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Show IHTS HONORED fil IHEJBESIDEST Famous American Aviators Receive Re-ceive Medals as Token of Nation's Na-tion's Appreciation. MANY NOTABLES ATTEND CEREMONY IN WASHINGTON j Taft Makes Speech. Praising in Warm Terms Work of the Noted Brothers. WASHJ SfJiTOIT, June JO. The appreciation, ap-preciation, good will and congratulations congratula-tions of the American people were to-day to-day extended to Wilbur and Orvillo Wright, the American .aviators, by the President of ihe United States. The occasion was the presentation of the gold medals awarded to the Wright brothers bv the Aero Club of America to commemorate the conquest of the air. Tu the presence of distinguished statesmen, states-men, foreign diplomats, members of the cabinet, noted scientists and prominent aeronauts and aviators, the two inventors in-ventors of the first successful flying machine heavier than air, received the first public recognition of their achievements achieve-ments from their fellow countrymen. President. Taft e.xprcssod keen admira lion for their work and ventured the belief thai, their machine will be the basis for the future aerial craft, and prophesied that the dawn of the ago of flight is here. The Wrights were introduced in-troduced to the president by Representative Represent-ative Herbert Parsons of iS'ew York, who paid a glowing tribute to their perso n al qualifications. Presentation of Medals. A. Holland Forbes, winner of the recent re-cent national balloon race and acting president, of the Aero Club of America, turned Ihe medals over to the president presi-dent on behalf of the Aero club. Miss Catherine Wright, sister of the aeroplanists. accompanied her brothers, and was quite as much lionized. President Presi-dent Taft said to Miss Wright: "And J want, to congratulate the most, important member of the family.'-' The day was one of celebration in honor of the Wrights from the time they arrived until 7 o'clock tonight, when they left for Dayton. The two brothers consulted General .lames Allen, the chief signal officer, about the official trials of their aeroplane, which arc 1o be resumed by Orvillo Wright. C. E. Taylor, the mechanic who accompanied ac-companied Orvillo to Fort Myor last summer, will set up the. aeroplane at Fort .M.yer, and it is expected the flights will be resumed on .Tune 21. The tests must be concluded by .Tune L'S. .but it, is believed (he time will be extended if necessary. , . ..... . . . . Orville Wright said the machine will be practically identical with that used by him last" year. It will be scut tu Washington early next week. Address of President. In presenting the medals. President Tf I said: "I enleem it, a great honor and an opportunity to present these medals to 3'ou as evidence of what you have done. It is especially gratifying thus to note a great step in human' discovery by fiaying honor' to men who bear it so modestly. You made this discovery by a course that we of America like to feel is distinctively American by keeping your nose right at the job until you had accomplished what .you had determined deter-mined to do. "It has been said that this is the first .presidential recognition of aeronautics aero-nautics since President. Washington. Well, all 1 have to say is that. 1 had a predecessor who, if aeronautics had proceeded as far when he left otlice as they have todav, would not only have gone down under the water in a submarine sub-marine boat, but would. have gone up into the air in a flying machine. "There may be some reasons why some presidents have not figured in aeronautics. 1 see that these gentlemen gentle-men who have flown in the air arc constructed con-structed more on the plan of the bird than some of us. "Mr. Justice Brown, in commenting 1 on Hie law of patents, says in the patent pat-ent law it is the last step that counts, that is ihe difference between failure and success, and that ste'p you gentlemen gentle-men have taken. T doubt nut that whatever improvements arc hereafter made in machines heavier than air. the principles that you have discovered and applied, and the method of their application, will be. the basis o all successful suc-cessful flights. "I don't like to think, and I decline to think, that, these instrumentalities that you have invented for human use ...... )'.. K.-. ,.nnl!nnrl i ,1 4lllil- Utility- tit til I.IJIIIIIII.H ill war. I presume that, they will have great value in war. but I . sincerely hope these machines will be in creased in usefulness to such a point that even those of us who now look at them as not for us; may count on their ability to carry more than thin' passengers 'in times of peace. "You planned what you wished to find and then you worked it out. until vow found it. " "1 congratulate you on the result. 1 congratulate you on the. recognition you have received from all the crowned head's of Ku rope, and I congratulate you Hint in receiving it you maintained the modest and dignified demeanor worthy of American citizenship." |