The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-02-15
CALLS PEARY
{ 'BRAGGART"

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-Denouncing
Robert r. Peary, the explorer. as a
"soIf,sb ecotist' and a "braggart'
Cant. n. S. Osborn, secretary of the
Arctic club OF America, has written a
letter 10 the subcommittee of the
house naval committee, approving the
latter's action in voting down the pro-
position TO make Peary rear ad-
miral
Captain Osborn says In his letter:
The action OF the subcommittee on
naval affairs in the matter OF Civil
Engineer Robert +. Perry mot
Peary. for that is an assumed name).
deserves the heartiest commentator
of every American citizen who values
Justice and respects the United States
navy.
this braGgart. the rank OF rear ad-
miral would be n foul blot on the
records OF congress and an Insult to
the navy OF the United States; 1t
would have dissusted millions OF our
citizens who have no confidence In
this alleged pole hunter and Arctic
fur trader and story teller, who for
nearly quarter OF n century has
been living off the people and sailing
under a naval rank TO which he had
no legal right He should have been
severely reprimanded by the navy de-
partment long ago.
Another letter from Portland, Me,
the home of Mr.. Poary, written by
an executive officer In the navy re-
serve of that state, says;
TT should be plain to all thinking
citizens that there is A group OF men
In Washington, who while ready suit
ably and generously to recognize the
distinguished achievements OF Mr..
Peary, refuse to be actuated or influ-
enced by fanatical sentimentalism."
Another letter from Boston says:
Your amazing statements about
Lieut. Peary seem incomprehensible.
All nations are waiting upon the Uni
ted States by courtesy before show.
orlng honoTS on Peary. HerSchel was
Enishted for finding Uranus. a thou
sand million miles further away than
the north pole and many thousand
times more 'secless' by your code"
Washington. Feb. 14.-Robert E
Peary, discoverer Of the north pole,
had the experience today of being dec
GRATED by a foreign scientific society
and vituperated by q fellow explorer
and countryman. Furthermore, 1t
was announced that congress may
supply funds with which the American
who has been faTthcSt north VIII lead
an expedition To the Antarctic seas 10
lay claim to the territory discovered
nearly 100 years ago by another In
trepid American and over which no
flag has yet been floated.
The Italian Geographical society is
the organization that has conferred
the decoration on Commander Peary.
Secretary Meyer. on whom the ex.
plorer called today. announced that
II IL was decided TO have Commander
Peary head the expedition that will
lay claim 10 Wiles land on behalf OF
the United States. President Taft may
ask congress to provide the funds for
carrying out the expedition
In view of the interests now at
taching TO the search for the. south
pole, Wilos land suddenly has become
of Importance Neither Secretary
Meyer nor Commander Peary would
give the nature of their conference,
which occupied more than an hour
1t Is not improbable that the secretary
explained to his caller the reasons for
the defeat in congress of the attempt
to have the explorer honored with the
rank and pay of rear admiral
The house committee on naval af.
fairs, which voted down the PROPOSE
ton. has reviewed a number of let
ters, condemnatory and otherwise
One was received today from Capt,
b. S. Osbon. president of the Arctic
Club of America. which is bitter In
the extreme. Capt. Osbon, who cham
pioned the cause of Cook in the re
cent Peary-Cook controversy. did not
Iuince words in denounclng Mr.. Peary
and attributing TO him lnfraction Of
practically all the arts of good taste
and deccncy. OF give Commander
Peary the rank and pay of a rear
admiral. Capt Osbun declared, would
have been foul blot on the rec.
oTds OF congress and an insult to the
navy of the United States and would
have disgusted millions Of our citli-
Zon5h