Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-08
NO PROOF, NO DINNER
Geographers Withhold Honors
From Cook and Peary.
CLAIMS MUST BE VERIFIED
Shackelton Only Guest Invited to
National Society Banquet.
TO KEEP OUT OF CONTROVERSY
No Doubt Of Achievements Asserted
by Explorers ohicially Express
ed by Scientists.

Neither DR.. Coo k nor Commander
Peary has been invited to attend the
next annual dinner Of the National
Geographic Society. Neither will be
invited until after the storm of con-
troversy which seems to be arising be-
tween them will have blown over.
Lieut.. Shackelton has been asked to
be a guest at the dinner and has prac-
tically accepted. No other invitations
will be extended until about the middle
Of next November.
It is hoped that by that time the con-
troversy between thee rival claimants
for the honor Of being first to reach
tho north pole will have been settled
to such an extent that there will be
no embarrassment in inviting them to
sit at the same table.
After reading Commander Peary's
wireless message from Indian Harbor.
warning the world not to take Cooks
story too seriously" a member Of the
society pointed out that at the present
time 1t would hardly be discreet to in
wife them to the same table with ven
cradle members Of the National Geo
graphic Society.
1T would be rather a dangerous prop
osition. Dishes would probably fly back
and FORTH" he added.
President Moore's Statement.
When shown the dispatch from Com
mander Peary In which from the decks
Of the Roosevelt he fires his first gun at
DR.. Cook, and also seems to propose him
as arctic representative in the Ananias
Club. Prof. Willis L. Moore, president of
the National Geographic Society, said to-
day:
II sincerely hope there will be no con-
troversy between the two explorers. We
anticipate the records of both men will
show that they have been to the pole,
and it will be double glory for America.
TT Is not correct that DR.. Tittmann is
carrying to Europe invitations to Lieut..
Shackelton and DR.. Cook to attend the
annual dinner of the society next De-
cember. Lieut.. Shackelton was invited
last June.
II myself gave him the invitation in
London. He virtually agreed to accept
Il.
mo Invitations have been extended to
DR.. Cook or Commander Peary. No fur
Their invitations will be extended until the
middle of November
Except those who are inclined to take
humorous view Of the situation. and
who foresee amusement in a controversy
that will make the famous Sampson
Schley quarrel seem Insignificant by COM
parison, scientists In Washington gener-
ally regret the impending dispute between
DR.. Cook and Commander Peary They
believe that Commander Peary's telegram
indicates that no quarter will be given in
the struggle.
Congress to Ring With Wrangle.
Many persons this morning expressed
the opinion that Congress would also be-
como involved In the dispute when the
question of awarding medals to the sue
cessful explorers was brought up. Each
explorer. 1t Is pointed out. Is certain to
have champions in Congress- and it is ex-
pected that the pages Of the Congressional
Record will TEEN with hot discussions
about the real hero Of the arctic.
Gilbert n. Grosvenor. editor of the Ma.
the following message from paddock
Nova Scotia, via North Sydney:
I'VE expected Peary to be successful
this time. BY his twenty years Of previous
work he had broken the trail for himself
and all others to the north pole and we
congratulate him on his unparalleled sue.
cess.
THE fact that Cook apparently reached
the pole by following mainly Peary's
route and by largely adopting Peary's
lvntn CHI hA ~
wisdom with which Peary has campaigneG
against the pole for . lifetime"
Washington Specially Interested.
AT the home Of many eminent scientist.
Of International reputation. of officers o
the navy, of the heads of scientif,
| bureaus of the government including tn,
coast and geodetic survey, to which Com
mander Peary is officially detailed fo
duty, and the National Geographic So
ciety, there is said to be no city In tn,
and Commander Peary are discussed will
as much intelligence and personal knowl
edge OF the conditions of each expedition
as In Washington.
porters and champions whose enthusiasm
| has led them to deprecate. somewhat, tn,
| achievements OF the other. But the gen
| eral spirit seems to be one of fairness I,
| each explorer.
| There is honor enough for BOTH" salt
| Acting Supt. Frank e. Perkins. of tn,
| coast and geodetic survey. who Is elate,
| that a representative Of his bureau Shout,
have reached the pole. but at the SAM
time Is enthusiastic In his praise of DR.
Cook.
Geographers Suspend Action
The attitude of scientists in Washington
is said to be best illustrated by the &C
ton of the board Of managers OF TIT
National Geographic Society, which me
yesterday evening and came to a deci
sion not to take any official action on the
subject of the discovery of the nortl
pole until detailed reports OF their scien
| tific observations have been submitted b,