South Bend news-times., 1915-01-18

discovered the north pole" from the
bill hOnoring Engineer Peary and sub
stituted these words: Which resulted
in his having reached the North
reach the North Pole, but only one
can discover" it. Query-"WhO dis
covered the North Pole?"
If you went to Europe and boast
ingly claimed that an American dis
covered the North Pole, how could you
prove your statement?
The News-Times has selected this
subject for an essay contest because it
is a subject about which there has
been more comments and discussions
than almost any other national event
in the last decade and it is well for
the students to know the facts in the
case because il will eventually be Of
ficially settled by the government and
then the students will understand the
decision
On April 80 1914, Sen. Miles Poin-
dexter introduced a bill in the senate
expressing the thanks Of congress to
covery of the North Pole on April
21, 1908. This bill was referred TO
the committee on library
On June %, 1914, Hon Charles B.
Smith Of New York introduced house
joint resolution 2S2, providing for ac-
tion by congress to determine the
priority of the discovery of the North
Pole. This bill was referred to the
committee on naval affairs. 1t is eX-
pected that both of these bills will
come up for investigation and pas
sage during the present session of
congress.
The discovery of the North Pole by
an American citizen some years ago
stirred the world and especially the
United States as no other event in
history has done in the last decade
Glory and honor was heaped upon
the first 10 announce his discovery. He
was made a hero the world over and
wOrshipped throughout the land. Sud-
denly there was d change, a rival ex-
plorer reported that he also reached
the pole DR.. Cook at once wired his
CONGRATULATIONS TO Commander Peary
and generously said: There is honor
and glory enough for two" Had
Peary accepted this cOngratulatiOn and
rendered Dr. Cook the same. both Of
our American pole reaCherS3 would
have been honored heros today, and
the ungracious and world famous con-
I troVersv between Peary and Cook
would never have bloted the glory Of
the great achievement r.hich had
baffled the worlds explorers for cen
turies. Peary was not satisfied. how
ever, with a second victory so ne
chose To deny Dr. Cooks success IN
order TO acquire for himself the whole
honor of the achievement lie i'm
mediately cabled that DR.. Cook was
a fake and that he had handed the
world a gold brick. When ne pub
lished his report. however. it was SO
near like DR. Cooks in every scientific
detail that most all explorers at once
said that if Cook had handed the
world a gold brick. Peary had fol
lowed up with a paste diamond
The fight is still on and The News
Times feels that in the research the
students must necessarily make in
order 10 write the essays. that they
will be benefited in three different
lines of school work; j e. the history
OF polar exploration, the geography of
the north and the English necessary
in the writing Of a good theme.
The News-Times will publish articles
from time To time advising the prog
ress OF the contest and will pubHcl2s
answer any reasonable question which
may be asked to aid the students in
securing the facts 10 embody in their
essays.
For further Information address
The News Times contest department