| 411 Reorganization and the Utah people be recognized in the application of letter of Honorable W. M. Evarts, Secretary of State to foreign countries. This work they accomplished, an account of which we insert in the language of President Smith, published editorially in Herald for March 17, 1883:
We left Harlan for Washington on the morning of February 20, by the way of Council Bluffs, starting from the latter place on the 21st at half past nine o'clock in the forenoon, reaching Galien, Michigan, in answer to telegram from Bro. George A. Blakeslee, who joined us at that point on the 22d. From there Bro. Blakeslee and the Editor in company reached Philadelphia on Saturday, the 24th, at midnight. We found Bro. Z. H. Gurley and others there on Sunday, the 25th. . . .
The Editor spoke to the Saints morning and evening in their hall, corner of Ninth and Callowhill Streets, a small but neat place of worship.
We stayed three days in Philadelphia, and on Wednesday morning, February 28, left for Washington to carry out the direction of the fall conference, to lay before the Secretary of State, our request for the correction of the letter of W. M. Evarts, former Secretary of State, according to the resolution of said fall session. . . .
We requested the Honorable W. P. Hepburn, Representative from the Eighth Congressional District of Iowa, to secure us a presentation to the Secretary; and this he secured and arranged for with Senator W. D. Allison, for Monday, March 5, at ten o'clock in the forenoon. We met these gentlemen by appointment in the lobby of the Secretary's office, and upon the request of Senator Allison, were admitted to an interview, and were by him introduced to the Secretary. The Senator stated the object of our coming, the people whom we represented, and endorsed us most cordially as worthy to be heard.
We then briefly stated our mission, placed our written statement in the Secretary's hand, received from him the promise of a consideration of what we had presented.
The reception was courteous and all that we could expect, and we retired satisfied with the result of our visit. The impression made by brethren Gurley and Kelley in their mission to Washington a year ago, was an excellent one. They became known and were recognized as worthy men representing a worthy people; and we take pleasure in expressing our personal thanks and regard to these brethren for the manner in which they maintained the cause they represented.
The kindest regard and courtesy were shown to us by Senator Allison and Honorable W. P. Hepburn, of Iowa, and Honorable J. C. Burrows, of Michigan, and others to whom we were from time to time introduced, treated us with courtesy, of which we would make no complaint.
Bad news travels fast, and such news met us at the Capitol, for in the care of Honorable Burrows, of Michigan, was a telegram from Bro. E. Banta to Bro. Blakeslee, and in care of Honorable Hepburn, of Iowa, one
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