South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-10-07
dence That
Did and
Didn't,
That Cook
Did and
PearyDidn't,
That Both
Did and
Both Didn't
By Hon. S. d. FeSS,

TN what l am about 10 say ] shall voice
my sentiments not only as a Member
Of Congress. but in the spirit OF an
educator college president a teacher
OF history, and as a citizen Jealous that
there should be no perversions of our
American history.
Ii is well for US 10 remember that the
forum selected by Dr. Cook for the de-
termination Of his claims was the Uni
versity Of Copenhagen. He sent it what
he declared we're his proofs of mis- alleged
discovery Of the North Pole.
The committees final verdict and the
verdict Of the university COnsistOry is eK-
pressed formally in the finding OF the
latter:
The documents handed the university
for examination do not contain Obserya-
tiOns and information which can be re-
garded as proof that Dr. Cook reached
the North Pole on his recent expedition"
Rasmussen, a noted Arctic explorer
who has favored Dr. Cooks claim. was
called in as an expert by the universitys
committee he is reported as saying.
when l saw the observations. / real
ICED that 1t was a scandal. The dOcu-
nents which DIT. Cook sent 10 the uni
versity are most impudent 1t Is the most
childish sort of attempt at cheating"
AS % the position of Amundsen, the
discoverer OF the South Pole. / quote az
follows from the report OF an interview
with him:
There was absolutely nothing in these
alleged observations Of Or. Cook" said
Captain Amundsen. ct was all fake and
could have deceived nobody. Thus. IN
sorrow, was / forced 70 the conclusion
hot old 10 1yfn
After the University Of Copenhagen
found that Dr. Cook had utterly failed to
establish his claim, it viii be remembered
that he was discredited by and expelled
from membership in Americas leading or
CARNATIONS Of explorers.
Would not a man Of a keen sense Of
honor, If he had a righteous claim and
really believed il should be investigated
instead Of maintaining a lobby in
Washington and besieging Congress, pre-
sent his facts 10 the organizations OF eX-
perts in explC alton, which had expelled
him. and ask them 10 reinstate him?
DR. Cooks contention that he assembled
10 the summit OF Mount Mckinley two or
three years prior 70 his claim with re-
spect 10 the North Pole is a matter with
which the public generally is so thorough
" familiar that il is hardly worth while
70 comment thei con extensively.
il will be remembered that upon DIT.
Cooks return from the Arctic regions in
1909 the guide who he alleged went 70
the top of Mount Mckinley with him an
nOunced that they never had been 70 the
summit and that the picture Or. Cook
took with this guide holding a flag on
the top was miles from the peak Or.
Cook. with respect 20 this. asserted that
this was merely a plot Of Admiral PeaTy
y rr-Ht.o % Lrfu
the trouble TO examine the newspaper
files of that period can readily ascertain
for himself that this guide repudiated
Cooks claim before u vas even known
that Peary had reached the North Pole.
for at the time he had not yet been
even heard from.
Every true American educator must
resent the recent efforts 10 poison the
minds OF the children OF this country
with respect 10 the discovery OF the North
Pole. Many newspapers seem 20 have
been misled and have fallen into the
trap Of offering DR.. Cooks book as
prizes for essays from the children upon
the subject OF the priority OF the dis
covery Of the North Pole. and then
while the children were in the act OF
writing such essays. printing a mass Of
material furnished by DR.. Cook and giving
a wholly distorted idea OF the facts
Further comment upon such activities
IS unnecessary. 7 would not close the
door Of investigation even TO Or. Cook
but he is not entitled 10 one In any
direction until he acts In a manner that
accOrds with his pretensiOns. II he has
any bona fde claims there is but one
honest course for him 10 pursue Let
him In a STRAIGHTFORWARD manner submit
them 10 the forum he himself selected
he University If Copenhagen. or lsy them
before the American organizations q
scientific experts which have expelled
MIN from membership and secure rein
statement Until be has done so and
removed the stigma which rests upon
him as a result of his expulsion from
the organizations Of American explorer;
and experts upon Arctic conditions hs
should not, through a lobby, press III
claims upon the attention OF Congress
men. who know little. il anything. OF po!a-
research and less OF the scientific o6ser
vaT<nug ua~aerarv n urOg7 fnam