Evening star., 1928-12-12
President Recounts Progress
Made in Aviation in Address
Opening Conference.
0RVILLE WRIGHT MADE
GUEST OF GATHERING
Ovation Is Given Dayton Man,
Who, With Brother, Was Aero
nautics Pioneer.

Pioneers of the air lanes, men and
women who have stirred the imagi-
nation OF the universe with soaring
flights over the wastes of the world.
gathered at the home of the Chamber
OF Commerce of the United States this
| morning with aviation leaders from 40
nations to hear President Coolidge re-
count the progress of mans efforts to
conquer the air and to begin a series
of meetings designed to further the cause
OF civil aviation throughout the world.
Gathered in the flag -draped con-
ference room of the chamber also were
men whose inventions have thrown light
on the path that leads to air mastery,
men whose money made research pos
slble, aircraft manufacturers, two men
who blaZed the uncharted path across
the Atlantic-in all, representatives of
the aircraft industry Of the world.
They heard the President draw pic
ture of the amazing development of the
airplane, from the day on December
II, 1908, when the Wright brothers rose
from the wind-swept sand dunes of
North Carolina, in the first flight of a
man-carrying, power driven, heavier
than-air machine down to the latest
achievements of Lindbergh, Chamber
lin, Maitland and others.
They heard Secretary of Commerce
William F. Whiting refer to the air
achievements of CoStes and Lebrix of
France, of De Pinedo of Italy, of the
men who blaZed the air trail around
the world in the name of the United
States. and of the men and women who
have given their lives to further the
cause OF human flight.
will Promote World Amity.
"All nations" President Coolidge
said, 'are looking forward to the day
OF extensive. regular and reasonably
safe intercontinental and interoceanic
transportation by airplane and airship
What the future holds out even the
imagination may be inadequate to
grasp.
I'VE may be sure, however, that the
perfection and extension of air trans
port throughout the world will be of
the utmost significance to civilization.
While the primary aim of this industry
is and will be commercial and economic
and the prosperity of the world will be
ilnmeasurably advanced by it, indirect
.ly, but no less surely, will the nations
be drawn more closely together III
bonds of anity and Understanding
Much of the Presidents address was
devoted to review of the history of
aeronautics, in which he praised the
achievement of the Wright brothers.
Others, whose names will long be re-
menlbered, had done much to solve the
problem" he said but it remained
for the able, persistent and modest
brothers from Dayton to demonstrate
completely the possibility of machine
raising itself by its own power and car
rying a man in sustained flight"
Turning to the widespread use of the
airplane today and its rapid develop
ment in recent years, Mr.. Coolidge said
that the wonderful and spectacular
flight to Paris" of Col. Charles A. Lind
bergh and his subsequent countrywide
tour had done much to make America
air-minded."
"Air transport means much to the
United States" he said, divided as it
is in the West by lofty mountain ranges
and deserts. In the early days it took
six months to go from Missouri to
the Pacific Coast. An airplane has
travelled across our continent in less
than "a hours. We are stretching out
our arms through the air to Canada
and to our friends and neighbors on
the South
After President Coolidge left the hall,
Secretary of Commerce Whiting was
named president of the session. He
delegated his post to Assistant Secre-
tary of Commerce William P. Mac
Cracken, as president pro tenn.
The conference burst into slight
ripple of applause when Secretary Whit
ing said Orville Wright has been desig-
mated by the executive committee as the
official guest of the meeting. Several
vice presidents from the United States,
including all the official American dele
cation and number of foreign dele
gates, were then named honorary vice
presidents, and after the secretary had
read the printed rules and the meeting
had indorsed the program, the confer
ence settled back to listen to addresses
on aviation by distinguished foreign
delegates.
Wright Is Given Ovation.
The first address. that of Gen. Italo
Balbo, underseretary of state for
aviation of Italy, was read for him by
Comdr. Silvia Scaroni air attache of
the Italian embassy Secretary Whit
ing explained that Gen. Balboa Is suffer-
ing from a severe cold and remained In
Dayton, where many of the delegates
spent Monday on tour of inspection
of the laboratories at Wright Field and
other air facilities at the cradle of
aviation"
Mr.. Wright, who left Dayton late last
night, appeared in the conference hall
toward the end of the opening plenary
session. He was given an extended
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