East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-12-24
Demand that Peary Submit
Proofs to Danes StirS up
American Geographers,
PROFESSIONAL PRIDE OF
AMERICANS RESENTS DEMAND
Declare Themselves Perfectly Compe-
tent as Judges and That Findings
do not Need Verification-Would
Submit Data to Copenhagen Scien-
lists But Not for Official Action
Egan Denies Danish King Decorated
DIR. Cook

Washington. Dec. 24.-Rear Ad-
miral Schleys demand that Com
modore Peary submit his polar data
to the consistory of the University
of Copenhagen for verification follow
ing that body's repudiation of DR..
Cook, has raised a storm among the
membership of the National Geogra-
phical society, which gives Peary a
clean bill of health.
Leading members claim that the
scientists of the United States would
be demeaning themselves if they ac-
knowledged that their findings need
ed verification. There seems to be
no disposition to withhold from the
Copenhagen board the data filed by
Peary, but there is well defined op-
position against turning it over to the
Danish scientises for official action.
The argument advanced by Admiral
| SchleS 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
wroGis
! say Nothing TO be Gained.
/ Nothing can be. gained by submit
ting Commander Peary's data to the
! University of Copenhagen" said Pro-
( fessor Gannett. chairman of the COM
I mittee that passed upon Peary's
proofs. "and ! do not see any reason
why he should. The committee that
PASSED upon his papers is fully quail
/ fled to arrive at an unbiased conclus-
| ion, notwithstanding that almost every
member is acquainted with Comman-
der Peary. and I need not say that the
investigations were carried on along
scientific lines without regard TO the
personality or the standing of either
claimant
Rear Admiral Chester. who attacked
Cooks data some time ago, denounc-
ed the proposition of Admiral Schley
as absurd" He declared he did not
believe that the University of Copen-
hagen would consider making a re-
quest for the proofs, and that the
whole matter was a mares nest. He
1 ~N
the ROYAL Geographical society OF
England and the Geographical society
of Berlin had acknowledged Peary as
the discoverer of the pole, and that
the later society had planned to hon.
or Peary in Berlin next year.
Also he touched upon the verdict of
the Due d'Abruzzi, himself an explor-
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 we'll be ig-
nored.
Danes Send Cooks Report.
4 cablegram dated Copenhagen to
| j. Howard Gore, a 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 Ma
tional Geographical society. The re-
mort ana the field note book of DR..
Cook probably will be reviewed by
the committee early next month.
Cook Not Decorated.
That DR.. Cook was not decorated
by the king of Denmark as has been
gCnCrallN supposed, lS lllV ou'St''liNN
of n statement made tonight by Dr.
Maurice f. Egan. United states min
lister to Denmark. DR.. Egan, who is
on a leave of absence from his post
is spending the holidays in Washing
ton.
contrary to the generally accept
ed opinion. DR.. Cook was not dec
Grated by the king" said DR.. Egar
tonight ''rhe king held his decoration
back awaiting the decision of the Uni
lVorsity of Copenhaben. The honorary
degree of the university conferred
upon Dr.. Cook and the medal which
Che Royal Geographical society OF
Denmark gave to him We're not fol
his supposed discovery OF the pole
but for his previous achievements IL
polar explorations particularly hi,
work in the Belgici expedition. He vii
not be asked 10 return these honors
IT commander Peary had appeared
in Copenhagen short time after h,
discovered the pole he would have re
ceived a reception equally as enthu
siastic from the king and the people
H r. Newport, the mayor of Her
. | miston has been here today doiny