The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-01
Rival Aero Dinners.

tonight The Aero Club gave one at the
Plaza Hotel to aviators of the meet.
which most of the fliers attended. J.
Armstrong Drexel one of the fiiers, gave
another at Shefry's. The dinner was
really a protest against not allowing
Grahame-White 10 fly again for the
Statue of Liberty prize
The dinner was Informal Among the
guests were the Count De Lesseps and
his brother, Grahame- White, Willard.
Clifford Harmon, Capt Baldwin, William
McArdle, and several nonaviating friends,
among them Lord Athlumney and Newell
Grimth
Did you know that the Aero Club was
giving a dinner tonight at the Plaza ?"
Mr. Drexel was asked when his guests
had assembled.
Il knew IL, he replied. because / and
most Of my guests We're invited 10 it.
This Informal dinner l am giving here
tonight Is given as a protest against the
international aviation committee for their
treatment OF the aviators during the meet
and especially in relation to their action
in ending the meet on Sunday night"
Mr.. Drexel issued "a statement, setting
forth his grounds for protest. and Incl
dentally announcing his intention OF re-
signing from the Aero Club
Statement Is Issued.
The statement in the form of a letter is
as follows:
Dear Sir:-I wish through your col
umns 10 protest against the action of the
Belmont Park aviation committee in re-
fusing TO allow Mr.. Grahame- White the
Eaglishman, to fly for a second time for
the Statue of Liberty Prize. Their doing
so is contrary 10 all the traditions of
sport and honor, and as an American
myself familiar with the conditions of
sport in Europe, I cannot allow an act Of
such startling unfairness 20 pass without
protest.
Furthermore, by their decision they
have barred such 1iers as Radley, the
Englishman, and Auburn, the French
man. from competing As general re-
suit, it will be freely said In Europe that
the Liberty prize was juggled into an
Americans hands This will only be the
plain truth according TO the conditions Of
the contest, as understood by the avia-
tors
81 was myself told by Chairman Nc
Coy. of the committee, i'm the presence
of a witness. that the Liberty prize CON
test would be open until the end of the
meeting. which, as he and every one else
knew definitely, was to include Monday
He also gave me TO understand that the
same men could make more than one
Hight, and that the best time would win
This. too. was the general understanding
OF the aviators. and no denial of II nv
the committee can explain or excuse
their subsequent action
Committee Is Accused.
The plain fact is that the committee
seeing chance of winning the prize for
an American, went back on their word
and by closing the contest and the Off
cial meeting. stopped two men, Messrs.
de Lesseps and Grahame- White. from
flying again, and the other fiier from
even competing
My disgust at this betrayal is more
almost than | can express. What the
feelings Of the Englshmen and the
Frenchmen are, could they be induced 10
speak their mind. I dare hardly to i'm
agine. Anyhow. ii Is my intention to
resign Immediately FROM the Aero Club
of America. and I hope all American
sportsmen understood that I wrote this