The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-03-21
ALL AWARDS VOID
At ST. LOUIS FAIR
So Declares Senator Carter,
ex-Superyising Head.
COMPANY VIOLATED LAW
Montanan Alleges Neglect of Duty by
Exposition Oficials-Now Await.
ing Report to Hay.

Developments in the alleged scandals
connected with the award of Worlds
Fair medals and diplomas at St. Louis
are expected in profusion after the final
report of the exposition company man
agement has been filed with the Secre-
tary of State within the next two
months.
This is the prediction made by men
who have some knowledge Of the affairs
of the great exposition lately concluded
at the Mound City. and they intimate
there will be surprises in store for
great many people interested In the
management of the big show, as well as
some eye-openers for the people who
have not up to this time had a peep be-
hind the scenes.
ALI Awards Illegal.
Not only is the charge heard that
many awards were made in total disre-
gard of merit. but 1t is declared that all
the awards made. even in cases of
proved merit. are Illegal under the cir
cumstances under which they were
granted
The law specifically stated that all in
tended awards had to be submitted by
the exposition company to the EXPOSE
stion National Commission for approval
before becoming valid. For some reason
or other the exposition company has re-
fused to comply with this law. it is de-
clared, and has sent out its awards en-
tirely independent of the national COM
MISSIONS sanction.
What Carter Says.
Senator Thomas H. Carter. of Mon
tana. who until taking his seat in the
Senate on March a was president of the
national commission, has no hesitancy
in conflrming the allegation that all
awards are invalid. Commenting on this
point to The tImes today he said:
The law required that all awards
De submitted to the national commission
Tor its approval before being promuI-
gated. Shortly after the work of the
Juries had been completed very serious
charges We're filed with the national
commission, Involving the integrity of
certain awards. These charges the ma
fional commission could not investigate
until the awards were submitted to that
body for approval and the company re-
FUSED to submit the awards for the ap-
prevail of the commission as required by
law.
None of the awards were ever sub
United to the national commission, so,
consequently none OF the charges have
been investigated. So far as the COM
mission is aware officially no awards
have been made; and If made as cur
rently reported, they are not valid
Taken Into Court.
Asked whether any steps had beer
taken to have the awards declared null
and void, Senator Carter said:
@AOne of the parties aggrieved by the
alleged fraudulent practice has caused
restraining order to be issued againsr
the exposition company, whereby the
company Is restrained from making any
award or attempting to make any aware
pending the disposition of these pro
ceedings by the court The action wa.
instituted In the district court a ST
Louis, before Judge Sanborn sitting Ii
in Judge Pollock of Kansas, before whom
the case was argued and who is expected
TO hand down decision in the near fu
ture.
Awaiting Official Report.
Much speculation is INDUCED in as t,
what will occur when the exposition
company forwards its report to the Sec
rotary of State. Unless It evades tn
question altogether, it must admit OF
the face of the report that ii did no
obey the plain provisions of the law
Under which two appropriations wer
made by Congress, one of S., 900, 900 AM
another of s4,50o,0oo. to make the fair
success The second appropriati ol
was loan. and was duly repaid to tn
Government in instailments.
From the viewpoint of the nationa
commission, says ex-President Carter
no awards in anywise legal have bee1
made by the exposition company, al
though many may have been an
nounced." The exposition compan
cannot boldly admit as much. The
will have to advance the claim tina
they have acted within their powers
With the law staring them in tn
face. how are they going TO do it
That is the question which exhibitor
and public men are asking. Meanwhile
the magazines and other current pc
riodicals are filed with advertisements
declaring that the advertiser has re
ceyed the only true blue. yard wide
topnotch mark of excellence. "equale
by few and excelled by none F-ror
all that IS in the air now concernin
these awards, some of the advertiser
o. the present day will have to with
draw their extreme claims after tn
Secretary Of State takes action on tn
exposition company's report.