Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-23


er or not be would submit his records
to the University of Copenhagen. He
implied that At some future date he
might lead an expedition In search OF
the south pole.
Publicity Up to Peary.
The National Geographic Society il
through with the records Of Commander
Robert E. Reary. It has examined them.
found them satisfactory and acted upon
them.
Whether the records are submitted to
the University Of Copenhagen or given
out for publication 10 q matter for Com
mander Peary to decide. and not for the
National Geographic Society.
The committee Of the society appointed
to examine the records of other explorers
who claim they have been to the pole
will continue its work on DIR. Cooks
claims, examining all data obtainable.
regardless Of the recent findings Of the
University OF Copenhagen.
To Be Proclaimed Discoverer.
This Is the status OF the polar contro-
versy as far as Washington organiza-
lions or persons are concerned. It Is
generally believed. however, that be-
fore long the National Geographic So
ciety will take some action ofhcially
designating Commander Peary az the
"discoverer'' of the pole.
It IL believed, however, that this &C.
ton viii not be taken until a report IL
made by the committee Of which Prof.
Gore 10 chairman.
There will be a meeting Of the board
Of directors Of the society Monday
when the polar question will be dis
cussed. The course Of tho society may
be determined then.
Peary VIII Not Speak. +.
81 have no comment to make" was the
response Of Commander Peary. given out
in writing last evening in New York
city, to the suggestion OF Rear Admiral
Schley, who called publicly on Com
mander Peary to submit his records to
the University Of Copenhagen. in the
interest Of justice.
Of men In the world on arctic matters .
said the admiral. 1.-THE consistory of
the University Of Copenhagen should be
given the opportunity to examine the
Peary proofs, for In that way they would
be submitted to the same test applied to
those Of Cook.
"The consistory, which was regarded by
the civilized world as more friendly to
DR.. Cook, showed by Its action that it
holds the scales Of justice. as 1t sees
them. evenly and honestly"
Chester Thinks Ill Of idea.
Speaking Of Admiral Schley's sugges-
ton, Rear Admiral c. NJ. Chester. one
of the board who passed upon the Peary
proofs. said:
ut would be absurd to have Peary
voluntarily submit his data to Coper.-
hagen and to add them to what is al
ready a farce. don't think for one
moment that the Copenhagen University
would think of asking for permission
to examine his data.
Surely there could be no safer guaran-
tee of justice being done in the examine
ton Of the Peary records than by the
United States government, to which
Peary has already made report.
1.-THE world at large has already ac-
north pole. The Royal Geographical So
ciety Of England has recognized Peary's
claims and has invited him to lecture
before it. The Geographical Society Of
and announced that it hopes to honor
Peary in Berlin next year.
The Duke d'Abruzzi. one Of the worlds
greatest arctic authorities. calls Peary
the discoverer Of the pole. All these
added to Peary's record for the last
twenty-three years as United States
ofIicer and an explorer of the arctic re-
gions render the acknowledgment Of his
achievements already ANAL"
America Competent, Says Gore.
Prof Gore, chairman Of the committee
of the National Geographic Society, ap-
pointed to examine the records Of ex-
plorers who claimed to reach the pole
prior to 1903. said that the committee IL
not yet satisfied with the examination Of
DR. Cooks claims.
.'The society did not desire the down.
fall of DR.. Cook" he said. I'VE will con-
tinue our own investigation. The National
Geographic Society IL fully competent to
pass upon claims of this nature. but II
Commander Peary should decide to SUBJ
NIT his claim to. any other competent
body he may do SO.
TT. for instance. the Royal Geographic
Society OF London should decide to pre-
sent Commander Peary with gold medal
under the condition that he present his
case to them for investigation. / am quite
certain he would comply with the condi-
ton"