The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-17
Butt Of Sensational At
tack by Macon, Of
Arkansas.
VERBAL STORM
is l. 3 Z LOOSE
His Vituperative Tongue Lashes
Not Only Polar Explorers. but
Fake Heroes in General,
Including Roosevelt and
"Pea-Eyed, Pin-Headed"
Editors.

I
Representative Macon, or Arkansas,
speaking in general debate on the ma :
val appropriation bill in the House to-
night. made a sensational attack upon
Captain Robert L. Peary. denouncing
him as a "faker," and declaring that
| he SHOULD be driven from the naval
service"
The bitter words used by the men,
| Der from Arkansas called out a Quick
reply from Peary's friends Repre-
sentative J. Hampton Moore, OF Penn
syivania. characterized Mr. Macon's
speech as unjust, outrageous. and Of
fensive. lie said there was always
some one 10 be found to suspect every
performance by men of genius and
courage He referred to Captain lob
son S exploit of the Merrinac and to
Dewey's victory at Manila Bay.
Heroes like these" said Mr.. Moore
have not the time to stop and deaf
with every dog that barks at thei,
heels"
Mr.. Macon declared that pcary's
whole story was "a fake. pure anu
simple
His Contempt Supreme.
he said his contempt for fake he.
roes'' was supreme. and he intima ted
that he put "thc hero of San Juan
Hill" in that class. Mr.. Macon de
nounced the Pcary Arctic Club, and
charged that it had maintained paid
lobby in Washington. He said that
President Tafts judgmcntin this mat
ter was not 10 be accepted. for he had
congratulated Cook as heartily as he
did Peary
Paving his compliments to the edi-
tors of the New York Times and the
New York Post, Mr.. Macon charac-
terized them as "unblushing know ali
tit-bits" and pea eyed, headed.
and putrid-tongued infinitesimals.''
st lie ,refarred to Peary as "A fur
| trader; pictured him as "a self-exag-
gerated. self opinionated, puned up
near-hero." and finally denounced him
as IAN unfaithful servant and an idle
loafer. who ought to be driven from
the service instead of being pro.
noted"
Mr.. Macon said he had the utmost,
contempt for human beings so .'wcaz.
en- Drained that they were afraid 10
say what they really thought about
Pcary. because they feared some un-
blushing, SNOWFALL tit-bit editor or
yellow journals, like the New York
Times or the New York Post, would
call them ignorant bla,herskltes.'.
II pity. he continued. "a man who
| is so ignorant as to be terror stricken
all the time for fear he will be called
! Ignorant by some sap-hcad or so COW.
| ardly that he is afraid to think his
| own thoughts for fear some graft
| loving editor will find out what he is
thinking about and adversely criticize
| him therefor"
| AIr. Macon expressed the belief that
| Peary and Cook. on one of the trips
to the north, when they were com
panions, figured out that it would be
easy for man TO fake" a discovery
of the pole, and he charged that they
both started out at the same time to
claim the discovery. He declared that
instead of being rewarded with pro.
| motion to the rank of rear-admiral, as
! President Taft and the Committee on
! Naval Affairs have recommended
| Peary's feat was at best worthy onav
Of a medal like those awarded TO Mara
thon runners. h
Press Gallery Empty.
When Mr.. Macon had concluded Mr..
Moore replied to what he termed "a
most unjust and outrageous assault.
| for newspapers and newspaper men,
and he had noted with pride that the
press gallery had remained empty
| throughout the time the gentleman
from Arkansas had the floor.
II am glad to lanow,"9 said Mr. Moore.
that no one IN that gallery was will
| ing to sit there and listen TO the
diatribes of the gentleman from
Arkansas offensive as they We're, upon
one Of the great linen of this country
or to listen to the violent epithets he
applied to newspaper editors"
| Mr.. Moore proceeded to pay a glow
| ing tribute to Captain Peary, saying
| that his attainment Of the pole had
come at the end Of twenty-three years
of laborious work. and unknown hard.
ships. Peary, he said, had brought back
| scientific information, coveted by all
| the other countries OF the world lie
| took Mr.. Macon sharply to task for HE
praise Of foreign heroes and his aun:
| Just .remarks' about a son of America
Mr.. Moore said he resented the terms
| ''faker" and loafer"l applied to Captain
| Peary by Mr.. Macon.
/ Representative Saunders. OF Virginia,
spoke briefly in support Of Captain
Peary. He declared there was nothing
to uphold Mr.. N1acons attempt to dis
credit, Peary's story. Subjected to
every test. fheE asserted that Captain
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