The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1896-12-18

ln my absence from conference Boo salt
Lake. from which was excused by
President Taylor ON account of illness
90 my family Elder e. o. Card was
chosen stake president to succeed Bishop
Preston. who had been called TO the office
he now holds. a few days later was
informed by a member of my quorum as
to the action taken In the matter Of the
Cache stake presidency, and my opinion
was asked about It. stated that since
Elder Card had been unanimously cho.
sen I would acqulesce Later on. an ef
for, was made to remove President
Card, which | opposed. | took the
ground that, while Brother Merrill was
the stronger character, would oppose
be removal of President Gard as his ap.
polntmcnt was generally known among
the people and his summary dismissal
was sure to result In his lrrcparable In.
jury. ! only mention this matter b,
cause there Is no foundatio, for com.
plant In the other incident. and you
may have confused :hc two. cite this
as possible reason for your charge be.
cause ! have no desire to bubble
Here Il another OF your specific
charges
when Wiliotd Woodruh's accession
TO the presidency was under consider
a'ion' a. the proper successor he
expressed opinions which showed that
ne regarded human smartness and
business ability a. above that simplicity.
Of character and susceptibility to divine
Impressions which are notable In that
aithiul servant of God, and objected
that such man could not grasp the
situation of aHairo or cope with the
difficulties arising. lie was oyerruled
but persisted In his views"
To my mind there never was any
question about the "proper successor" TO
President Taylor. I did not regard Il
as a debatable matter, for always held
President Woodruff as the logical sue.
cessor to President TAYLOR. main.
tanned this at the time and have since
testified to IT, proprlety on many oces.
sions. have always held that, with
the death OF a presiden, dies the author.
ity of his counselors, and the supreme
authority Of the church Is then vested In
the quorum OF apostles. Upon the death
of President Taylor MILFORD Woodruff,
as the head OF the leading quorum Of the
church. was therefore the leading oil.
Ger In the church. In my view no one
mad right TO assume his authority or
issue addresses 10 the Latter day Saints
Ignoring MIN ret an address" was Is
sued when d'd not dea'gn to mention
president Woodruh or any OF the apos-
Ties liad my name been signed to It
you might wen accuse me OF attempting
70 oppose inc accession OF President
W oodfu"' ou' my name was not there.
""e'e was contest between human
s"''''"e'' anu ''"'P"e,y OF character
Tor inc Pfe''ueheY' assure you my
p ,'',. were 'ot the latter sim
phe''y OF character Is an ornament to
any Po'''on' a''housh HA often sub
'e'''e"' !" human snat'hess'
You make this general charge agaln,t
my temper or disposition;
ellis bearing with his brethren was
such that ne could not brook dissent
and resented non.lcceptanee OF his
personal views"
have always tried to be honest. care.
iul, considerable and conscientious with
my brethern confess that have had
my personal Views on almost every ques.
tson that came up. | had thought that
was entitled to them. Had entertain.
ed the slightest doubt Of my right In the
quorum to my openlons would never
have given the six brethren to whom YOU
refer, the opportunity to vote me IAN
As was, protested part
Of three days before giving my consent
to President Taylor. But II ever resen.
ted the non acceptance of my views on
any question where had been accorded
the right to present them. ! do not
recall IT,
And now ! come to what appears to
be the chief reason for my suspension
ana subsequent disposal VIZ the poliu-
cal manifesto read m the April confer