The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-12-22


marks like the Enclosure about Mr.
Peary and Rear Admiral Chester
about whom you evidently know moth
ing personally. but do. and know
them both. and am also the son Of a
deceased naval officer. think the
general public and your subscribers. Of
whom l am one. would much prefer to
form their own opinions from the press
dispatches. and are quite capable OF do
ing so without the infiiction OF your
private opinion. necessarily rabid. be-
cause there Is some doubt as TO
whether your north pole candidate Will
make good. You have only one reason
against Mr.. Peary-the wording Of his
telegram to his wife-and evidently he
had good reason for saying what he
did. The fact that | am residing In
Hamilton has not biased my opinion in
the least Three years ago | was In
the Mount Mckinley district. and know
too much about that affair to take
much stock in DIR. Cook. personally. or
in any of his works. If there were an
other morning paper to be had here
each noon. l w'd certainly cut out my
subscription tn The Missoulian. for /
am n .Peary snob.'
Very truly yours.
c. S. COTTON.
Hamilton. Monday. Dec. 20. 1909.
This timely communication reached
MS yesterday morning almost stmultan-
eonsiy with the press dispatches which
announced the decision of the copen-
hagen university committee against DR..
Cook. Mr.. Cotton inclosed the follow
ing clipping from The Muscular. as
the cause OF his denunciation:
II the ultimate decision liz against
Cook. the most deplorable feature of
the situation will he the chance IL viii
give the peary snohs 10 crow.
Despite Mr.. Cottan's suggestion
made. We take it. In friendly spirit
we do not feel justified in the discon-
tinuance of our editorial column. es-
pecially as Mr., Cotton proves n case
against himself when he refers to our
north pole candidate This shows
that even so wise and erudite man
as he Is IL not thoroughly qualified 10
form an opinion without some editorial
suggestion.
The Muscular has never had a
north pole candidate" The position
of this newspaper has heen at all times.
as set forth in an editorial printed DC,
taber %: If he tDr Caokl is taking he
Is the cleverest deceiser that ever
played tn. game" And. I'm the same
editorial: .All he asks Is fair con-
sideration: he Is entitled 10 that"
Further than this, The Missoulian has
espansed the cause of neither candi-
date. Now that Dr. Cook has
had the fair hearing demanded.
But We maintain that To judge
any man without proof Is unfair.
So we shall maintain our editorial
page. even though its continuance is an
'infliction" upon Mr.. Cotton. His con-
demnation of The Mlssoulian il in
keeping with the actions of the class
sAAH ne
himself. For ourselves. We would not
have gone to that extreme, for we are
sure that Mr.. Cotton possesses quail
ties that make him good citizen 1t
is not TO his discredit that he IL the
son of a naval officer: We have soldiers
and sailors. living and dead. in our
own family.
And We hope. as time advances, that
Mr.. Cotton will read The Muscular
and enjoy 1t for other reasons than that
II Is the only morning paper that he
can get at noon. The Missoulian's am
bition is to be a newspaper. its earn
est purpose Is to give the news prompt
~ and accurately. We hope that Mr..
Cotton may ultimately decide that We
are accomplishing our purpose and that
he will continue his substitution be-
cause he likes US.
TAFT'S TOUCH.