Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-24
.PEARY IS NOW 0U|
No Longer President of til
Geographical Society.
HUNTINGTON WILL SUCCEH
Explorer Anticipated the Election
q New President.
NO REFLECTION IS CAS-
Commanders Successor Would Hal
Been Chosen Last Year but for
His Absence in the Arctic.
HUNTINGTON WILL SUCCEE
NO REFLECTION IS CAS-

NEW YORK, January %.-Commanc
Robert E. Peary Is no longer president
the American Geographical Society. At
annual meeting last Tuesday night
post which the famous arctic explorer nj
for so long was given by the council
the society to Archer NJ. Huntington, s
of the late Coils p. Huntington, who is
distinguished patron of geographical
search and the donor of the new Hispal
Museum at Broadway and 15Tth street
Commander Peary's retirement was p,
saged by letter to the council declari
that he did not want to stand a candida
for reelection, and the eventual acti
therefore was had without discussion,
cept OF Mr.. Peary's services to the
ciety and its purposes. But 1t was 81
yesterday by prominent members of I
society that the sentiment that led TO {
change had been growing for some tin
and very nearly caused similar action
be taken in Commander Peary's abser
at the meeting of a year ago.
1t was declared that the BASIS of it
in no lack of appreciation of Command
Peary personally, or cordially of feeli
toward him, but in the belief the socie
ought to have at its head some one "
was in New York all the time, or, at lea
made this city his regular headquarte
This feeling crystalliZed, so Ii is said
year ago, and some one else would Ina
been elected to the presidency of the
ciety at that time IL ii had not been for
fact that Commander Peary was then
the arctic. 1t was urged at that time tn
in fairness to him, such a step ought !
to be taken in his absence.
No Reflections.
Members of the society's council W
were seen yesterday declared emphatica
that there was nothing in the action TAX
rejecting any luminosity against the co
mander. Anton A. Raven, president of I
Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company of
Wall street, was one of these.
The election of Mr. Huntington" s:
Mr.. Raven, was determined upon OF
after the receipt of a letter from Co
mander Peary asking that he be not &C
sidered In connection with the presideu
another year. Whatever differences
opinion have existed on the question W.
settled by that letter, and such as m
were they could not be said to amount
anything like dissension in the society.
A Man Of Distinction.
Personally l should have liked vd
much to have Commander Peary contirI
in the presidency. He is a man of grd
distinction and worthy of any honor I'll
the society or any other similar body mig
pay to him. but his absence hardly rend}
him available for much of the work of
society and often has taken him avn
from the society's meetings.
"Of the situation a year ago I do
think that discussion is profitable at Il
time more than to say tina. there was neJ
any danger Of a split in the society to
knowledge. 1t was undoubtedly the sen
ment of the members then that no acti
ought to- be taken in the absence of
commander. i
II think that Mr.. Huntington is an idI
man for the position. He is possessed
very large means, and is devoting his
tire attention to the work of the Hispai
Museum which he has established tn
work, of course. is directly in line with
aims of our society. and l feel that the
lationship thus created cannot help
be a mutually helpful one."