REPORT 20 THE ADVISORY BOARD OP THE OLD SPANISH TRAIL AT SAIT AHT0I7I0 OCTOBER 17, 1922 BY THE LIAHAGIITG DIRECTOR
There lias been iso much prison spread abroad ir. recent months', and so many demoralizing influences that are merely demagogic pretense at good for the Old Spanish Trail that as a personal matter I would he willing to give all the facts to the members' and the newspapers and let the tribunal of ptiblic opinion act. Intrigue and misrepresentation would then soon stop, and the interest of the people in this project' would react and' give it* new life. I had n'ot been bach in San Antonio from the eastern imrk and ±jsaa the Washington work two weeks before I had all the evidence needed for this policy of publicity.
.But there wore many in Ban Antonio who have' supported this work since Headquarters has beer, here, and* as San Antonians and as Texans they preferred to work out the situation constructively and prove that San Antonio could be trusted In the leadership of this big, national undertaking.
I	shared this iieamccf feeling, and waived my reasons for reporting promptly to the members, and then to trust'the people to drive out the influences that had operated so recklessly in my seven months absence.
In this more constructive policy it was necessary to' determine the facts free from all personal e nsiderations, so I appointed' a committee of five substantial and successful business men of San Antonio to investigate and report. All these men Have been members of the Association from the beginning' an'd four of then arc members' of the advisory Board.
Their business standing assures their independence. To insure a thoro and impartial investigation the public auditors previously employed by the President, and also the attorneys of the Association, were placed at the command of this Committee. The President accepted this committee as satisfactory and agreed to abide by its conclusions.
" This* Committee, ;v,.d the auditors, and the attorneys, spent a month inquiring into all" activities. A mere audit of books doesn't nocessarily 3how reckless or injudicious disbursements, wasteful policies, stupid methods, illegal conduct or false representation.
This Committee lias been ready to report since September 18th. By one excuse and another the meeting of the Advisory Board to roec-ive that report has been delayed. meanwhile in keeping with my de'sire to allow the Committee absolute freedom I have refrained from assuming' control of affairs. It seems however that the President has taken advantage of this attitude, and instead of awaiting the report and recommendations of the Committee and of this Advisory Board, §e has gone on more recklessly than before.
This Committee now unanimously recommends the resignation of the President. The report;show that the policies in force before the period of usurpation wero good and the auditors recommend they be made the fixed policies"' of the Association, and this Committee accepts'as proper for the businesslike conduct of the work.
The President now refuses to resign despite the fact he pledged himself before this Board to abide by the judgment of this Committee. This final act of discredit, coupled with his continued efforts to confuse the issues with demagogic pretenses makes it*necessary to give the whole Suory t.o the public, lor as reputable non we cannot continue to keep