South Bend news-times., 1915-01-18
WHO DISCOVERED NORTH POLE?
Topic for NEWS-TIMES Essay Contest Open to Gram
mar Grade Public ParochaD or High School Pupils
Terms and Prizes.

Should the school children be
taught the truth? Yes, goes up a
chorus of voices. Are they being
taught the truth by our modern his
tories? The way to find out is to start
a little investigation of your own.
Look in the history and see whether
il saws DR.. Cook or Commander Peary
discovered the North Pole, then write
the authors and ask them their au-
thority for making a positive state
ment in either case. In nine cases out
of 10 the authors will not reply TO
your letters at all; but if they do they
Will probably say that their statement
was based upon general opinion at
the time the history was written. Is
general opinion or hear-say authority
enough TO make any statement in his
tory? We must remember that these
histories are taught to our children as
the truth, and they should be found
ed upon absolute facts.
The Congressional Record is the
only official organ OF this government
and there is nothing in it, nor never
has been that is proof that either DR..
Cook or Peary discovered the pole"
Then why should the authors of our
histories take 1t upon themselves to
make statements which they cannot
prove.
The News Times has always advo-
Gated fair play and justice and has
therefore decided TO start an investi-
CATION among the students of the
South Bend schools with the view of
getting them to study the much de-
bated question of the polar discov-
cry and decide who. in their opinion,
is entitled to the claimed title of dis
coverer of the North Pole"
To this end we are offering $50
worth of prizes in books, these to be
given to the authors OF the best So
essays on the subject of: WHO Dis
covered the North Pole"
The prizes consist of so copies of
DR.. Cooks $50 page book, MY At
tainment of the Pole" (Which sells for
500 per copy and two copies Of
the De Luxe edition of the same
book (Which sells for 5000.
The two de luxe books will be given
as grand prizes for the pest two out
of the best 50 essays selected as prize
winners.
The essays should not exceed 1000
words in length. and should be writ
ten and delivered at The News-Times
office Contest department. not later
than Thursday. Feb. 4. The ESSAYS
will be graded and the names of the
winners and the best essay Will be
{
Z. The winners may call at The
News-Times office any time thereafter
and get their books.
This is a non partisan contest. Equal
consideration will be given the essays
whether they favor either Cook or
Peary. The essays will be graded up
on the correctness of the material
presented. the logic of the argument,
authority cited and the general neat
ness of the work. In making state
ments be sure 10 cite your authority,
and in cases of individuals give name
and address Mere assertions VIII not
be considered as evidence. Consult
the teachers in the various schools Tor
assistance in arriving at the truth;
also visit the library.
Nothing is ever settled until 1t is
settled right BY digging into this
polar controversy. you viii learn the
method OF the investigator; YOU viii
help 10 lift the stigma Of dlshonor
from our national escutcheOn and aid
in placing on record an appreciation
of him who first. forced his way over
those perilous mid-pOlar seas ana.
lifted the stars and stripes at the
North Pole
Any student OF the grammar or high
school grades may compete IN TINS
contest. Before sending in your essays
be sure that YOUR name and street ad-
dress is written plainly. also the name
Of the school YOU attend and your
grade or year in that school so that
there VIII he no competition between
younger and older students who COM
pete.
Here are some facts worth remem-
bering; Congress struck out the words,