The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-06-11
WR|GHTS HONOREO
BY THE PRESIDENT
Famous American AyiatOrs Re-
ceiye Medals as Token of Ma
tons Appreciation.
MANY N0TABLES ATTEND
CEREMONY IN WASHINGTON
Taft Makes Speech. Praising in
Warm Terms Work of the
Noted Brothers.

MASIlJ NSiION, June lO.-Ihc 5p-
prec;atlon, good will and congratula
tions Of the American people were to-
day extended 10 Wilbur and Orvillc
Wright, the American ayiators, by the
President of The United States.
The occasion was the presentation Of
the gold medals awarded to the Wright
brothers by tho Aero Club of America
10 commemorate the conquest OF the air.
In the presence Of distinguished states.
men, foreign diplomats members of the
cabinet. noted scientists and prominent
aeronauts and aviators. the two in
ycntors of the first successful flying
machine heavier than air. received the
first public recognition of their achieve
ments from their fellow countrymen.
President Taft expressed keen admira
tion for their work and Ventured the
belief that their machine will he the
basis for the future aerial craft. and
prophesied that the dawn of the age Of
flight is here, The Wrights were in
troduccd to The president by Represent
ative Herbert Parsons of New York
who paid glowing tribute TO their
personal qualifications.
Presentation Of Medals
A. Holland Forbes. winner of the re.
cent national balloon race and acting
president of the Aero Club Of America
turned the medals over to the presi-
dent on behalf OF the Aero club
Miss Catherine Wright. sister Of the
aeroplanists, accompanied her brothers.
and was quite us much lionized, Prcsi.
dent Taft said 10 Miss Wright:
And | want TO congratulate the
most important member of the family
The day was one of celebration IN
honor of the Wrights from the time they
arrived until : O'Clock tonight, when
they left for Dayton. The TWO brothers
consulted General James Allen. the
chief signal officer, about The official
trials of their aeroplane. which are 10
be resumed hy Orville Wright.
G, f. Taylor, the mechanic who ac-
summer. Will set mp the aeroplanc at
Fort Myer, and il is expected the flights
will be resumed on Juno 21. The tests
must be concluded by June 2S. but ii is
believed the time will be extended if
necessary.
Orville Wright said the machine viii
be practically identical with that used
by him last year. 1t will be sent to
Washington early next week.
Address of President.
In presenting the medals, President
Taft said:
II esteem. it great honor and an
opportunity TO present these medals to
You as evidence Of what YOU have done
IT is especially gratifying thus to note
great step in human discovery by
paying honor to men who bear u so
modestly, You made this discovery by
n course that we Of America like 10 feel
is distinctivclv Americau---hv keeping
yonr nose right at the Job until YOU
had accomplished what YOU had deter
mined 80 do
at has been said that this is the
first presidential recognition Of aero.
rautics since President Washington
Well, all ! have 10 say is that ] had a
predecessor who. II seronaUtics had
proceeded AS far when he left office as
they have today, would not only have
gone down under the water in sub
marine boat, but would have gone up
into the air in n flying machine.
''There may be some reasons why
some presidents have not figured in
aeronautics, ! sec that these gentle
men who have flown IN the air are con
structcd more on the plan Of the bird
than some of MS,
&" Mr.. Justice Brown, in commenting
on the Law Of patents. says IN the pat
cnt law il IS the last step that counts,
that is The difference between failure
and success. and that step you gentle
men have taken, | doubt not that
whatever Improvements are norca lIPf
made in machines heavier than air. the
principles that YOU have discovered
and applied, aud thc method of their
application, win bc the basis Of all sue
ccssful flights.
81 don't like 10 think, and decline
20 think, that these instrumentalltics
that YOU have invented for human use
are 20 be confined IN their utility to
war. ! presume that they Will have
great value in war. but sincerely
hope that these machines will he IN
creased in usefulness 10 such point
that even those of us who now look
Mt them as not for rs, may count on
their ability 10 carry more than thin
passengers in times Of peace.
- You planned what YOU. wished TO
find and then YOU worked it ont until
YOU found II.
u congratulate you on the result. !
congratulate YOU on the recognition You
have received from all the crowned
heads of Europe, and ] congratulate You
that in receiving it you maintained the
modest aud dignified dcmeanor worthy
citlyonshlO -