The St. Louis Republic., 1901-01-12
Captain Gerlach Of Ohio National
Guard Declares Exposition Com
pany Owes His Command 5000.
RECALLS COMPETITIVE DRILL.
He Says Provisions Of Contest
Were Changed Without His Con-
scnt-Manager Atkinson Says
Commanders Agreed.

Captain r II. GerIach. commanding Com
pany ID. Eight Ohio Infantry. National
Guard. with quarters at Wooster. intends TO
bring suit In behalf Of his company.
| against the St Louis Exposition and Music
Hall Association to recover SEQ. which he
claims is due II as third prize in the
drill contest. which took place in the
Coliseum between October and s. Attorney
T. Percy Carr Of this city has been re-
tanned to carry on the suit.
It appears that the Exposition Company
offered 1900 to be distributed In prizes
among the militia companies making the
four highest percentages in the competitive
drill The first prize was TO be 500. the
second $500 third s30 and fourth prize 800.
Circular letters were sent 10 militia or
ganizations in various States reciting these
facts. together with the conditions ana
regulations. under which the drill would be
carried on.
When the time came for the contest, there
were only four companies to take the field.
These were Companies G and ID OF the Flrst
Missouri, Company u. Second Wisconsin
and Company D. Eighth Ohio. IL was clear
that unless one OF the organlzatlons
dropped out at the last minute that each
was sure OF a prize. To avoid this the TX
position management reduced the numoer
OF prizes to two. making the first prize
500 and the second $50. II Is claimed by
the management that all the company COM
manders agreed to this arrangement
Captain Gerlach says that he did not
agree TO the arrangement. and, further
that he was never informed that any sucn
change in the prizes had been made lie
states positively that he never attendeo
any meeting where the matter was dis
cussed and was not approached on the SUD
iect With his company, he left st. Louis
before the awards were made. and when
Informed that his company was third ne
he Iieved that the 500 would be forthcom-
ing telegram informing him Of the re-
suits OF the drill was sent Captain Gerlach
by Manager W. J. Atkinson OF the ENposi-
tiOn.
| When he understood that he was not 10
receive any money whatever. and was told
Of the change that had been made in the
number of prizes. Captain Gerlach COM
municated with the Captains OF tie other
three companies. asking them IL they had
attended any meeting at which the prize
question had been brought up. They all
Csptain had received a letter from the
manager Of the Exposition. which stated
that u meeting OF the commanding ofhcers
OF the four companies had been held in ST
Louis and their opinion asked as TO
whether or not they would prefer having
the number Of prizes reduced TO two. and
the amounts increased. The letter says that
this plan was agreed to and states positive
Is that Captain Gerlach was present at
that meeting. as were the other three cap
tains.
Captain Edward Murphy. commanding
Company D. First Missouri. said yesterday
that he had not attended any meeting or
the Kind. and had never even heard of one
being held. Captain Emil c. Plonsky OF
Company +. Second Wisconsin. which won
first prize. stated that he did not attend
any meeting and was surprised when ne
received 800 more than he expected He
did not make any complaint. however. as.
he says ne knew nothing of dissatisfaction
among the other cOntesting companies
w J. Atkinson. manager OF the Exposi-
tion said yesterday that the 1900 in
prizes had been given per agreement. He
stated that the number of prizes was re-
duced to two from four. as there were only
four contestants. and that the arrange
ment had been agreed 10 by the company
commanders lie says that the Exposition
will contest any suit which is brought to
recover additional prize money