The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-03-28
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.

answers can be found (pages 10 and IS, volume A
The Chairman. You spoke of John Henry Smith
You know him?
Mr. Wolfe. I have met him; yes, sir.
The Chairman What is his position in the
church?
Mr. Wolfe. He is member of the quorum of
twelve apostles, the second on the list think
The Chairman. Did you have a conversation with
him at any time in relation to the manifesto?
Mr. Wolfe. Yes, sir. There was a meeting in
the Brigham Young Academy in Provo, Utah, that
was addressed by B. F. Grant, brother of Apostle
Heber J. Grant At that meeting Apostle John
Henry Smith present.
The Chairman. On what date was that-what
year?
Mr.. Wolfe. I don't remember the year. 1t was
in the late nineties, probably.
The Chairman. 1t after the manifesto?
Mr. Wolfe. Yes, sir; it was after the manifesto.
On my way home walked several blocks with B.
+. Grant and Apostle Smith, and on the way were
talking about the conditions existing and Apostle
Smith used these words to me: Brother Wolfe,
don't you know that the manifesto is only trick to
beat the devil at his own gamer"
This was one of the apostles correcting the ignor-
of one of his flock, who had just made himself
conspicuous by protesting against the polygamous
marriage of Benjamin Cuff, Jr, to Florence Reynolds
and the poygamous marriage of William Okey to
Ovena Jorgensen the marriages that gave rise to the
talk having taken place nine and seven years,
spectvely, after the manifesto. This information is
d
vestigaton.
The President of the church, Joseph F. Smith, also
referred to the manifesto in his testimony in the
Smoot (volume 1, pages 1870 and 1919, saying:
Question You have not in any way changed your
relations to these wives Give of them) since the
manifesto. You have caused them to bear you new
children-all of them
Answer That is correct sir
George Reynolds, testifying in the Smoot case,
1o;,r 10
plural marriage since the manifesto, replied: mo,
SIR only the one which has been referred to, of my
daughter" This daughter was the third wife of
Benjamin Cuff, Jr whose marriage Mr.. Wolfe was
was discussing when Apostle John Henry Smith
told him that the manifesto was only trick to beat
the devil at his own game"
Apostle John Henry Smith was a witness in the
Smoot investigation and the following is portion of
his testimony (volume 2, page 1867:
Mr. Tay1er Were you one of the sgners of the
application for amnesty?
Mr. Smith Yes, sir.
Mr. Tayler. Do you remember the Interpretation
put upon it by MILFORD Woodruff and other leaders
of the church? And the testimony of Joseph F.
Smith respecting the meaning of the manifesto?
It's application to polygamous cohabtation we'll
as to entering into poygamous relation? You
subscribe to their views of it, do you?
Mr. Smith Yes sir.
Mr. Tayler. You propose to continue the prac-
tice that you then started upon the theory that there
higher obligation upon you than the obligation to
obey the law?
Mr. Smith Yes I must suffer the consequences,
if my countrymen see fit to punish me.
Mr.. Tayler. That relation that you contracted,
and others like you prior to the manifesto, your
several wives, was a relation which you contracted
with the approval of God?
Mr. Smith That is it.
Mr.. Tayler. And that no law of the land can dis
solve that?
Mr. Smith No, sir.
Mr. Tayler Or interfere with that?
Mr.. Smith. No, sir.
That was one of the times when Apostle Smith ex-