Evening star., 1928-03-05
The Smithsonian's Proposal.


nent display and preservation in this
country the original Wright airplane,
the first which actually carried man,
Secretary Abbot OF the Smithsonian
Institution has in the name of the in
stitution made proposition to Orville
Wright which opens the way to So
luton of the difficulty arising out OF
the label affixed to the Langley machine,
now in the National Museum in this
city. DR.. Abbot says:
If Mr.. Wright will openly state in
q friendly way that he appreciates the
Smithsonian Institution honestly be-
lieveS that the Langley machine OF
1903 was capable of sustained free
flight under its own power. carrying
man, and that it now removes the
public statement not In confession OF
error. but in a gesture Of good will for
the honor of America, then I am will
ing to let Langley's fame stand on its
merits and to reduce the Langley label
to this simple statement: Langley
Aerodrome-the Original Langley Fly
ing Machine of 1908, Restored"
Mr.. Wright. in statement issued
at Dayton, contends that this PROPOSE
ton by the head of the Smithsonian
docs not aim to correct the serious
things" to which objections have been
raised. He says that it does not cor
rect the false propaganda" put forth
in an attempt 10 take the credit for
what the Wright brothers did and give
1t to Prof. Langley. He refers to mis-
statements" in publications of the in
stitution which he says are more seri-
GUS than the label on the machine. and
indicates that until those publications
are corrected he will not regard the
record as cleared to the point Of per-
mitting the deposit Of the plane in
Washington as its permanent resting
place.
After all. the important point in this
matter is the preservation In the coun-
try of its origin of the first plane that
accomplished human fight. Should
that plane be deposited here on the
terms of the present proposition by the
head of the Smithsonian Institution, it
will be viewed by millions In the years
to come who will have no knowledge
whatever of the controversy regarding
the question of priority. The records
Of the Smithsonian Institution will
themselves be amended by inclusion of
the present proposal and the accept
ance by Mr.. Wright of the terms Of
fered. 1t Is impossible to go back and
cancel what has been written and
printed on the subject. 1t could
hardly be expected that the present
administration of the Smithsonian will
repudiate the course OF the preceding
administration. Secretary Abbots offer
is made in good faith. with considera-
ton for the sensibilities of Mr.. Wright
as well as for those OF his associates,
living and dead, who have sincerely
held to the belief that the Langley
plane was as the present inscription
upon 1t reads. I'm the opinion OF many
competent 10 Judge, the first heavier
than-air craft In the history of the
world capable OF sustaining free fight
under its own power. carrying man"
The record today is perfectly well
known. The Langley plane, in It's orig
inal condition. did not fly. but failed
through a fault OF the launching de-
vice Whether IL could have flown with
passenger Is matter OF judgment.
That judgment has been expressed.
That the Wright plane few success
fully before the Langley plane was re-
conditioned and accomplished man.
carrying fight has been acknowledged
by the Smithsonian Institution in the
present label on the Langley aerodrome.
There Is no doubt as 70 where the
credit for the first successful man
carrying flight rests. II belongs TO the
Wrights and 10 their original plane
II Mr. Wright will now yield on the
technical question OF the past dispute
and the printed records Of the Smith
sonian, which few will ever read, and
Will accept the proposal Of the Smith
sonian In the spirit In which II Is
made, depos!ting hts plane in the Ma
tiofal Museum for posterity 10 view In
lis correct relation 10 the science OF
aviation, he will do honor 10 himself
and 10 his dead brother