White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-05-11
"LINDY" MORE THAN
FLYING AMBASSADOR
Colonel Serves Many Gov
eminent Departments.

WashingtOn.-COl. Charles A. Lind
bergh has become one of the most i'm
portant and influential government
officials, in an unofficial way. He 10
serving half dozen government de-
partments directly and in advisory Gu
pacities, and has qualified as super
lobbyist and salesman for the idea of
commercial aviation, in addition to his
"fying ambassadorship."
The Departments of State, Com
merce, the Post Office, War and Navy
have employed his services in the last
few months. Dwight Morrow, United
States ambassador at Mexico City, Is
credited with responsibility for the in
vitation which resulted in Lindbergh's
nonstop fight to Mexico City, which
caused new expressions of good will
between the two American republics
and led to the flyers triumphal tour
Of South and Central American coun-
tries.
Government Aids Flyer.
Lindbergh has appeared before
three congressional committees here
advocating bills to provide more pay
for military flyers and to provide for
extending the congressional frank to
the airmail.
Practically all Of Lindbergh's activi-
ties since his arrival in Paris have
been under direct government sane
ton. 1t was at the governments re-
quest that he returned Immediately on
the cruiser Memphis, instead Of fol-
lowing his original idea of seeing the
world from an airplane. The flyer
himself disclosed this after his return.
The Guggenheim Foundation for
the Promotion Of Aeronautics has Off
cially sponsored his flights in the
United States, but the government has
been active through its many agencies
in promoting his ventures. The Com
merce department provided an escort
plane, mechanic, and secretaries for
his nationwide tour in the Esprit of
st. Louis in which he visited every
state to make speeches in promotion
of aviation.
Took Up 1000 in Week.
| Lindbergh's recent sightseeing tours
for members of congress and diplo-
mats in Washington, in which he set
a record by transporting more than
LOO persons in seven days, were ar
ranged for by the Commerce depart
ment, Assistant Secretary William p.
MacCracken, civil aviation chief, per-
sonally acting as dispatcher for the
| flights.
The army and the navy each fur.
nished huge transport plane for use
in this venture, and the army pro-
vided field facilities which virtually
stopped their regular military flying
for a week. Most of the Washington
notables who flew had never before
gone up, and the undertaking is re-
garded by friends of aviation as one
of the most effective bits of aviation
promotion ever done.
All of which goes to show that the
tall young man from Minnesota meant
what he said when he announced, after
his return to the United States, that
his life was dedicated to aviation. 1t
is certain that his realization of his
potentialities for the promotion of
aviation has turned his entire future
activities, for many years at least,
into this one channel He may not
make large sums of money, but his
friends believe he will accomplish
much toward attaining the end he has
set for his goal-the further develop
ment and increased public support Of
| aviatiOn