Describe symbolism in The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness in the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson

In Part One, Daniel Burnham invited five architects to work on the designs for the World Exposition Fair, even though he did not have the authority to hire them. Three of the architects were from New York: Richard M. Hunt, George B. Post and Charles McKim. Robert Peabody was from Boston, Massachusetts and one was from Kansas City, Henry Van Brunt. He had invited none from Chicago. He did this to ensure all of America would realize this was not going to be a little backwater animal exhibit, but an exposition that would compete with the Exposition in Paris. However, because of his actions, he alienated the architects of Chicago. Although these men are not main characters, without their appearance in the story, some issues and challenges would not be as easily understood. These characters serve as a symbol of some of the first challenges to the Exposition.