Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-06
Public Opinion of DIR. Cook
Unchanged by New Argument

Capt. Amundsen gave the country
something Of a shock by his recent re-
marks concerning Arctic explorers on
the occasion of his visit to DR.. Cook at
the Leavenworth Penientiary. The
captain later explained that he was
not correctly quoted. and that his ref.
erences to Peary we're misunderstood,
but in the meantime other explorers
and scientists had come forward with
statements, and the argument of II
years ago was on again. Newspaper
comment indicates that the public gen.
orally. at least. is not disposed to
alter its very definite opinion Of DR..
Cooks claim, formed long before the
discredited explorer WAS sent to prison
as an oil stock swindler.
Regret that Capt Amundsen should
have revived the old controversy Is
felt by the New York Times. ut was
bad enough for him to seek to re.
habilitate DR.. Cook" says the Times,
but 1t was worse and almost unfor-
givable for him in the same breath to
try to discredit Peary. The latter's
claim to have attained the North Pole
was subjected to the same searching
ordeal as DIR. Cooks. with the differ
ence that Peary came out everywhere
triumphant and acclaimed. His proofs
were accepted as conclusive.
X y X
The Pittsburgh Gazette Times de-
clares that "Peary may be discredited,
but to restore confidence In COOK, un-
der tho circumstances, Is q hopeless
effort" Calling Amundsen's statement
"a feeble revival Of the controversy.
the Duluth Herald observes: And the
main purpose it has served is to raise
the question what real difference IT
makes who did it or whether anybody
did 1t. And, considering the real devo.
ton and ambition and endurance ana
heroism that were put into the project,
it is pathetic to think how little real
difference 1t makes to the world VINO
stood at the imaginary point that rep
resents the North Pole"
when the doctors disagree, where
is the public to look for the truth!
asks the st. Paul Dispatch. The po-
lar regions are a closed book to all put
a handful of men. Others must take
their revelations on faith. They nave
no means of checking the various
claims to discoveries in the wastes
about either pole. All the public sees
in the controversy is dispute among
explorers.
X X y X
Praising Amundsen's loyalty to an
old friend, the Louisville Herald-Post
thinks he Will find it difficult to alter
the opinion of the world. THE Peary-
Cook controversy has been settled al
most beyond reopening," the Louis
Vile paber adds, land DR.. Cook him.
self has been chiefly instrumental In
disposing Of the issue In favor OF
Comdr. Peary." The Dayton Daily
News also suggests that doubtless,
after the storm blows over. North Pole
history will remain unchanged until
some other intrepid explorer Is able to
elaborate on the observations made by
Admiral Peary, heretofore 1nVesugat-
ed and approved by leading scientists
Of the world, who, at the same time'
placed the alleged records OF DR..
Cooks work In the same category az
the tales Of Baron Munchausen."
Noting that the controversy was
considered settled II years ago, the
Seattle Daily Times adds: Public
sentiment has long since crystaLized
on that great achievement. Every en-
cyclopedia and every other author1ta'
tive work makes the confident asser.
ton that Peary reached 80 degrees
north latitude April 6, 1903. Nothing
that Capt. Amundsen or DR.. Cook
could say at this time would change
that historical fact" In fact. the
Roanoke Times thinks the American
public will decline to take any interest
In efforts to reopen the question. The
Binghamton Press is inclined to think
that most people have an UNLIMITED
|eapacitx 1es Kidding themseaTeAs ana