The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-11-16

establish his official record or not,
so long as people will buy his books
or purchase tickets to his lectures. If
on the other hand, reputation as an
explorer, and official recognition is
his desire, 1t becomes necessary for
him to prove to the satisfaction of
the eminent government scientists
that he has accomplished what he
claims. This Commander Peary has
done, and however, people may have
reasoned that the burden was on Com
mander Peary to show that Dr. Cook
had not been to the Pole, the situation
is now such that Commander Peary
has proven that he has been to the
Pole and unless DR.. Cook can affirma-
lively prove that he reached there
first, Commander Peary will forever
be known as the discoverer of the
Pole.
Cooks expeditions were American ex-
petitions and both are American cit
liens; both returned to their native
land each claiming to have reached
the Pole Under these circumstances
each must prove his case at last if
at all, before the scientific tribunals
of his own country. The foremost ma
lions like England will insist that the
claims of these Americans must be
settled in America, and will therefore
follow the decisions of the scientific
bureaus of the government of the Uni
ted States. Dr. Cook must therefore
ultimately prove his case, il at all, be-
fore the scientific boards of this coun-
try. There is no back door by which
he can enter; there is no climbing up
some other way; there is no paper
key made by New York Aldermen
that throws open the gate that leads
TO this Elysium. He must finally OBJ
tain the endorsement of the scientific
bureaus at home or his name will be
left of the map. AS the world goes,
Denmark's standing among the nat
ions of the world is not sufficient per
force to officially establish his claim.
unless it is approved by the United
States. But why should DR.. Cook be
so reluctant to present his case before
the scientific tribunals of his own
country? He complains that our
people doubt his word and his motives
but 1t appears from the letters OF Ber-
nier that this was expected before he
left the Arctic. Why did he expect
his claim would be doubtedg Com.
mander Peary did not expect his
claim would be doubted and IL was
not. II DR.. Cook expected his claims
would be doubted why did he not inn
mediately present his proofs to the
scientific men of his own country and
dispel the doubts? Knowing of this
doubt why does he continue to deIav
presenting his proofs and give people
further cause to doubt? Whether or
not Cook made the ascent of Mt Nc
Kinley | express no opinion but the
manner of his claim in that respect
was such as to excite suspicion.
Il am not saying that DR.. Cook did
not reach the Pole The point I wish
to make is that his conduct and his
story are suspicious; truth and error
ever have their followers and DIR.
Cooks claim is fast drifting into a DO
sition in which it may never be clear
ed up. If he reached the Pole II is
for his interest that the fact should
be clearly established: If he did not
reach the pole the best that can
happen to his cause is that the con-
troversy should end in confusion and
doubt \
The only charge that is made
against Commander Peary is that an
old explorer, who had seen twenty
years of the hardship and the rough
and tumble of the Arctic. frankly
spoke out what he understood to be
the truth, Many are beginning 10
wish that DR.. Cook was more given ia
the same fault. Thoughtful men are
wondering at this story that one Brad
ley said to be the proprietor of a
gambling resort, backs up the doctor
at time when he was being question.
ed with respect to the Mount McKin.
ley claim. Secretly so far as they
could they get up an expedition to
the Far North; Dr. Cook is left alone
within the Arctic Circle to make an
expedition to the Pole knowing that
the criticism of his Mount Mckinley
exploit was that his records were not
sufficiently confirmed He wanders
around something over a year in the
Arctic with no companions save two
Eskimos and having instructed them
not to tell the truth he reappears to
| the world and announces tho+ - -