Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-12-18


of the speaker. We are pleased to re-
ceive the notice from Elder Thatcher
ado cheeefuIIy give it a place in our
columns.
Subsequent to the year 1886 no further
complaint was made until the appear
ance of your open letter ten years latter,
and as no additional requirements were
made of me, had right to believe the
matter long since adjudicated. No one
at any time ever intimated to me in any
way that this was cherished secretly
against me by any of my brethren.
Candidly, President Snow, what is
there in all this that, in any way, can be
construed as a justification for the un-
kind comments you have made upon
the circumstances? Your statements
are calculated to injure me in the esti-
nation of many people who have read
your letter and condemned me without
remembering or having read the Des-
eret News of December I, 1886. Surely
you would not Intentionally do me an
injury. You say further:
"He disputed with President Taylor
as to the appointment of president of the
Logan temple and contended for m an
of his own selection, even after the pres
ident announced the appointment by
revelation"
The truth of this matter is made plat
by the action of President Taylor set
ting me apart on the same day as one of
the counselors of the president of the
Logan temple. Pre- sident Taylor would
not have introduced discord in the tenn
pie, and had I contended against him.
that would have been the effect.
would not have been made third officer
in that sacred place if I had been in
such open rebellion as you depict. Pres
ident Taylor was my guest in Logan at
the time the president of Logan temple
was named. On the morning of the
day the appoint ment was made Presi- |
dent Taylor came down stairs and be- |
fore breakfast he stated in the presence |
of witnesses that he felt impressed to
appoint NJ. W. Merrill president of the |
Logan temple, and asked me what I !
thought of it. l replied that it was |
good selection; that he might search
the stake over and not find a man better
adapted to the position. And I gave as
my reasons that Brother Merrill was
financially well to do, and could afford
to give to the work his time and attention |.
that he was secretive and methodical
in his habits. President Taylor said he
was pleased to hear me say so. 1 never,
at any time, or in any place opposed the
appointment, but was continued third
officer in that temple till, by the action
of my quorum I was dep rived of all
priestly offices.
Now, although on this point you make
very positive charge against me, you
may have this matter confused with the
selection of president for Cache stake.
In my absence from conference in Salt
Lake, from which l was excused by l
President Taylor on account of illness
in my family, Elder c. o. Card was T
chosen stake president to succeed Bishop 7
Preston, who had been called to the office T.
he now holds. A few days later 1 was c
by member of my quorum as c
to the action taken in the matter of the +
Cache stake presidency, and my opinion O
was asked about it. 1 stated that since r
Elder Card had been unanimously cho- a
sen I would acquiesce. Later on, an eff z
fort was made to remove President fl
Card, which I opposed. 1 took the b
ground that, while Brother Merrill was e.
he stronger character, would oppose o
he removal of President Card as his ap- e.
continent was generally known among D.
he people and his summary dismissal al
vas sure to result in his irreparable in it
ury. l only mention this matter be c
ause there Is no foundation for COM st
'laint in the other incident, and you tn
nay have confused The two. 1 cite this re
S possible reason for your charge be- IS
ause have no desire to bubble. ar
Here is another of your specific an
harges: in
"When MILFORD Woodruff's accession
} the presidency was under consider a
lion, as the proper successor, he Sa
expressed opinions which showed that Sc
e regarded human smartness and ia
lsiness ability as above that simplicity TIL
character and susceptibility to divine be
1pressions which are notable in that W
ithful servant of God, and objected to'
at such man could not grasp the Una
tuation of affairs or cope with the "