The Saint Paul globe., 1904-10-21
ZION CITY HELD AS
MODEL MUNICIPALITY
Follower of DowIe Points to
Conditions in Which Co..
ony ExceIs

I'VE have in Zion City the cleanest,
healthiest, most orderly and best busi-
ness conducted city in the world said
r. D. Pelten, of Zion City, at the Ryan
last night. IF John Alexander. Dowie
is not remembered by posterity for any.
other reason, the establishment of such
colony as Zion City should insure
him a place among the immortais.''
Mr.. Pelton is the travelling represent
ative for the lace industries of Zion
City and is enthusiastic over the work
performed by Dowie and his follow
ers. Previous to Joining the ranks of
Dowie, Mr.. Pelton was an Iowa busi-
ness man. His wife was suffering from
tuberculosis, and through the practic
ings of the religion advocated by
Dowie, and the following OF the divine
healing theory, Mrs. Pelton was cured
of her illness. This had such an effect
upon her husband that he sold out his
business and joined Dewie at zien
City a little over three years ago, when
the city was in its first stages Of con-
Struction.
Mr. Pelton helped bay out the city,
being a member of the engineer corps.
AS soon as the lace factory was built
he went to work on one of the great
machines which turn out curtains and
other articles of lace. After learning
the business he was placed on the
road and has since that time been SELL
ing Dewie's laees all over the West.
individuality Is Permitted
"The great majority of people I find, y
continued Mr.. Pelten,- have a wrong
idea about the way in which affairs are
conducted at Zion! IT is thought that
everything is run on the CO. operative
plan, and that a man. sells out his prop
erty before entering Zion and deposits
the proceeds in the Zion bank, to be
used by Dewie. @se
This is entirely wrong. Every man
in the factory is paid a salary, which
compares very favorably with the sal
aries paid to skilled and unskilled la
Dor in other factories. A man need not
invest a cent of money In the business.
but, of course, he is urged to do SO, as
any business man knows that the in
terests of his factory and work is bet
ter protected by employees who hold
stock than by these who do not. How
ever, it is not imperative that an in
vestn1ent be made, and there are many
men in the factory who have no inter-
est there with the exception of their
weekly salary.
"The city is model In every way.
IltS dCctl1 1d1C - >5tiA0ltCA lihdB III flA1y
other city in America In fact, statis-
tics will show that the death rate
among the followers of Zion is smaller
than any other denomination in the
world. The sanitary conditions are the
most approved, and the city is laid out
In a manner which would surprise
those who are used to the crooked and
narrow streets in some of the larger
cities. t.s.s.sses
No resident of Zisn City has ever been
arrested, and no member of the creed has
ever been 8 county charges We take care
of our own poor for, OF course every creed
and class has its poor. There is no liquor
of any sort In the city. no tobacco or
smoking, no gambling dens and no houses
of prostitution From what j understand.
1t Is quite different frona st. Paul. But
you will find that the former condition
of affairs is much to be preferred to the
latter.
"Dowie is the central figure of the city,
and is looked upon as a man whose opin-
ions are right and whose advice is to be
followed We have our own political
opinions and hold our own rallies the
same as any other city DIR. Dowie is in
favor of Roosevelt for the presidency. and
of Deneen for governor. Still, he does
not insist that the people follow out his
views In political matters.
D0W1e Is indeed WonderTu man. a
few years ago he advanced ideas which
even his own people thought too great
for successful corsummation. But those
ideas are being realized every day. and
the continued faith of his people in their
leader is something which is marvellous.
Dowie has been successful in every ven
ture which he has undertaken, even al
though news to the contrary has been
sent out. -
Why does it appear. Mr.. Pelton, that
Dowie arouses a feeling of antagonism
in certain auartersi7p was asked and
the answer was: Did not Jesus Christ
raise the same npposition2',