Evening star., 1936-01-10
N.A.A. POLICY HELD
THREAT TO FLYING
Air Defense League Head
Sees Sinister Lobby in
Reorganization.
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.
Charging that the reorganization
Of the National Aeronautic Associa-
ton effected at its annual convention
in Washington this week is intended
ito form an all-inclusive air lobby"
Col. Samuel Price Wetherill. presi.
dent Of the Air Defense League. in
a statement made public here today,
said the new N. A. A. policy threatens
to poison the future relations between
ou- Government and the industry"
Col. Wetherill is member OF
Secretary Roper's Air Commerce
Planning Committee and the Presi-
dents Safety Committee He stands
high in the councils of the Govern
ment.
Col. Wetherill said he protested
vigorously, but vainly. to the National
Aeronautic Association against the
sinister probable consequences Of their
efforts TO form an all-inclusive air
lobby"
Pledges Vigorous Fight.
Failing to receive assurance that
the VICIOUS elements OF their plan
will be removed" he said. 1--WE will
not shirk our patriotic duty to fight
such procedure by every legitimate
means within our power. The Con-
gress, the Government departments
anG tn people generally are entitled
to know the weakness and dangers in
the organization they are to be asked
to support, and it is for us who see
these dangers and weaknesses so
clearly to call public attention to
them.
I'VE do not doubt that under the
N. A. A. clarion call for coordination
many unsuspicious persons, associs-
tions and officials will respond with
the highest of motives. However
we warn such that, as the National
Aeronautic Association is proposing to
operate, they are identifying them
selves with most dangerous form
of lobby-honeycombing the Industry
and the departments Of Government
which will purchase hundreds of mil
lions of dollars worth Of aviation
equipment"
Col. Wetherill charged that the
crux of the whole N. A. A. program
"is its need for money, the method
by which it Is to be obtained ana
the proposed DISCUSSES under which
self-interest could invoke patriotic
support"
The newly adopted N. A. A policy
program, 1t was pointed out, calls for
coordination of various commercial
and civic aviation programs with that
of the N. A. A. Commercial organi-
cations which receive benefit from the
N. A. A. program, Wetherill laid are
regarded by the association as sources
of revenues with which to balance its
budget.
Plan for Financing.
The policy of the N. A. A. as pro-
posed at the convention. calls for
cooperative activity between the as
sociation and aviation manufacturers,
suppliers, airlines, gas and oil COM
panies and other aviation enterprises,
it was pointed out. Financial support
from such firms is expected to take
the form of advertising in the N. A. A.
magazine, group membership for en-
ployes and sustaining membership.
Creation of a financial advisory
committee composed of members of
the industry, with the assistance of
the industrial associations, was pro-
posed to bring the industry into line
hohi,,N the nyooropn
Without assuming the slightest
evil intention on the part of Gov
ernment officials" Col. Wetherill said.
I'VE suggest their prompt withdrawal
from Identification with this, to our
minds, subversive scheme to influence
Government policy and purchases
not solely in the public interest, but
definitely so financed and organized
as to forfeit public confidence in the
whole disinterestedness of their rec
concentrations. ."
The N. A. A. policy program. calling
for active cooperation with the in
dustry, was vigorously fought on the
floor Of the convention Among those
opposing the program were former
Senator Hiram Bingham Of Connecti-
cut, past president of the association,
and John r. Victory, secretary of the
National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics, who retired as treasurer
Of the association after many years
of service.
Cabot Quit Race.
Bingham's candidate for the presi-
dency of the association, Henry L.
Cabot Of Massachusetts,, past president
of the N. A. A. and now vice president
Of the Federation Aeronautique In
ternationale, was withdrawn during
the course of balloting when it became
apparent that Charles F. Horner was
piling up majority.
Horner, the new president, has been
connected with the National Aero
natuic Association since last March as
executive assistant to the president,
Senator william G. McAdoo Of Cali
fornia. Horner's candidacy was ac-
lively supported by Col. ]. Carroll
Cone, assistant air commerce director.
Commerce Department, whose election
as governor at large Of the N. A. A.
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