The Washington herald., 1910-01-04

Willis L. Moore is weary Of his
position, not as Chief of the
Weather Bureau, but as president
of the National Geographic Society.
And here is the proof:
Yesterday Mr.. Moore sent a let
ter to the society, through its sec
retary, in which he politely in
formed that body OF scientists that
he would not accept another term
as its president, to which Office he
has been elected FIVE times.
Deductions are, therefore, In order.
First, Mr.. Moore, in the same letter. an
nOunced TO the society his desire that its
members unite at an early date on some
member for president, before the polar
controversy gets mixed up with the cleo
ton. In other words Mr.. Moore is op-
posed to north pole politics when il
comes to holding an election in the Ma
uonal Geographic Society. Therefore, he
believes the election Of officers should be
held before the polar controversy has op-
pOrtunity 10 become a factor.
May Revise Contention.
Perhaps it is not generally known by
the society members that Mr.. Moore has
written his letter of declination As
result the news it contains may be seized
upon by those who would not hesitate 10
revive the contention that Commander
Robert Z. Peary should send his north
pole data 10 soma Opher scientific body
for examination before Mr.. Peary is de-
clared 10 be the first real discoverer Of
the aged pole.
It is announced that before the end Of
the present week, the National Geo
graphic Society expects to receive the
records submitted by DR.. Frederick a
Cook, the absent one, to the University
of Copenhagen. That body Of arctic sciel-
fists practically pronounced DR.. Cook S
contentious a fake, and they were the
great and good friends Of Or. Cook
Claim is made that Commander Peary's
friends, only, have seen hts north pole
records, and the question has been fre-
quently asked;
What would neutral body of scien-
lists do with Mr.. Peary's records?"
Question Is Raised,
Furthermore, the question has been
raised:
"Wil the Peary records forever remain
buried in the archives Of the National
Geographic Society? viii Mr.. Peary.
nevertheless, be recorded by historians
as being the first man to discover the
north pole?'
These queries are given as a possible
excuse for Mr.. Moore in sending his
letter Of declination TO the society in con-
nection with his request that the mem
bers unite upon a member as president
before the polar politics have a chance
10 start haillng. There is a possibility
that interesting facts may develop in
connection with Mr.. Moore's letter be-
fore many days have elapsed
To Examine Cooks Records.
RecOrds-alleged records-of DR.. Cook
VIII be examined by the research commit
tee OF the geographic society. and a re-
port win be submitted as to whether
any further credence should be put in
Dr. Cooks claims. This committee is
composed Of Prof. j. Howard Gore. Rear
Admiral Pillsbury, Z. s N. and DR.. w.
NJ. Hayes, of the Geological Survey.
According TO information received by
Prof. Gore, the records were mailed on
a steamship which left the Danish capi-
tai on December p, which would bring
them to this city by the end of this
week.
The report Of the research committee
VIII be made public as early in Janu-
ary as possible. Inasmuch as the Co
penhagen authorities required but a
short time to complete this same task.
it is not thought it viii take a longer
time here