Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-18
WARNS AERO CLUB
AGAINST MEETING c
Committee of Five Declares Con-
vention Is for Purpose of
Boosting Aviation Trust

The investigation committee of five
members, appointed May 9 last, by the
Aero Club of America to obtain in
formation as to the real object ana
significance of the proposed aviation
convention, to be held in New York
city May 23, has sent copy or It's
report to the Aero Club of California,
received in Los Angeles yesterday. This
report is decidedly unfavorable to the
convention. The report says:
"The motives which prompted the
calling of the convention are based
upon the assumption that you are un-
familiar with the true state OF a1alrs
and upon your patriotic desire to en-
courage the sport and science of aero
nautics in this country. After con-
sidering this communication it will un-
doubtedly be obvious to you that the
officials of the Aero Club of America,
the Wright company and other aerial
show promoters have combined in an
effort to exploit your club and your
community mainly for the profit OF a
group of high financiers who are un-
pleasantly identified with the notorious
traction trust in New York. In order
that this object may be accomplished
at your own expense, your club as an
affiliated organization has been sum-
moned in the name of the Aero Club of
America to send delegates to this con-
OotCAA0ACAO
enabling the various clubs to arrange
a series of aviation meets in their re-
spective communities.
CONFERENCE UNNECESSARY
''You know that such conference is
absolutely unnecessary. You know
that Mr.. Bishop last February at the
St Louis difference appointed a com
petent committee empowered to do ex-
actlV what this convention is called to
70 lnnW that the
torious contract between the Wright
company and the Aero Club of Amer
lea. as well as the eXorbitant demands
of the Wright Exhibition company,
have created such a prejudice against
this combination of institutions that
scarcely any community In the country
has consented to hold meet sane
toned by the Aero Club of America or
has agreed to employ the Wright ma
chimes or buy the Wright license. 1t
must be apparent to you that this at
tempt to utilize your patriotism and
and any confidence you may still pos
sess in the Aero Club of America is
subterfuge of the allied interests to in
duce you to acquiesce in the various
demands of the Wright company and
the foreign aViators.
I'm other words, your club, organized
to foster the high ideals of clean
American craftsmanship, is summoned
to send delegate to this city in order
to facilitate the booking arrangements
of the Wright Exhibition company, and
it will be asked that very large por-
lion of the money intrusted to you by
the citizens of your community for the
patriotic purpose of encouraging the
science and sport of aeronautics be dl-
verted to enrih the treasury OF an
aeronautic trust which practically is
controlled by the same persons VINO
constituted New York's notorious trac-
ton combine. You are asked to do this
in the name of the Aero Club of Amer
lea because the club through its com
mittees is efficiently dominated by the
same grasping manipulators who con-
troll the Wright company To realize
the truth of this statement study the
contract referred to and consider that
a gentleman closely allied with the
traction interests is now being care
fully groomed to take the presidency
of the Aero Club of America.
FOREIGNERS EXPLOITED
"You will be asked to raise a large
fund in your community to pay tribute
to the Wright company on the plea
that it is the only method which will
insure participation by foreign aViators
in the international aviation races
1t will be pointed out to you, corrob-
GRATED by direct communications, that
the foreigners will not come to America
unless they are assured at least two
months remuneratiVe engagements
Your club and other clubs Will be
asked to pledge yourselves to hire the
foreigners at exorbitant rates, but you
will not b& informed that in thus pro-
viding the guarantee for the foreigners
you are also providing a surety to an
associated group of promoters who ex
pect to exploit the foreigners for their
common profit.
"You know that If the International
aviation meet is held in this country
it will take place at Belmont race
track on Long island, New York.
This has been asserted publicly and
repeatedly by officials in charge of
the arrangements. You will recall
that this has practically been decided
in spite of the fact that nearly every
other community in America offers
better advantages than this site. Dur
ing the period when the meet is to be
held Long island, according to Official
weather bureau tables, is the most i'm
possible flying place in America from
an atmospheric standpoint; and ac-
cording to the public statement of
Wilbur Wright himself Belmont race
track is physically unsuitable for
aerial races. Yet in spite Of all of
these drawbacks it has been deter
mined that the great meet shall be
held there. You know, of course, that
this track is controlled by August Bel
mont. one of the so-called traction
crowd, and a member, stockholder
and director of the Wright company
There are other interested gentlemen
whose allied interests would profit ma
terially through the enormous sums of