The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-09-07

/ TO his departure I received a request
/ from the National Geographic Society
that DIR. Tittman. while in Europe.
/ should extend an invitation both to
| DR.. Cook and Lieutenant Shackelton 20
/ attend the next annual banquet Of the
/ society.
Commander Peary's successful search
/ for the Pole. eliminating sooner than
/ expected by some. will make him also
participant in the honors that the
/ scientific world is ready 10 bestow upon
/ the men who have accomplished Won
| ders. and. according 10 present plans.
! DR.. Cook. Commander Peary, and Lieu
tenant Shackelton will be the trio OF
| distinguished guests at the most not
able banquet in the history OF the or
ganiZation.'
Prof. Henry Gannett. an old friend
OF Commander Peary, and vice presi-
dent or the National Geographic So
! ciety. who has never lost faith in the
veteran explorers ability 70 locate the
Pole. said:
America f. ready to congratulate
/ Robert b. Peary- He is a veteran in
the search for the Pole. If he says
that he has finally located fl, there is
nothing more TO be said. He went
fully equipped and with the full conf
National Geographic Society in par
ucular. He was fitted by long expert
ence TO accomplish the feat that he
has lust performed Whether he reach
ed there first or not, he deserves every
thing that-he has won.
Believed in Peary.
The society has always believed that
eventually Lieutenant Peary and his
indomitable viii would triumph over
the discomforts and the obstacles OF the
far North.
THE news is most welcome 10 me,
as ] am sure IT viii be TO the scientific
world generally. All America is waiting
70 congratulate Peary."
Asked what effect Peary,s discovery
would have upon DIT. Cooks claims and
vice versa, DR.. Gannett said with a
They viii have to fight that out be-
tween themselves. Who got there first
prove"
At an annual banquet of the society
two years ago, Lieutenant Peary. inst
pack from q near-successful attempt TO
reach the Pole. was the lion Of the
hours and was the recipient of a medal
from the society for having penetra-
yelt, for whom the Peary expedition
snip was named, made the presentation
speech, and altogether, the affair was
one Of the most auspiCiOus fn the b{s-
tory Of the society up 10 tnat time
Ihat event viii sink into comp lratlveI
lnslgnihcance IL present plans a--e car
ried out and Peary' Cook. and Shack
elton gather at the same banquet table
and are lauded by men representative
of every walk OF life, and the scIen-
tific world in particular President Taft.
1t Is now hoped. will be a guest on this
occasion, and probably viii be con-
fronted with the task OF pinning med
ais upon the hero Of the South Pole I
and the Joint heroes Of the North Pole 4
Speech Before Society.
In the light Of his past triumphs and /
in the expectancy Of the future. Com
mauder Peary at that time made the
following significant statements. now
borne out by the fulfnment Of his wild
est dreams:
The fact Of my personal interest in
the Polar field, does not affect the truth
or the broad statement that there IS no
longer any greater pioneer work Of
geographical discovery to be accom-
plished, except at the aplces OF the
earth, at the North and South Polea
Here alone large areas guarded bv the
stcrnest natural obstacles TO be found |
upon the face Of the earth, stfl chaI- |
lenge ana DEFY conquest. 10 has been
somewhat the fashion during the mast |
few years, I'm che interest and eutIusi
asm excited for Antarctic work 10 rafb- /
or decry further Arctic work as nor
likely 70 be Of value, and 10 assume /
2 hat In tho Antarctic region alone rs !
there a field for really valuable scieu-
ZINC Investigation. DO not at an agree
with this view. There are no 1900. 900 !
square miles Of the earth surface that
do not contain scientific Information Of
value much greater than the cost Of
securing II. Further than this I beIiavs
IN doing tho thiug that has been begun
and that IS worth doing. before ebir't--,,
20 a new object.
There ls no higher. purer field Of
international rivalry than tho strlpvIs
FOR the North Pole. Jainfuenccd by
prospects or gain. by dreams of colont
cation, by land-ust or politics. In. cen
turies-long struggle Of the best and
Ir0vest sons Of England and Gerusn,-
md Norway, Sweden. Holland France
Russia, ITALY and the United states
whose able delegates are here today. mas