On November 12, 1904, the Commission addressed the following communication to the President of the Exposition Company, forbidding the use of the signature of the president of the Commission to any certificate of award until the matter at issue was determined.

    NOVEMBER 12, 1904.

SIR:  Your letter of November 8 received and contents noted.  The statements contained therein as to what occurred in your office on the 19th of October in your interview with Mr. Betts, Mr. Miller, and the writer do not accord with the distinct recollection or understanding of any of the three parties mentioned.

I am glad to know that our communications will hereafter be in writing, that these misunderstandings may be avoided.  The National Commission is in entire accord with this position, and we will try and observe our part of this understanding.

The informal conferences between the members of the National Commission and representatives of your company seem to have resulted in no definite understanding, and the Commission therefore insists that arbitration be had to determine the true effect and meaning of section 6 of the act of Congress approved March 3, 1901, as affecting the rights and duties of the National Commission to approve or not approve the awards.

    In the meantime and until this question is determined the
    Commission can not authorize the use of its president’s
    signature on any certificate of award.

    In any arrangement preliminary to the settlement of this
    controversy the writer will be pleased to confer with your
    arbitration committee at any time.

    Very respectfully,

    JOHN M. ALLEN,
    Acting President.

    Hon. D.R.  FRANCIS,
    President Exposition Company, Building.

After many futile efforts to reach an agreement as to the subject-matter to be submitted for arbitration, it became obvious to the Commission that it was the intention of the Exposition Company to ignore the right of the Commission to finally consider or approve the awards of the superior jury.  Under these circumstances the president of the Commission was directed, on November 22, 1904, by resolution, to forward to the president of the Exposition Company a communication summing up the controversy and stating clearly the stand taken by the Commission.

The communication is as follows: 

    St. Louis, November 22, 1904.

Sir:  To the end that an understanding may be reached as to issues involved in correspondence between your company and the National Commission, extending from the month of May, 1904, almost to the present date, relative to the appointment of jurors and the awarding of premiums, it appears desirable and necessary that the law and the facts be briefly stated and the relative position of your company and the Commission clearly defined.