New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-18
WRIGHT TO FIGHT
FOR AIR RIGHTS
No Quarter Will Be Given
in War with CurtiSS
Over Patents.

Orville Wright is to fight Glenn H..
Curtiss to a finish in defence of his
aeropiane patents. Although the
United States Circuit Court of APP
peals gave the Wright company a final
decision over Glenn II. Curtiss and the
Herring Curtiss company, planes have
been turned out with no interruption
by the Curtiss Aeroplane Company.
The latter concern was organized
after action had been taken against
the old company and Curtiss person
ally. Now the Wright company has
brought a suit against the Curtiss
Aeroplane Company, which has been
directed TO show cause why an injunc-
tion should not be issued against it,
under the old decision. In the petition
filed by the Wright attorneys an addi-
tional claim is made. The new con-
tention is that the device for lateral
control, invented by Curtiss last sum-
mer and used on the America, is an in
fringement.
Curtiss takes a different view of the
matter and his attorneys will endeavor
to reopen the whole case on that
~
come before the United States District
Court, in Buffalo, Oh December %, but
w. Benton Crisp, Curtiss's attorney,
said yesterday that he had secured a
postponement until next month.
1t is believed that the determination
of Orville Wright to settle the matter
once and for all was inspired by the
belief that large orders for aircraft
will be placed by the United States
government IN the near future. All
aeronauticel experts agree that this
country cannot afford to ignore the
necessity for developing this branch of
the service, in view of what has been
shown in the war
The Wright Curtiss fight has pre-
vented manufacturers from extending
their business and retarded development
here. In order to throw open the field
in this country, Israel Ludlow and
Arthur w. Johns, both associated with
the Aero Club of America, have insti-
tuted a movement which has as its OBJ
ject the purchase of the Wright patent
by the United States.
Such an action is not without pre-
cedent. Four times in the past, the
government has taken similar step.
Mr.. Johns and Mr.. Ludlow conferred
with Orville Wright Wednesday. The
next step will be to take the matter
up with the committees on Naval and
Military Affairs in Washington. A bill
will be prepared and submitted TO
Congress with all possible haste.
Referring to the matter, Orville
Wright said last night at the Manhat-
tan Hotel: at was surprise to me
that any such action had been contem-
plated. l had nothing to do with it
and do not wish to be considered in
the position of shopping in the gov
eminent market.
"However, do not deny that such
an adjustment of the patent situation
would please me immensely. As q
matter of fact. would sell my patent
20 the United States on more favorable
terms than TO private concern, whose
object would be to profit by it,"
He does not sympathize with the
views expressed by Secretary Daniels
that foreign machines and motors must
be available before our air fleet can be
greatly increased. "There is no reason
why the United States should depend
on other nations for aeroplanes or
aeroplane accessories" he declared
1--WE can build anything needed right
here at home. The purchase of for
eign motors has held back domestic de-
velopment along that line, but we can
build them as good as the government
will pay for and as fast as they are
reeded. The Wright company is pre-
pared TO build any type of machine
required and 10 whatever specifications
are decided upon. This includes ar
mored aeroplanes on which guns can
/ be mounted. An order for five hundred
machines could be filled in a surpris-
/ ingly short time"