The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-07
.DOWIE is COMING
The Founder of Zion Has Crossed
the Mexican Border.
On His Return to Chicago and
His Disturbed Flock.
HE is FULL OF FIGHT.
Declares There Is No Power to
DepOse Him.
Recognizes No Authority in Zion
But His Own.
is FULL OF FIGHT.

LAREDO. 1eAdS, April d--0CNe4C an
party arrived here this morning Dowie
and his followers, numbering five, oc-
cupied a regular Pullman. John Lewis.
a courteous gentleman, who is Dowie's
first lieutenant and who has supervised
all affairs connected with lions bust
ness affairs and aspirations in the sis
ter republic lokoed after the baggage
for the party in Neuvo Laredo. Mex
leo.
Upon arrival of the train at the in
ternational bridge. United States Ma
rine Hospital Surgeon DR.. Hamilton,
also immigration officials. were admit
ted to Dowie's drawing room and after
the usual questions and answers, re-
tired.
Lewis. who was with Dowie at the
time acted as spokesman and stated
that the party had not visited any yell
low fever infected district and had
passed through Mexico quickly so there
was absolutely no danger of typhus
infection. In his response to the immi-
grafton official, Dowie took an oath
that he was an American citizen. He
especially emphasized the fact that he
had taken out his final papers by re-
marking:
I am an American citizen and [ am
proud OF it."
Dowie was somewhat indisposed as
the result of his journey, but is en-
joying, on the whole. very good health,
his trip to Jamaica and to the shores
of Lake Chapala. near Guadalajara.
having greatly benefited him.
Mr.. Lewis was asked If the recent
turn Of affairs in Zion City had in any
way been detrimental 10 Dowie's
health replied that it had not. On the
other hand it had been beneficial If
anything as it had aroused his COM
bativeness and acted as a sort of tonic.
Dowie was asked by the correspond
ent Of the Associated Press for an ex-
preston Of his views. He stated tina
he had given an interview in Mexico
city and did not care at the present
time to say anything further. How
ever, he said. he stood by the Mexico
interview and could neither add to-nor
detract from the same. Mr. Lewis was
asked for any expression regarding q
statement published in Chicago yes
terday that Dowie was bringing to
Zion City $4,000, 600 gold, several scrolls
of parchment upon which were written
/ five books of Moses, etc.
Mr.. Lewis said:
Il do not care to answer anything
appearing in the Chicago papers"
The party departed for San Antonio
where they expect to lay over at least
one day in order to recover from the
fatigue OF the long Journey.
MI. Lewis was asked if reports ap-
pearing in several papers to the effect
that he and Dowie were-fnterested in
mines near G-uadalajara were true. He
refused to say anything on the subject.
The Mexico Interview.
Mexico City, April JOIN Alexander
Dowie before leaving for Chicago said.
showing deep emotion, in reply to a
question as to how the revolt in Zion
City could be explained:
Now, how am I to explain it? 7
- - -
merely a guess and I may be wrong,
but think I am right. They, my wife
and son, and all of them. thought I was
going to die and have been deeply dis
appointed. Apparently, 7 am going to
live and am on my way back home.r
Continuing, he aid They have done
many things thai were not right; moi
that they were crimes so much as blum
dersj unwilful departures from my
policy. Some of these departures were
quite serious. They joined together
TO try to keep me from going home. |
was not going home for two months
anyway but they did not want me
then. Meanwhile they are fighting Gen
eral Overseer Lewis and Secretary VIII
hite on the Mexican proposition. We
were generous to them in every way 3ut
they were not generous to US. I loaned
them. for instance, some of
which I a control that came from
various parts of the world, and gave
them money 10 neiQ lucID III zion lily.
Il may say tht of the f~alsehoOds
they are telling is that I am deeply
indebted to my bank. 1t is not true
I am the largest holde of stock in tbs
4 bank and when the bank was in need
7 have been always ready to help it.
may now say openly that when I could
have taken from the bank legitimateIy
did-nOt take. I left money to my
credit and I gave my check for many
things n allowed them to be charged
= -.a which r7aaz m Y . NR0TnT laOI hi1
but which had nothing whatever to dc
with my past exposes. Now their pur-
pose has been to hrOW dust in the eyes
of the people and they have succeeded
and made them think suddenly that ]
was a cruel tyrant because I did moi
want some men to continue in Office.
"Today's paper says that I an
threatened with arrest If I dare to 60
back. Back I go; back if I die upor
the road. You think I am going tC
allow that kind of thing to go on Ger
tainly I will go back If I have lone
anything wrong let me be punished
They say I have misused funds Il
funds are placed in my hands for q
number of years I have a right to use
them. but I do not misuse them. ]
have S21.000.0 600 of estate behind all
obligations of Zion City after every
thing is accounted for. They say thai
this IS one of the reasons why I am
removed. ~so-called. OF course I an
not removed. How can they remove
me- How oul anybody remove the
president whom the people put there
Tt is ridiculous. Nobody less in Office
can remove a higher in ONCE"
Putting Up the Bars.
Chicago, April T.@WhiIe John Alex
ander Dowie is travelling from Mexico
to Zion City, measures are being taker
by the officers of the Zion church te
render him absolutely powerless before
he can arrive among them. It is as
serted that by the time he reaches Zior
City the last vestige of his authority
| will have disappeared except insofar AZ