CHAPTER II.

THE PILLARS OF THE EXPOSITION.

The Men to Whose Charge the Construction of the Great Work Has Been Intrusted From Its
Conception — Officials of the Directory — Standing Committees — Council of Administration and
Board of Control — Forty-Five Big Earnest Men of Chicago.

B* N THE2ist or. December 1890, the President of the United
States issued a proclamation extending an invitation to the
nations of the earth to participate in the Columbian Ex-
position to be held in Chicago. On the i4th of April, 1891,
William T. Baker was elected President of the Local
Board to succeed Lyman J. Gage, who had declined re-
election and refused his salary of $6,000, which was to his
credit on the books. Mr. Baker was re-elected one year
afterward, but soon after resigned on account of ill health,
and Mr. Harlow N. Higinbothom was unanimously elected
to serve the unexpired term of Mr. Baker. At the annual
meeting of directors in April, 1893, Mr- Higinbotham was again unanimously chosen
President, and the following is the roster of the Board at the present time:
President — Harlow N. Higinbotham.

Vice-President — ist, Ferdinand W. Peck; 2d, Robert A. Waller.
Secretary — Howard O. Edmonds; Assistant Secretary, Samuel A. Crawford.
Treasurer — Anthony F. Seeberger.

Auditor — William K. Ackerman; Assistant Auditor, Charles V. Barrington.
Solicitor General — Edwin Walker' Assistant Attorneys, George Packar,
Charles H. Baldwin, Joseph Cummins.

The following is the Board of Directors: — William T. Baker, The Temple.