iven by this act to the said company, or to the said
National Commission to modify or approve any act of the other of
the two bodies, shall be referred for determination," and to
notify you that we insist upon such arbitration if your company
insists upon its refusal to submit these awards to the National
Commission for approval.

The matters to be submitted to said arbitration board are as
follows:

First. The right of the National Commission to have submitted
for its approval the awards found under the jury system and
ready to be promulgated by the superior jury.

Second. If our contention as to our rights in this matter be
found by said board of arbitration against us, then as to
whether or not the rules and regulations adopted by the local
company and the National Commission governing the system of
awards have been so complied with as to bind the National
Commission to any approval of the system by which the awards
have been made.

Third. Whether or not, under the rules and regulations, it is
necessary for the president of the National Commission to sign
the diplomas or certificate of awards; and if so, can his name
be put on such diplomas or certificates without his consent.

We trust any further announcement of the awards of the superior
jury may be withheld until this matter shall have been
arbitrated.

Respectfully,

THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION COMMISSION,
JOHN M. ALLEN, _Acting President_.

Hon. D.R. FRANCIS,
_President Exposition Company, Building_.

A formal acknowledgment of this letter was received from Secretary
Stevens, with the advice that the same had been placed before the
executive committee for consideration.

At about this time there appeared in several St. Louis newspapers
advertisements of prominent firms of St. Louis, setting forth the
alleged fact that they had been awarded grand prizes on their exhibits,
and in connection with such advertisements was displayed a cut of an
official award ribbon, bearing the facsimile signature of the president,
the director of exhibits, the secretary of the Exposition Company, and
the chief of the department in which the exhibit was made.

The fact that the awards were being advertised broadcast in this manner
before they had been approved by the Commission was called to the
attention of President Francis by Mr. Allen, acting