Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-27
MEDALS AND DIPLOMAS
Cha; ma: A. I. Britton Reports on Worlds
Fair Awards.
What the Committee Did and Why
The System a Good One and
Satisfactory.

Interesting information, even to those
who did not succeed in winning a medal
or Diploma at the latest of. the great ex-
positions, is in the recently completed final
report of the. executive committee of
awards Of the worlds Columbian exposi-
ton, report written and submitted by
Mr.. A. T. Britton of this city, who since
the retirement of Mr. John Boyd Thatcher
seriously indisposed-has been acting chair
man of the committee. The report shows
that the committee did great deal Of very
valuable work: Conferred with the hon.
orable Secretary Of the Treasury concern
ing the medals and diplomas to be pro-
vided by him; prepared rules and regula-
lions to govern awards; adjusted differ
ences with the foreign commissions on ac-
count of certain features of the system of
awards which had been adopted; selected
ana appointed over 500 judges Of awards,
domestic and foreign. for all departments
OF the exposition; assisted the several de-
partmental committees of judges to make a
systematic beginning and completion of
their iabors; and otherwise administered
Inc affairs Of the bureau of awards"
After discussing the manner in which
awards had been made at prior EXPOSE
TONS the report insists that the Column
oian system of awards was absolutely fair
ana was. in the light OF experience, the
best tGat could possibly be devised.
The report states that the measure Of
success Is not determined. as some appear
to have thought, 'by the greatness in
number of the awards granted but rather
by the extent to which justice was done
the exhibits-that justice resulting from
the competency, thoroughness and fidelity
OF the judges. who discovered and made
record of such real points of excellence as
entitled an exhibit to commentator and
final approval. Indeed. this competency
and this faithfulness of the judges are on
the contrary. best determined by the few
ness of awards in proportion to the whole
number of exhibits, If coupled with but
few appeals from the decisions rendered.
Correcting n Misrepresentation.
One of the misapprehersions cherished
by those who opposed the non-competitive
system of awards was that in the absence
of conflicting interests and efforts on the
pert of eXhibitors-in other words, with
freedom of action on the part Of judges.
possessing authority to grant as many
awards as they should think deserving
there would be such an excess of awards
as would cheaper their value. The result
was exactly the reverse. The responsible
ity imposed upon the individual judge,
first of declaring to the world his decision,
over his own signature. and secondly of
giving his reasons therefor, proved a mark
ed restraining influence; so that with about
100000 exhibits and 65.422 exhibitors. and
awards numbering but 1855. the per cent
of awards at Chicago was less than at any
former International exhibition as the fol-
lowing statement will show:
Proportion of Medals to Exhibitors.
Per cent.
London exposition of 1851.
Paris exposition Of 1855. 46
Paris exposition of 1867. .................. 80
Vienna exposition of 1873. CO
exposition of 1876. ~
Paris exposition of 1873. IS
Paris exposition of 1880 ............. So
Worlds Columbian exposition. .......... &c
The total number of medals awarded for
number of medals awarded the United
states was 9,Sf6, so that in all %, $50 med
Ills were bestowed. Foreign countries cap
-ured 1896 diplomas, while the United
States secured possession of IL, 500, max
ng total of 1888 diplomas.
Foreign honors went to Germany, the
of that country winning
,,51S medals and 2,649 diplomas: Japan was
mas; Bohemia, Cyprus. Hawaii, Iceland,
Mauritius, Malta, Madeira, Palestine
New Caledonia and West Africa bring up
he rear with one medal and one diploma
ZACH
C.s~Iy yE~lI e-.isrcs - II WIZ.
There is intimation in the report that
he executive committee on awards is not
ntirely pleased with the fact that the
medals and diplomas are still incomplete,
md have not been furnished those persons
o whom they were awarded. but the COM
nittee contents itself with putting the
,lame on the Treasury Department.
The committee claims credit for having
Lone. "of all the standing committees of
he national commission, from beginning to
nd. managed, unaided, its own assigned
work. With the civilized world as its field
f operation, and dealing with the conflict
rg interests and wishes of nearly $1,000 |
Exhibitors and 100000 exhibits, it would be |
omething more than human to expect |
hat some dissatisfaction may not. have |
Xisted as to the manner in which the |
unctions OF the committee have been per |
ormed; but having fair consideration of |
IL surrounding conditions, the committee,
n this final report, submits its work with |
reat corhdence that it will stand the test |
f just criticism"