more protests were lodged in early july 1949, by four brokers in the firm: paul brown & co, a. g. edwards & sons, edward d. jones & co. and i. m. simon & co.. they said they "deny the right of any majority of the members of the exchange here to dissolve." on july 14, 1949, the governing committee of the st. louis stock exchange signed a formal contract to join the new midwest exchange, overruling the four members firm who had recently voiced opposition. the official merger between the five midwest exchanges was set for september 15, 1949.