The Washington times., 1909-09-06
UNCLE JOE SCORES
CRITICS OF DR.. COOK
Calls Comments of Skeptcs Dscourteous and Ill Timed.
Thinks Discovery Triumph for America, and That 1t
Would Be Unwise to Send Army 70 Pole Just Yet

NEW YORK. Sept. 6.-Extolling DR..
Cooks discovery Of the North Pole as
brilliant achievement deserving of the
admiration Of all men and characteriz-
ing criticism OF the feat by Rear Ad-
miral Melville and others as discourse
Gus and nl-timed, Joseph G. Cannon
Speaker OF the House OF Representa-
tives, enthusiastically discussed polar
expIarztion ana other matters with a
newspaper reporter.
There is no doubt in my mind that
Dr. Cook really discovered the North
Pole" he said, as he pulled al a big
cigar Il am inclined 10 believe in Dr..
Cook, principally because I never heard
OF him until the news of his achieve
n1ent was made public. He did not seek
publicity, apparently, when he started
north, for the papers were not filed
with big accounts OF what he hoped TO
do and promised TO perform There
was no big hlulabaloO when ne started.
no great expedition was heralded. and
he didn't talk about his purpose.
The man who really does big things
is modest, and I fancy that Or. Cook Is
a modest man. Modest men. nine times
IN ten. are gritty men, and fellows Of
that stamp accomplish great things. To
make this polar dash as ne did, prac-
ticauv alone. is a remarlzab bic feet. and
81 deserves 20 place Or. Cook upon a
pedestal Of greatness beside Columbus
and other great explorers of the world
81 fancy DR.. Cook will receive the
recognition his great accomplishment
deserves. despite the efforts Of some 70
rob him Of the imperishabIe glory that
attaches itself 10 MS wonderful feat"
"Discourteous and Ill-Timed."
What do YOU think Of Rear Al
mlral MelviHe's criticism Of DIT. C"ok7''
was asked.
Il have no desire 10 criticise Admiral
Melville" answered Nj Cannon, but
will say that d.. Cooks feat en-
phasizes the difference between men
VINO really do big things and men who
are IN the business Of keeping In the
public eye at all times.
Some Arctic explorers no doubt feel
sore because Or. Cook alone and single
handed has put them @out Of business.
: think Melville made an attempt at the
North Pole himself but failed 70 get
there. ! don't know upon what scion
tinc data hc bases his belief that Dr.
Cook h lying when he saws he reached
the Pole. but whatever it may be- his
criticism Of Dr.. Cook at this time D.
discourteous and ill timed.
when DR.. Cook fails TO advance
proofs OF his discovery satisfactory Ia
The scientific world, then doubts AS 30
The truth of mis- story may not be ont
Of place. Until then, all hail 10 the di.'-
coveref Of the North POle!
WHAT IN your judgment is the value
of this discovery
Value Only Scientific"
Il don't know that 81 has any practical
a.. a.. 4
gWered Speaker Cannon Having been
discovered By an American citizen, the
North Pole belongs 90 the United States,
but I doubt If it would be wise for as to
send an army Of occupation mere.
II don't know 81 there are any coal
deposits there, and II there were wheth-
er IL would pay a syndicate 10 20 there
and mine a. II is hardly likely that We
can use our new possession as dump
INK grCuud for our refuse pODula ton
or as "A cOalinE station Tor the great
American fleet Of the future. CONNER
cially. therefore, / cannot fancy q.
Cooks discovery Of the Pole VIII be Of
value 20 the United States.
The discovery VIII have this value.
however ID will stop further waste Of
lives and treasure in a quest that has
engaged the attention OF explorers OF
two worlds for centuries. and than
means a great deal. IT also has this
value. II has shown cOnclusively that
the spirit OF getting there is essen
TALLY an American spirit and that il
will not be dOwned.
When / was a hoy. and that was a
long time ago, / assure You. we we're
told by man named Symmes that
there was a great hole At the two poles
Of the earth. and that strange races
Of people lived therein. OF course. we
didn't believe all we heard. even when
l vas p boy. hut science has advanced
since then and our opinions have un-
dergOnP ma terial change.
Il glory In the accomplishment OF