Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-09
MITCHELL LOSES
TO DARK HORSE"
Porter Adams Wins Nominal
ton to Head Aeronautic
! Association.
FREDERICK II. NELLY,
staff Correspondent OF The Star.

PHILADELPHIA, September g.
The first concrete defeat of the friends
of Col. William Mitchell to make him
the head of the National Aeronautic
Association occurred late last night,
when the nominating committee, after
stormy three-hour session, decided
on the choice Of Porter Adams Of Mas
SachuSettS to succeed Godfrey l..
Cabot, the incumbent.
The selection of Mr.. Adams by the
committee is a guarantee Of his cleo
ton, in the opinion of large ma jority
of the delegates to the convention. 1t
also is held in the Mitchell quarters
that the name Of the air crusader will
not be hrught up on the floor of the
convention sitting in annual meeting
and election tonight. Mr.. Adams. who
is only "a years old, has been identified
with aviation for a number of years,
the last two and a half Of which he
has served as governor -at-large Of the
association from Massachusetts, and
assistant to Mr.. Cabot without COM
pensatiOn. He is responsible, to
great degree, for the development of
aeronautic thought in New England
and is looked upon as an able man for
the post.
b'NSdtVS OtStTI hutIIcu.
Mr.. Adams truly is dark horse"
brought 10 the fore at the last min
ute. Before the delegates assembled
for the annual gathering no one had
a general idea as to who would be
advanced to oppose Mitchell. Then a
few friends of Mr.. Adams took 1t
upon themselves to promote his candi
dacy and the delegates who had been
claimed by the Mitchell forces swung
over to his side.
Although the report OF the nominal
ing committee will not be presented
TO the convention until tonight, 1t was
learned from "A reliable source that
Frank 4. Tichenor of New York.
president of the National Aeronautfc
Chapter of that State and publisher
of an aeronautical monthly. did not adj
vance the name of his candidate
who he has been pushing with vigor
for the last few months. Mr.. Tichenor
also sought to give the impression
ground Philadelphia that Mitchell
never was a candidate for the office
and that rumors around convention
headquarters of his withdrawal,
therefore, We're untrue.
Before the committee met, Mr..
Tichenor let it be known II he saw
an opportunity to put over his choice.
the chance Of defeat He also is cred
tied with having said. after Mr.. Adams
was decided upon. that the 10 dele
gates from New York would not at
Tend the election tonight and that
they would withdraw from the aSso-
citation.
Carrying out the promise made by
Mitchell in Washington, that IF we
can rehabilitate the National Aero
nautic Association we will: If not we
will get another one" plans We're an
nounced by Mr.. Tichenor last night
for creating a new aeronautic associa-
ton In this country to keep the pub
lie Informed on the condition of air
defense 1t Is understood the nu-
cleus for this organization will be the
United States Air Force Association,
with a membership of $500 at present,
although no dues are required. Pre-
diction was made by Tichenor that by
the first Of the year this new organl-
cation would have membership of
sc, 900.
Taylor Gets Two Votes.
Mr. Adams opponents in the nomi-
mating committee meeting last night
were TichenOr and Carl Il. Fritchie OF
the Air Craft Development Corpora
ton in Detroit, which recently was
granted a contract by the Navy to
construct a metal dirigible. MIR.
Fritchie held that Adams was too
young for the post and spoke in favor
of Hollingshead Taylor of this city,
prominent IN aeronautics here for
number Of years. Taylor received the
votes of Fritchie and Tichenor.
BY a previously arranged plan, the
committee brought out only the name
Of Mr. Adams, although the custom
is to present two for each office. AL
though a half promise has been given
by the Mitchell supporters. as mar
rowed down TO the New York delega-
ton. not to attend the election to-
night following the annual dinner,
there were indications that the name
of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker. premier
American ace. would be advanced as
II compromise candidate" by those
who desired Mitchell. Capt Ricken-
hacker said last night that he would
not hold the office unless he had the