Remarks

ELDER ABRAHAM H. CANNON, was the next speaker. He expressed his pleasure at the fact that the Saints were again permitted to assemble in General Conference under favorable circumstances. Notwithstanding all the trials that had confronted them they were still in a comparatively happy and prosperous condition. Some of the greatest of these perplexing conditions were in the nature of financial burdens. He believed that at no distant day the Lord would open the way for deliverance from these distressing surroundings. Progress in spiritual matters was liable to be impeded by the necessity of attention being too much engrossed with temporal subjects. He was specially desirous that the burdens of the First Presidency might be speedily lifted. The Church, however, was not in a critical condition, as its credit was superior to that of anything else in the country. It had a great and liberal people behind it. ¶

The requests directed to the Church from the Stakes were too great, and ought to be curtailed. He believed that if the Bishops and other leading officers would look about them and devise means of employment and develop resources, such demands would be unnecessary, and distress and poverty would vanish. If this course were taken remunerative labor would be plentiful, and the present situation be relieved. The speaker was aware of the fact that some of the unemployed people of this city had pieces of land which are not cultivated. Why should not this source of productivity be utilized? He knew of a man who supported himself and family by the cultivation, for the production of vegetables, of one acre and a quarter of ground. It was not pleasing in the sight of God for men to spend their time idly upon the streets when such opportunities for labor existed. Why should those located here await the coming of people from the East to establish industries. When they come the residents donate money and land to assist them in inaugurating industrial establishments. Why could not the people here do this independently, of themselves, without awaiting the coming of strangers. The speaker named individual instances of men of thrift and industry removing from this city to other stakes and wresting a livelihood from the fruitful soil. It was not necessary, however, neither was it wise for the Saints to go to regions greatly distant from here. There were numerous facilities in the immediate vicinity and localities not very remote. ¶

The experience of employers has proved that many men are unable to direct in wisdom their own work, to say nothing of directing the work of others. Every man should be, as far as possible, the master of his own labors; if this could not be done, he should place himself under the direction of one who had ability and the inspiration of God. Every man, woman and child should be a producer. All such, if industrious and capable, would always be able to secure employment. Any honorable work, with any wage, is better than idleness and poverty. The straitened circumstances of capitalists prevent them from engaging in the enterprises which characterized the past few years and hence the duty incumbent upon every man to look after his labor and to avoid idleness and consequent sin. ¶