Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-09

the Army, the Navy and the admins
tration.'
For the past three months forces
have been at work in behalf or MIL
chell, and although the former air
general did not take an active part
in the campaign until a rev Gays
ago. there never was any doubt in
the minds of those interested that he
was candidate. This Mr.. Tichenor
stoutly denied last night, explaining
that the statement made in Washing
ton about rehabilitating the assocla-
ton meant that the association re-
fused to be rehabiitated." SO there
was nothing left to do but form
another organization.
Many delegates censured Tichenor
severely last night for not carrying
out the plan for a showdown OH
Mitchell. They accused him or Tore
seeing defeat, and declared ne was
afraid to take 'black eye" How
ever although Mr.. Adams election
seems assured, there is a feeling about
convention headquarters that one final
move might be made on the floor to-
night to get at least a 'Mitchell-thlnk-
ing" man in the office. Objection to
the fighting airman seemed to pe
based on the fact that he was poor
executive, that he wouldn't cooperate
and that he is not in good favor with
the Army and Navy.
Mitchell Makes Appeal.
Col Mitchell and Capt. Ricken-
hacker were guests of the Pen and
Pencil Club, Philadelphia newspaper
social organization, last night. and
both appealed to the press to give
more thought to the development Of
an aerial defense for this country.
The political nature Of the situation
was not discussed formally or in
formally.
Tichenor last night charged that the
Navy and the Post Office Department
had written letters to the delegates
urging them mot" to vote for Mitchell.
He also declared he had proof in the
form of copies of the correspondence.
The nominating committee, he con
tended, was too well organized by
"the Navy to get across the name of
Mitchell, and he refused to take the
chance at that time. He also attacked
the appointment Of Jim F. Victory of
Washington, assistant director Of re-
search of the National Advisory Com
mittee for Aeronautics, to the position
of presiding officer Of the convention,
declaring he should have been elected.
Association officials in reply to this
charge, declared that with the excep-
ton of this year. William p. Mac
Cracker, jr, Assistant Secretary Of
Commerce for Air, always had pre-
sided over the convention by appoint
ment of the President. who had au-
thority to make such a designation.
Tichenor also declared that as the
result of the publication in The Star,
several weeks ago, Of plans for nam
ing Mitchell as head Of the organiza-
ton. many aircraft manufacturers re-
ceiving virtually all their contracts
from the Navy, had formed organiZa-
tons among their employees with the
view to stacking the convention
against Mitchell. Six such organiZa-
tons were formed in the vicinity of
New York to his knowledge, he de-
clared.
The association received the appli-
cation of Dol. Mitchell for member
ship August 10. a safeguard taken by
his friends to preclude any possibility
of his being ruled out as candidate
because he was not a member, it was
said. The application was sent in by
J. Edward Cassidy. director general
of the United States Air Force AS
ISOLATION, and the IS membership fee
was on the check of the association.