Show for far aa WHO FAVORS REFORM it is sometimes ao an advantage to look back for a time and it to is better to see moo an acknowledge the starting point of error and failure than to ignore either that or cor the results which have followed there may be times indeed when the discovery that hat we have been led or misled by personal vers onal interest or profit would be a lesson almost beyond price the present time is one which has taxed the query of aai awi suggested things practical and impractical to every thoughtful man at least particularly as ae a latter day saint who originally gathered to this locality for a revision and reversion of a thousand thinks things familiar to the gentile world the indefatigable prea obine of the doepel included the gathering at least in spirit na fathering impfler here bere ja in the desert the promise of labor the certainty of a home redemption from and the opportunity of poverty o verty rearing 0 family in peace and righteousness this was grand in theory and in some directions it was grandly carried out in ID others we began well but gradually receded aej almost denied principles taught authoritatively for temporal and today that man would be bold indeed who would publicly revert to and enforce ideas which were of immense value to the mighty dead need we apologize for alluding to mercantile cc operation to its intent to its success in part pan shall we tell bow its genius has been decried how it ig bag baa been denounced derided and overthrown if the record of cf settlement after settlement were enrolled would it not be found that prominent men have been its bitter enemies eoe mies that they have fought it worked against it withdrawn their patronage from lie its representative house unconscious all the she time apparently apparent lyof of the blessi blessing ngit it hat boo been that it has baa conserved almost everywhere the financial in boresta of their local trade trad do we not know that this great institution ution is still officered by our revered leaders an in the days of president young and that hat its directors and others othera are am appointed sustained of that authority and while little or nothing of this may be said in public can it not be easily seen that in proportion m private and public defection has grown unity cohesion and mutual interest have bay declined we are reminded of a certain report made by a pro prominent northern citizen in the city I 1 ball cioll 1 here bore when the advocacy of cooperative aa I 1 tive ti ve merchandise was general and many beany organization was wan formed president young presiding at that meeting baked kod the gentleman referred to what the prospect was in weber stake the reply was wa sVery very poor Why why said aid the ghe president because every manso interest was the other way 22 all the missionaries about had been perhaps unconsciously selected from those bhoge engaged in business fortham for them selves elvea or others such advocacy was of as heartless and as hunsuc duj as an the preaching of the gospel would be it if confined to we the followers of wesley or members member of any opposing church the original intent was to have bays one or moro more buy for the she people of this territory or at least tor for those called latter day saints to have hare one central centra distributing point or more as change might determine to have one or more auxiliary branches in every sett settlement lemen t owned by the people of that place for foi none of those to sell eel for exorbitant profit as had been done or fr fir f r the special advantage of any individual and that while purchasing wa to be regulated by home borne supplies every distributing outpost or store was also to footer foater local industry by creating orea tinK a reserve from the annual pronto profits of their heir store to be used for home if this program had bad been fully carried out the bum of business activity would today have been general concentration would have been a colossal force the multiplication of stores drum drummer mere indebtedness failure and bankruptcy would have been averted there would have been more mercantile honor and lobe leas of unfair competition more confidence and concentration tra tion men would not have sold eold themselves for an aim offered quarter of a cent per yard or ton ten cents on a dozen of anything nor would they have been despoiled of dollars in the our cuc ning endeavor to save lave a paltry cent probably the best beat ability now in bubness here and there would have constituted an advisory board and instead of trading as now on their own account from now new york to san fran ois ooin an indiscriminate and disintegrating way they could and might have boon been the cre creators store and supporters f a business phalanx invincible against all competition and really tr r 0 undisputed financial and commercial backbone of an unrivalled state we my may not be familiar as yet with all ail the details of the divine program but it is ut u t unlikely that bat time will demonstrate abi abbt t religious unity is but As aa the mirage of the desert unless commercial financial social inoue trial tr laland and political unity and consolidation come aa an inevitable result it if the present is the outcome of the gospel spirit alas for the labor sacrifice orifice a counsel and example of the trying years gone bal bj I 1 A small modicum of reflection will bring repudiation of this thought even when observation marks the continued reproduction on a email socail but increasing scale of the manders man nere methods and spirit of the world ai at large the love of sell the love of wealth the love of position coniti tuto a trinity of power which needs the correction of a fathers Pat bers hand the imperious force of panic and hard bard times to wake to a better and a grander tb thought ought the now reading of a famous and often quoted passage is this therefore not leaving the first principles let us go on unto perfection 11 interference by education i to one of the cardinal principles of the church MOD men have to be corrected advised advie ed restrained encouraged and disciplined but this to la difficult says save aa 04 teacher embodies within himself obedience to that which be inculcates inculcate it I 1 is hard for a man to preach that which be falls faila to practice w b ethar this be tithing honesty sabbath breaking the word of wisdom or operation cooperation co and not a few are powerless because they have not been loyal to what they have received in spirit or letter probably even the most moss successful phases of bust ness success bay bar aroused the cupidity of those hose who had mean meana every disgruntled stockholder could always fiod find a pure purchaser baser and few took that advice given by president young who whon dark days fell upon Z C hl I 1 telegraphed from st ceorge brethren do not sell your stock some rejoice today because they listened to his bis voice others are just as full of borrow orrow and regret because in a moment of fear and depression depre eelon they sold bold locally fr for too often have investors been urged to sell rather than to retain instances are quite rare where the first great wea idea was allowed or encouraged cou raged to full development and of those final failure should have but suggested correction of a known evil and rectification of f like method ote oie thing to Is well known in business bu ol alro rol lep that is that many stores store are now flo because of their fealty to and aid given by Z C M L I 1 end and others other are conspicuous failures because they ignored every sentiment of bual business gratitude now new men perchance swerved from their allegiance or old ones crazed by competitive hunters for patronage divided what little trade they had bad paid the row cew creditors with money due the old and sadly betrayed their best beet interests to those who nut not for sympathy but from anxiety for trade throw threw out one bait after another to secure it president young urged the poodle people to trade at least with their frion friends dILIS modern methods claim as friends from dan to beersheba those who give them that credit which they have forfeited at home and it can be said without contradiction that very few dealers now in business would have been so had they treated firms in omaha st luls lula chicago and san francisco as an they have treated that institution which whatever its defects Is under the con arol of men whom we shall sustain with uplifted balad at the coming confer ones ence a as we have done in years gone by speech is silver and elle silence noo it said ilia is golden in these days day of degeneracy gene racy we seem to prefer the golden though all our interests or many of them are bound up with theother the other metal it may be our tongues will be loosened soon and a better appreciation of that which lor for years has had the endorsement of at least our leaders may again have the endorsement of priest spriest and people everywhere in utah |