The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-24
.SCHLEY'S DEMAND
 CREATES RUMPUS National Geographic Society Will Stand By Peary SATISFIED WITH PROOFS Members of Society Declare Their Findings Need No Verfication
 Before Any Other
 Tribunal.

Washington, December 23.-Rear Ad- miral W S. Schley's demand that Com mander Peary submit his polar data to the consistory of the University of Co., penhagen for verihcation. following that body's repudiation of Dr. Cook, has raised a storm among the membership of the National Geographic society, which gave Peary clean bill of health
 Leading members claim that the seien- lists of the United States would be be- meaning themselves If they acknowledged that their findings need verification. There seems to be no disposition to withhold from the Copenhagen board the data filed by Peary. but there Is well-denned op- position against turning it over to the Danish scientists for official action.
 The argument advanced by Admiral Schley that such examination would re- move all question of doubt from the claim of Peary is looked upon as rather gratui- tous The records of Peary have been found unimpeachable by American scien- lists, and therefore the question is not whether Pesry is right, but whether the scientists are wrong.
 Nothing To Be Gained.
 Nothing can be gained by submitting Commander Peary's data to the Universi- ty of Copenhagen" said Prof. Gannett. who was chairman of the committee that passed upon Peary's proofs, ''and don't see any reason why he should. The com mittee which passed upon his papers is fully qualified to arrive at an unbiased
 off every member is acquainted with Com mander Peary. need not say that the investigation was carried on along scien- tific lines, without regard to the person. ality or the standing Of either claimant" Rear Admiral Chester, who attacked Cooks data some time ago, denounced the proposition of Admiral Schley as "ab- surd." 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 a mare's nest He also drew attention to the fact that the Royal Geographical society of England and the Geographical society of Berlin had already acknowledged Peary as the discoverer of the pole, and that the latter society had planned to honor him in Berlin next year He also touched upon the verdict of the Duke of the Abruzzi, himself an explorer of no small fame. that Peary placed foot on the apex of the world as additional proof why the demand of Admiral Schley might well bs ignored.
 Message From Copenhagen.
 A cablegram dated Copenhagen to J. Howard Gore. one of the members of the k% &o f11f int fls Cook data, unofficiaily announced that the Danish scientists had sent their report on Cooks data to the National Geographic society. The report and the field note- book of Dr. Cook will probably be re- viewed by the committee early next month.
 Two clements figure in the deferrment of the meeting of the subcommittee until the first of the year: First the disposition to give Dr. Cook every possible oppor- tunity to present his observations and second the absence of Rear Admiral Pillsbury, who went to Boston the day of the unversity's verdict. Admiral Pills bury will return just after the holidays, and the meeting will then be called. Meantime, the conclusions of the Copen- hagen investigation probably will be here for formal submission to the subcommit- tee, and some answer may have been
 
 for his original observations.
 Will Act Independently.
 While recognizing that the burden of sentiment has been largely against Dr. Cook as the result of the Copenhagen verdict. the committee proposes by no means to be governed by that decision.
 Inquiry today shows that tho sub-com- mittee intends to proceed with the utmost caution and conservativeness in view of it's responsibility as the Investigating body of the organization which largely represents scientific America
 The subcommittee, in case 1t fails to re- ceive the original data, will not go out of it's way to condemn -Dr. Cook on merits. but will report that he failed to produce any / ers to prove that he reached the pole.
 'He has perfect right to withhold then.'' according to one statement to- day. "and there is no compulsion in the natter
 The society's request for his original data was made personally to pr. Cooks friend, MT. Wake, in New York city.