Norwich bulletin., 1909-09-16
Dr. Cooks Conquest of the Pole

1 ton on which I am about to embark and which has for its purpose the | finding of the North Pole. The money Lis advanced to me as a loan to De re- paid to the New York Times and 1 it's associates out of the proceeds of the news and literary rights resulting | f, om this expedition, it being under stood that if for any reason the ex- petition is abandoned before the fall ot 1908, the money is to be refunded to the Times If the expedition IS l sI cC essful and the pole Is discovered, I promise to use every means in my power to reach civilization and wire to the Times the full story of the dis ccvery over my own signature. The Tines is to have the sole rights to the news of the discovery, and is to fave the exclusive right of it's pub lics tion in all parts of the world.
 My understanding is that the Times on its part agrees to syndicate the news both in Europe and America, and rece ives after deducting costs of ca bie tolls, etc. The Times and dts associates will pay me what they con- slder a reasonable amount for the use or the material in their own publica- tion From the sum thus raised the S coo is to be repaid, and l am free to sell the magazine and book rights to icy best advantage.
 Tt is understood, however, that should the news reports by any pos sibility not realize the sum of $4,000 any deficit will be reimbursed to the Times from the magazine and book rights.
 Should the expedition not be sue ce ssful in finding the pole, but should simply result in explorations in the For North, the Times is to be repaid 1 ut nf hn n1QO2zina and book rights of the expedition, so far a. they may go toward the liquida- tor of that claim.
 Yours very truly,
 "R. E. PEARY."
 In return, not for remuneration but for loan, the explorer was to labor, risk his life, risk his companions lives, endure exile, suffer the grastly cold of the Arctic and countless hard ships if she succeeded in reaching the pole, in accomplishing something that had defied all the efforts of untold numbers of gallant men for three cen turies.
 He was to provide the Times with the story of his achievement in order that from the proceeds of it's sale to other newspa pers in this country and abroad the Times might recoup its loan, a paltry 5000, to the explorer, and if the enterprise failed MT. Peary was to refund the sum as best he coUlC.
 SLch a leonine contract has rarely, if ever. been paralleled in American iou' lAalism. Hitherto great national on n.erprises, such. as-to instance only few of those organized directly by the Herald-the American relief fund for the starving Irish, the Jeannette expedition to the Arctic regions and Stanleyss quest of Livingstone, have not been sullied by eommercialism. For American journalism, to it's credit be it said, Is characterized as a whole by spirit of generosity and patri- ot.sm.
 Assistantce with String.
 It is deeply to be regretted that Cen mander Pearys experiences may make him doubt this. As the organ ized leader of a great national effort to unravel the mystery of the pole he might reasonably have counted up- on receiving the assistance the Times, as an American newspaper, conld give him but the assistance had a string to i. No matter what might be the fortune of his expedition, he would still have to pay back to the Times that little loan.'
 In this transaction the Times ap- pears to have played with MT. Peary a game of heads I win, tails you lose" Apparently, in addition to be- ing fit to print" the news must also be cheap.