The spectator., 1921-10-14

president of the congress He accepted the posi- ion, turned his business affairs 10 his partier and went to work. The first step was to get twenty-five Omaha business men 10 back the project for S1,o00 each. This easily done.
 II was also easS to get the inGorsement of all omaha business and social organizations. X speakers bureau was formed to eClUcate the cti- kens Arrangements to raise funds for financing the congress made. Attention then turned 10 the preparation ot program worthy of the occasion.
 Incidentally it became necessary to provide n landing field large enough to stage the program. \ little thing like this, however, did not deter inc air men. who located farm of l36 acres showing possibilities field although it was uneven and contained l50 large trees.
 field day" duly announced and the air and their friends rolled up their sleeves and with the assistance of two Holt caterpillar trac- donated for the occasion, pulled the trees and evecd the land.
 An open drainage ditch traversed the center of the field. which lies on tho edge of one of the residence districts only fifteen minutes ride from the heart of Omaha. The city council induced to vote unanimously to build covered sewer through the field at a cost of S2l,N0. So the problem of n flying field was satisfactorily solved
 In the meantime. an office force busy mall ing thousands of invitations and pamphlets to the air men and celebrities, such President Harding Marshal Foch. Oryille Wright Glenn CurtisS and Judge k. M. LandlS.
 The graduates of Fort Omaha balloon school the center of Amerlcs's wartime balooning, were invited for their first reunion. Squadrons and escadrilles of flyers asked to hold their first reunions in Omaha. The hfty-two American aces were invited as we'll as everyone else interested in aviation
 The aid of Kansas City was enlisted in sending the American Legion convention delegates on to Omaha. The Endorsements of natS,nal headQuar- nf Inc I opipn of Inc tnr nf America of the Worlds Board of Aeronautical Commissioners and of the Aircraft Manufacturers Association obtained. The cooperation of the Army and Navy air headquarters asked for and received
 The railroads helped out by offering fare and a half rate for tho round trip from all parts of the country to Omaha, Gutzon Borglum, world famed sculptor. offered commemorative medal design symbolical of the work of the American air man during the war. ns his bit" James Hanley song writer of New York wrote a special song praisins the work of the flyers to be sung for the first time nt the congress.
 In preparing its program, Omaha had piece of rare good luck right at the outset As every one knows the Pulitzer Trophy Race became the worlds most famous air event with its first run nlur in November of 1920 at Mitchell Field, New York under the auspices of the Aero Club or America There were twenty five Army eight Navy seven Marine Corps and one civilian en- trants Tn the contest. The winner was Lieut.. C. C. Mosely of the Army air service. who flew lS2 miles In a Verve-Packard machine at an average sneed of ITS miles an hour. The Army won seven If the first ten places in the contest and the Navy two Tlere were 3o,00o spectators, including celeb rites from all walks of life.
 Well the Pulitzer Trophy Race for 1921 had b.en scheduled for Detroit, but difficulties had arisen and the Aero Club of Amercu had can- cened the race for the year. Omaha stepped in and ofTe ed the necessary funds In consequence. tho first announcement tho "rogram Is this
 "'Ihe First International N''' Congress an nounces the second annual as contest for .he Pulitzer Trophy in connectina a.ih the first c"n.