The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-12-24

miral Schleys demand that Com
modore Peary submit his polar data
to the consistory of the University
of Copenhagen for verification follow
ing that bodys Reputation of DR..
Cook, has raised a storm among the
membership of the National Geogra
phical society, which gave Peary a
clean bill of health.
Leading members claim that the
scientists of the United States would
be demeaning themselves if they
acknowledged that their findings
needed vgrifcation. Thare seems to be
no disposition to withhold from the
Copenhagen board the data filed by
Peary, but there is a we'll defined OPP
position against turning it over to the
Danish scientists for official action.
The argument advanced by Admiral
Schley that such examination would
remove all question of doubt from the
claim of Peary, is accepted as rather
gratuitOus. The records of Peary
have been found unimpeachable by
American scientists and therefore, the
question is not, whether Peary is
right but whether the scientists are
wrong.
Say Nothing o BE GaIned.
Nothing can be gained by submit
ting Commander Pearys data to the
University of Copenhagen" said Pro-
fessOr Gannett. chairman of the COM
mittee that passed upon Peary's
proofs, and l do not see any reason
why he should. The committee that
passed upon his papers is fully quail
fed to arrive at an unbiased cOnclus-
ion, Notwithstanding that almost every
member is acquainted with COmman-
der Peary. and l need not say that the
Investigations We're carried on along
scientific lines, without regard to the
personality or the standing of either
claimant"
Rear Admiral Chester, who attack
ed Cooks data some time ago, de-
nounced the proposition of Admiral
Schley as absurd" He declared he
did not believe that the University Of
Copenhagen would consider making a
request for the proofs, and that the
whole matter was q mares nest. He
also drew attention to the fact that
the Royal Geographical society of
England and the Geogra phical society
Of Berlin had acknowledged Peary as
he discoverer of the pole, apd that
the later society mad planned IT, honor
Peary in Berlin next year.
Also he touched upon the verdict of
the Due dAbruzZi himself an expior
er of no small fame, that Peary had
placed foot on the apex of the world
as additional proof why the demand
Of Admiral Schley might well be ig
nOred
Danes Send Cook Report.
A cablegram dated Copenhagen to ].
Howard Gore, member of the special
committee named to look into the
Cook data. unofficially announced that
the Danish scientists had sent their
report on Cooks data to the National
the field note book of DIR. Cook prob
ably will be reviewed by the commit
tee early next month.
Will Give Cook Chance.
Two elements figure in the announc
ed deferment of the meeting of the
subcommittee of the geographical
society until the first of the year. First
the disposition to give DR.. Cook every
possible opportunity to present his OBJ
servations and, second, the absence Of
Rear Admiral Pillsbury, who will re-
turn after the holidays and the meet
ing will be called at once. Meantime,
conclusions of the Copenhagen inves-
tigators probably will be here for for
NAL submission to the sub committee
and some answer may have been re-
ceived from Dr. Cook to the request
While recognizing that the burden
of sentiment has been largely against
DR. Cook, as the result of the Copen-
hagen verdict, the committee proposes
by no means to be governed by that
decision.
Inquiry today showed that the sub
committee intends ID .,r'r:aed with the
utmost caution in view of it's respon-
sibility as the investigating body of
the organization that largely repre-
sents scientific America
The subcommittee, in case 1T fails
to receive the original data, will not go
out of it's way to condemn DR.. Cook, |
but will report that he failed to pro-
duce any papers that proved he reach
ed the north pole.
He has a perfe IT right to withhold
them," according to che statement to-
day, land there is no compulsion in
the matter"
That DR.. Cook was not decorated by |
the king of Denmark as has been gen.
orally supposed. is the substance of
a statement made tonight by Dr. Mau?
rice F. Egan, United States minister
to Denmark. DR.. Egan, who is on a |
leave of absence from his post, is !
spending the holidays in Washington
Contrary to the generally accept
ed opinion, DR.. Cook was not dec
Grated by the king said DIR. Egan to-
night. "The king held his decoration
back awaiting the decision of the Uni
versity of Copenhagen. The honorary
degree of the university conferred
upon DR.. Cook and the medal which
the Royal Geographical society of |
Denmark gave to him were not for
his supposed discovery of the pole, |
but for his previous achievements in
polar explorations. particularly his /
work in the Belgici expedition. He viii |
not be asked to return these honors. |
IF Commander Peary had appeared |
in Copenhagen a short time after he