[sideways text] Rec'd Mar. 12, 1888 Ans'd [Mar.] 13 —[1888]— PRESIDENT'S OFFICE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST. OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, GIBSON MILLER & RICHARDSON, OMAHA P.O. BOX B. Salt Lake City, U. T. March 6th 1888. Elder Joseph F. Smith, Washington, D. C. Dear Brother: Your letters of the 24th & 29th ult. have been received, the last one having just come to hand, and been perused with considerable interest. I was very glad to hear of your ...

considerable certainty as to the merits of the two lines and to decide which, under the circumstances, is the better line for the Saints to come by. Respecting the newspapers of which you make mention, and from which you send us extracts, you will be better able to decide after seeing Maude, who can give you the information necessary concerning them and the power of our friends to reach them. His presence in Washington will enable you to understand the situation much better than it would be possible to learn by letter ...

The documents sent for by Brother Franklin S. Richards have been sent in part. The dispatches requesting them found us in a bad position to supply that which he asked for. All our doc- uments were taken hurriedly out of the Historian Office and were not left in such an orderly manner as to enable anyone to readily find any document that might be needed. Not only did it require a thorough search of all papers, but unfortunately the person who knew their whereabouts was not in the city. This has occasioned ...

of their time in that body, or great injury might be done by hasty and ill-considered legislation. I have had a quorum of the Twelve within reach now for some little time past. I think it important that when needed we can have a quorum of our Council, so that the responsibility may be borne by the Quorum. Questions are constantly arising of an important character, and I do not wish any of us to be placed in a position where it could be said by absent ones that if they had been present they should have recommended a ...

We regret that Brother John W. Young should feel as you describe. His expressions concerning being left in the lurch or being crushed have no founda- tion in fact. There has been no such disposition manifested by the Committee towards him. We have treated him with all the consideration and respect that could be reasonably asked. Certainly we have tried to treat him with more courtesy than we think we have received. If he will only reflect as he should do, he will see that there has been no manifestation on our part ...

management of funds. In asking him to do the same, we have as much regard for his honor as we have for our own. We know that it is the only way that we can take to inspire confidence and to remove feelings of distrust. We sincerely hope that he will see the propriety of the request that we have made, and that he will join heartily with you in your labor and manifest that confidence in making known his plans that you desire. My health is good, as well as that of all the ...