The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-11
ZION CITY ON BRINK
OF FINANCIAL CRASH.
Dowie Himself Broke, = His
Draft Dishonored, and Voliva
Strives to Save Plants.
Special to The Journal.

special TO Inc journal,
Chicago, March 10.-7Zion City, homo
of 5000 followers Of John Alexander
Dowie, is trembling on the brink of
financial disaster. A single individual
is steadying the swaying fabric and
endeavoring to save it from the fall.
He is young man of dynamic force, u
marvel of self confidence.
Besieged by creditors, finding each
day new obstacles which the reign Of
Dowieism created, the new leader is
now wearing the mantle Of his aged
predecessor, making a valiant fight for
the rehabilitation of Zion. His name
is Wilbur Glenn Voliva, and despite his
youth he is thoroughly versed in the
wisdom which hard and rough contact
with the world brings. :..
Voliva s regency over Zion is three
weeks old, but in that time he has done
more, say impartial critics, to start the
industrial wheels of the community
running smoothly and has effected a
greater degree Of administrative organ
1zatlon than DR.. Dowie did during his
years of dictatorship.
What He Has Done.
Voliva is trying to repair what
Dowie shattered. The young man is
patching up weak places and endeavor-
ing to put the ship in form to ride the
sea of debt. He has done a number
OF things which will interest the wor-
shippers in Zion thruout the world,
among them being the following:
Begun thoro reorganization of
llon's industries by separating each
from the other, giving each special
managerial head and separate set of
| books
Made the manager of each industry
responsible for it's success. Abolished
the general fund which existed under
DoWle's reign, and into which the
apostle s hand was frequently pushed.
Cut down the payrolls, notified the
heads OF institutions that results alone
count with him, and set merit as the
test of their value to Zion.
Admitted to creditors that thew
have not been treated with justice, and
assured them that they will soon be
paid.
Given explicit instructions that
money contributed for ecclesiastical
purposes must not be devoted to any
other use-that it must be expended for
religious and educational work in Zion.
Awakened Zion City to the necessity
of its people holding together and aid
ing its administration if ruin is to be
| avoided. -. p.
Elijah Dowie ''Broke.''
II anything. further was, needed to
indicate how completely the yoke OF
DR.. Dowie has been thrown off Zion
! City, it came today when the fact be-
came known that draft sent by the
first apostle from Jamaica had been re-
fused payment at the Zion bank. The
draft was returned to DR.. Dowie by
Deacon Alexander Granger, financial
manager of Zion, with polite note sug-
costing that he curtail his expenses as
every one in Zion City was doing. This
action was taken after a conference
with acting General Overseer Voliva
and others of the new financial cabinet.
The amount of the draft was not stated
but Deacon Granger admitted that it
had been refused, and explained by
saying that DR.. Dowie s personal &C.
! count in the bank was exhausted. This
is an unheard Of thing, however, to dis,
honor draft from Dowie, and it is
expected that warm cablegram con
corning it will be received from Jamai-
ca as soon as the news is broken to the
ecclesiastical head, who has been re-
.lieved from the financial management
Of Zion City. '"'