Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-29
MITCHELL CENTER
OF CIVILIAN AIR ROW
Warm Fight For and Against
His Plan to Head Aero
nautic Association.

AS the time for the selection of a
new president of the National Aero
nautic Association has narrowed
down to IL days, lines are being
drawn and sides are forming for Il
concerted battle surrounding the
candidacy Of William Mitchell. former
Army air colonel, for the head of the
organization whose slogan is Make
America First in the Air"
Efforts are being made to line up
the delegates who will assemble in
Philadelphia September 9, as repre-
sentatives of the $500 members of
the association scattered throughout
tho country. Interested persons in
Washington declare no indication Of
the success or failure of the drive to
make Mitchell the head Of the
organization can be CLEANED from
the membership at large until the
delegates assemble. The Mitchell
forces, however, declare at least rs
per cent of the representatives have
agreed to vote for the former Army
airn1an.
The air crusaders statement to
newspaper men following his address
before the Loyal Knights of the
Round Table Friday, that eff we can
rehabilitate the National Aeronautic
Association we will if not, we will
get another one" is interpreted here
as meaning if he is defeated for the
presidency, he will assume command
of the United States Air Force AS
ISOLATION, and battle for supremacy.
This latter organization is declared
to possess a membership of 1000, al
though no dues are required. and each
member has agreed to support
Mitchell's plan for department OF
national defense and a unified air
force.
Mitchell Explains Aims.
Col. Mitchell's explanation of the
existence of such an organization is
set forth in his public statement
which announced unequivocally his
candidacy for Office
american aeronautical thought
leads the world, but it is unorganized
and without expression. A definite
society is necessary around which
this thought may rally and find eX-
preston. There must be an organ
lied campaign of education through
out our great country to teach the
people the tremendous advantages
that we may derive from aeronautics.
This society must have a board of
the country at large that their public
statements will carry weight and in
which the people ands Congress Will
have confidence.
II have been pushing the campaign
for aeronautics in the past largely on
my own responsibility and with the
assistance, devoted in the extreme, of
those, actuaSed by patriotic motives
alone, who voluntarily came forward
to aid.
Foresees Big Expansion.
Now in order to further develop
this tremendous force of the future
we need the support of all the think
ing people of the country.
There is no reason why paSsen-
gers should not be carried from one
of our coasts to the other within the
span of a single day, to Europe in
the same time and to the centers of
populations OF Asia in a little more.
To do these things the people must
be directly interested and assist.
Richard Byrd enlisted the aid of
Mr.. Rockefeller, Mr.. Ford, Mr.. Hoyt
and several others and then accom-
plished the conquest of the North
Pole by air. When he returned and
the expedition had incurred debts be-
yond it's resources Rodman Wanna
maker came forward and settled
them. 1t was not our governmental
agencies that did this but the enter
prise of our far-seeing citizens"
| First concrete opposition to Col.
Mitchells aspirations to the National
Aeronautic Association presidency
| was expressed Thursday night by
Charles l.. Lawrence, retiring presi-
dent .of the Aeronautical Chamber of
Commerce. who declared:
Opposed to Army Man.
II understand a former general in
the Army is seeking to become the
head of a civilian aeronautical or
| ganization. / want to say that the
Aeronautica1 Chamber of Commerce
and the aircraft industry opposes this
move and will fight it to the limit"
To this statement Col. Mitchell re-
piled: THAT doesn't bother me-"
No candidate to succeed Godfrey l..
Cabot, now completing his second
term, has been brought forward and
in the absence of all officials of the
association here, it is not known
whether Mr.. Cabot will again be a
candidate to succeed himself. The
name of Lieut.. Comdr. Richard E.
Byrd was advanced in some quarters
! was vacationing in Maine. According
to press reports reaching here, Byrd
was characterized by Mitchell as be-
| ing a representative of the Navy for
the position. When asked if he would
run for the office, Lieut.. Comdr Byrd
| declared he was not a candidate and
would not be as long as he is in the
| Navy.
| Two dark horses" of such extreme
| ly shady color that the subjects them
| selves do not know they are under
consideration, are being discussed
about Washington as opponents of
Mitchell. The only name thus far
advanced is Hollingshead Taylor of
Philadelphia, who, it is understood,
was under consideration for the posi-
ton of Assistant Secretary of Com
merce for Air at one time. Mr.. Tay-
lor has been identified with aeronau-
teal matters in Philadelphia for a
number of wears