The Wilmington morning star., 1944-01-22
AIR GROUP ON
EVE OF SUCCESS
Continued from Page One)

The association voted to invite
Brunswick, Jacksonville, Daytona
Beach, Palm Beach and Miami
into membership.
While reviewing the activity OF
the interested Congressman over
a period of several years IN at
tempts to obtain coastal cities air
service. Representative Harris de-
clared that within the past week,
we have learned from sources
VIII CHI we consider direct and thor
oughly reliable that this decision
is coming back to the White House
in the proper form within ten days
or two weeks"
He referred to a decision favor
ing Colonial Airlines, which left
the CAB last July enroute through
the State, War and Navy Depart
ments to the White House. The
decision was returned to the CAB
by the White House, from which
President Roosevelt directed that
the matter be delayed pending the
perfection of future pattern" OF
air services between North and
South America.
II believe we're on the eve OF
success" Harris declared.
In his review of the case, the
Virginia Congressman, former
managing editor of the Norfolk
Virginia Pilot, recalled that Presi-
dent Roosevelt, himself, early last
year, expressed to a delegation OF
members of Congress his approval
OF the proposal.
I'VE found the President active
ly interested in the proposal, " Har-
ris continued. He went so far as
to tell us the War Department had
large number of planes not now
considered US b le in combat,
which might be converted to COM
mercial service.
HE ultimately said he would
contact the CAB and did. He sug-
gested that we see Secretary (of
the Navy Knox and Secretary Of
War; Stimson. requesting Army
and Navy certificates designating
the line as essential to the national
emergency.
After long and satisfactory con-
ferences with Secretary Knox and
Undersecretary Patterson, tn e y
agreed to and did write letters OF
proper designation to the CAB,
pointing out the war necessity for
this proposed line.
The CAB finally sent the deci-
sion on it's way to the White House,
but it was said to have been in
such shape as to warrant its re-
turn to the board, from where it's
second release in proper form is
now expected.
If there should be any further
hold-up, We'll get in behind it and
endeavor to speed it up"
The decision favoring Colonial
was submitted to the White House
by the CAB after a three-year
litigation in which Colonial, East
ern, National, Pennsylvania-con-
trail and Seaboard Airlines COM
peted for proposed routes in the
Southeast and East.
The Coastal Cities Association
supported the application of Co.
lonial throughout the litigation be-
cause, as Lockwood expressed it,
Colonial was the only line to dem
onstrate interest in the proposal
when we organized in 1910 and
notified several lines of our plans
to seek a line between cities on
the Atlantic coast"
Dunning declared that the AS
sociation's support was given to
Colonial because we're more in.
terested in developing a local serv.
ice for our communities than in a
line which makes paramount the
hauling of playboys from the East
to Miami and back. We want al
outfit" he added, that will in.
terest themselves in our own com.
munity freight and passenger
problems.
Colonial is not seeking a mo-
ropoly. After we've obtained Co
1onials service, then Pm in favor
of getting other lines. I'd like tt
1see routes into our coastal area,
by United, American and othel
lines which Guild serve u.s.