The Washington herald., 1909-06-11

Wilbur and Orville Wright. the brother
aviators. received yesterday in the White
House their first Official recognition from
the American government OF their Prov
ess in mastering the air
President TAFT on behalf OF the Aero
Club OF America. presented them with
gold medals in The historic East Room.
which has been the scene OF many no
table gatherings. Cabinet officers. Sena-
atOrs, Representatives. diplomats, and
men high in ali walks OF life we're there.
The women. who made up a consider
able portion OF the audience. were much
interested in the modest little woman
who stood az The left Of the brothers
during the presentation she was Mss
Katherine Wright, whose face beamed
as the President OF the United States re-
ferred 70 the great aerial achievements
of her brothers Miss Wright, TOO. Is en-
titled 70 much credit. fo- she Is the first
woman IN the world 10 make an ascea-
sion IN a heavier-than-air machine
Several years ago the young invent
ors from Dayton. Ohio. came TO Wash
ingtou. TIE came with the story Of a
flying machine they had invented. and
wished 10 sell 70 the government OF the
United States
Generals wouId SOt Believe.
They saw generals OF the army. who
would not believe.
And 50 they went back 10 Dayton. and
afterEard % the sandy coast OF North
Carolina. 10 continue their experiments.
They came 10 Washington again last
( year. during the summer. this time
Z bringing with them a machine the a.
legged possibilities OF which sounded Ike
fairy tales
And stn the experts OF the army cid
not believe
When the experiments were begun and
I Oryille Wright made his wonderful craft
OF the air do his bidding high over the
( parade ground OF Fort Myer, there was
acknowledgment and applause. AT The
same time wIIbsr Wright was IN Eu-
rope with another machine. breaking the
records made by OrviEe al Fort 8dyer.
/ Wilbur received the plaudits OF kings
Z and nations. and OrviIle went across The
Z Atlantic 20 assist his brother. and 20 re-
cuperate from the accident which ended
4 the tests at Fort Myer. and stiu causes
him 20 limp. In Europe the brothers
( were hOnored as few Americans have
been
President Taft was n happy frame
OF mind when making his presentation
speech. and alluded jocularly TO his own
{ immense girth as compared with the
"leanness" OF the Wrights- He said he
IS satisfied the day viii come when the
aeroplane viii be looked upon as an arti-
Gle OF universal use rather than as a
mere instrument OF war.
Referring 10 the impossibility OF him
self making an ascension on account OF
his avoirduDois. the President alluded 10
( the strenuous life Of his predecessor. A--
/ Roosevelt. and said Il he were here now
( he would improve on his performance in
I going down 70 the bottom OF the ocean
I by taking trip into the air
AT 2,40 o'clock the folding doors leading
! into the East Room were thrown open
and the Wrights were ushered in Wilbur
was accompanied BIZ A. Holland Forbes,
/ president OF the Aero Club % America
and his brother by Representative Her
bert Parsons. OF Eew York. Mss Kath-
erine Wright. who followed. took up q
/ position on the left OF her brothers.
Chee-ed on Entering.
When the party entered the crowd
ebeered for some seconds. President
Taft. with his smile thar won't come
( of. accompanied by his military and
naval aids. was applau5ed as he entered.
lie took up a position facing the avtators-
Representative Herbert Parsons made a
short address Of introductcin. he said
/ that derisiOn has been the only thing
with which ali great inventors have met
untT they have proved the value OF ths
/ children Of their micds- Despite this fact.
the Aero Club Of America was satisfied
IN 1865 that the Wright brothers had
proved the possibility Of hyiug in heavier
Ihan-air machines. Now. he said. tbs
whole world recognizes the good work
they have done and Is ready 70 give them
tardy honors. President Taft IS the first
President. Mr.. Parsons asserted. who has
taken any interest IN aeronautics since
President Washington witnessed a bal
loon ascension in 1876
An American victory.
The discovery OF the Wrights IS an
American victory IN an unknown field.
he continued There were hard strug-
giles for the young men al the beginning
There was hard work. hard study. testing
/ this theory and that theory-the only
forces driving the young men on being
their owa grit and the certainty OF ulti-
mate success. backed by the encourage
uient OF good parents and sister who
( believed In them
mo hardy frontiersnlen ever lived moro
daring lives than did these young men
during the period Of their experiments.
( Danger was elways facing them. but with
+ true American set they have succeeded -
The Aero Club medals. which cost more
! than s. 600 each. were handed % President