the more than Loo guests who
attended the presentation at the White I
House were:
Vice President and Mrs sherman rs.mbers Of I
the Cabinet the Italian Ambassador ana Ba-ooess
des Planches. the Brazilian Ambassador and Mne
Nabuco. the French Ambassador and Nine Jusss-
rand. the charge dstsires Of the Austro Hungsri,u
legaton. the Russian Ambassador the Turkish An
nassador. the Mexican Anbasssdor Lieut. Gen
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