on the part of the exhibitors is in direct conflict with the law and with the agreement had with you by the National Commission, and if it is being done with the approval of your company, we desire again to protest against it.  We understood after our demand for arbitration on the construction of the law as to the right of the National Commission to approve or disapprove of awards, that your company agreed to our contention, and that these awards were to be submitted to us before being published.  If your understanding does not accord with ours, we again ask for arbitration.  If it does accord with ours, we insist that the spirit of this agreement be adhered to.

    Very respectfully,

    JOHN M. ALLEN,
    Acting President.

    Hon. D.R.  FRANCIS,
    President Louisiana Purchase Exposition
    Company, Administration Building.

The following communication was received from President Francis, in reply to Mr. Allen’s letter: 

    NOVEMBER 4, 1904.

DEAR SIR:  I am in receipt of contents of your letter of this date concerning the advertisement of the Brown Shoe Company of their awards.  It surprised me as much as it did you.  I have instituted inquiries, and as soon as I ascertain by whose authority the announcement was put in the papers, I shall advise you.  Of course you know that the exposition authorities had no knowledge of such an advertisement until it was given to the public.  These ribbons are sold by a concessionaire, who was instructed weeks ago to sell none of them until the awards are officially announced.

    Very truly, yours,

    D.R.  FRANCIS,
    President.

    Hon. J.M.  ALLEN,
    Acting President National Commission, St. Louis, Mo.

Shortly after the receipt of the foregoing letter from President Francis another letter bearing the same matter was delivered to the Commission, as follows: 

    NOVEMBER 4, 1904.

DEAR SIR:  Since writing you a hurried note this morning, I have read your letter more carefully, and desire to state in addition that, referring to that portion of your letter relating to what you term an “agreement” between this company and the National Commission that no award can be made without being approved by the Commission, I beg to say I am not advised of such an agreement or understanding having been made.  It was our understanding that, before official notification to exhibitors, a list of the awards made by the superior jury would be furnished by the secretary of said jury to the Commission and also to this company for their information and for the purpose of giving to the Commission and to this company an opportunity to call the attention of the jury (or the committee of five now acting as such) to any errors which the Commission or this company might discover, so that the same might be considered and corrected before giving official notification to the exhibitors.  My understanding is that the committee of five are sending these lists as fast as its clerical force can make them out.

    Yours, truly,