Conners Predicts Trans-Ocean Flight.

New York Times 100 years ago today, April 8, 1913:
Zeppelin Dirigible Will Come Here in 1915, Says ex-Democratic Leader.
BACK FROM VISIT ABROAD
Took Air Trip Over Berlin — Calls Wilson a Masterman — Too Much Railroad Legislation.
    Seated in the Ritz-Carlton restaurant, surrounded by exotic flowers and palms, on the upper deck of the liner Amerika, William James Conners of Buffalo returned to his native land last night from his trip abroad. While the Hungarian band played dolce far niente music, the former State leader of the Democratic party told the reporters about his travels and sipped frappéed ginger ale from a cut crystal tumbler.
    "I went away from New York," said Mr. Conners, "on Feb, 20 to Berlin as Chairman of the Perry Celebration at Buffalo in September, to make an offer to the Zeppelin Company to send over their dirigible balloons for the fetes in the fall. I offered as much as $220,000, but I have not made any definite contract. I can have a balloon sent over, but a lot of things have to be done first. A suitable hangar would have to be built, and also arrangements for manufacturing hydrogen gas in large quantities for the aeronauts. One thing you can say is that I am confident a dirigible will fly over to New York from Europe in 1915.
    "During my stay in Berlin I made a flight in one of the Zeppelin machines accompanied by my wife and her sister, Miss Margaret Jordan. We went up at Potsdam and rose to a height of a mile and a half and then went over the city of Berlin, traveling at a speed of forty-five to fifty miles an hour. We remained up two hours and a half.

Felt Scared at First.
    "I was a little scared at first at the idea of going up so high in the clouds, but the machine started without a jar, and we appeared to be just gliding off into space and peace. There was no sound except the rhythmical buzzing of the motors and the subdued talk of my wife and sister and three other passengers who accompanied us on the flight. It was grand to travel that way without meeting a policeman to hold up his hand and blow a whistle for you to go on."
    "What do you think of President Wilson reading his message to Congress in person?" he was asked.
    "That shows the President is a masterman and intends to see that the promises made by the Democratic Party to the people are carried out. He is right. Every plank in the Democratic platform must be made good or the party will be false to its promises before election."
    When told about the agitation at Albany over the Full-Crew bill, Mr. Conners said that it was a bad measure and that Mr. Sulzer was wrong in signing the bill.
    "We have too much legislation in the State against the railroads," he explained, "and if it is pushed much further they will go out of business. Americans who stay at home are hostile to the railroads and want legislation against them until they have been abroad and seen the foreign railroad systems.

Praises Our Railroads.
    "We have better cars for our cattle on our big roads than some of the cars that carry first-class passengers in Europe. The railroads of the United States carry more freight in one month than the roads of Europe carry in six months.
    "If I was the head of a great railroad in this country I would take the Governor of the State and the legislators on a trip to Europe and pay their expenses just to give them the experience. When they returned home I am sure there would be no further legislation against home railroads."
    Mr. Conners did not have time to go to London to look at King George, as be had to hurry home. He was entertained by Ambassador Leishman in Berlin and Ambassador Herrick in Paris. He wore a silk hat all the time he was away and landed in it last night, apparently in the best of health and spirits.