[George Q. Cannon]
In speaking about Brother Grant's situation, President Snow spoke in most eulogistic terms of Brother Grant's financial ability and what he had done for the Church. Brother Richards followed in a good deal the same strain. Brother Grant himself spoke in high terms of what he himself had done.
I felt that this sort of talk to him was not beneficial. I do not think it a wise thing to praise men in the strain in which Brother Grant was praised to-day. He already has a very high opinion about his own financial ability and the exertions he has made; while the truth is, without speaking in the least disparagingly of Brother Grant's labors, other men have done as much or more, but they do not say much about it. He has a good faculty for making known what he has done and the sacrifices he has made. He is an able man, kind-hearted and liberal, and can raise money very well; but his career has not shown wisdom in the management of funds or the organization of companies. His financial judgment is not good in some directions. The unstinted praise that was bestowed upon him to-day, President Woodruff and myself think hurtful to him; but it would have come with ill grace at the time to have said. Opportunity will have to be taken to allude to it at another time, as he is exceedingly sensitive. ...
As far as raising money is concerned, Brother John W. Young could beat any of us; he was a man of extraordinary ability in that direction; but he could also spend it!
President Woodruff and myself had a conversation with Brother M. F. Cowley respecting the amount that he should draw for his support. He had desired me to give him my views about this, but I told him I would prefer having President Woodruff with us when this was talked about. We explained to him that the system which had prevailed for some time of fixing certain amounts to certain officers was one that I for one was utterly opposed to. I had been protesting against it ever since it was instituted shortly after President Taylor's death. I thought it a bad thing, and that if it were not checked it would lead to our having a hireling ministry. My view was – in which President Woodruff coincided – that it was right for the brethren to have what they needed to sustain them economically and comfortably, but that there should be no fixed amount for them to draw, only to the extent that there should be a limit to their drawing.
[Source: The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
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