Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1906-04-06
DOWIE DEPOSED
BY DEFIANT ZION.
Overseer's Rule Is Repudiated by Fol
lowers, Including His Wife
and Son.

CHICAGO, H., April 2.-The open
revolt against John Alexander Dowie,
which took place yesterday, was fol
lowed today by the transfer of all pub
lie property of the Church Of Zion to
Alexander Granger, the man whose dis
missal had been directed by Dowie in
telegram from Mexico.
Dowie Is Deposed.
WAUKEGAN, ILL.,, April 2.-[Spe-
cial Zion, without a dissenting voice
yesterday repudiated John Alexander
Dowie, and legal steps were taken at
once to GUST him from control In an
impressive meeting in the tabernacle,
at which almost every one OF the 5000
residents of Zion City was present, this
action was taken after more than five
hours of the most severe arraignment of
the first apostle.
Wife and Son Join in Rebuke.
At it's close the prophet was without a
follower in the gathering, for even his
wife, Overseer Jane DOwie, and her son
Gladstone joined the ranks of those Op-
posing the founder of the faith.
The step came as the climax of the
efforts of Deputy Overseer Wilbur Glenn
Voliva, named in Dowie's will as his sue
cessor and who was called to Zion to
take charge of affairs when stroke of
paralysis forced the leader to go south.
Dowie in Mexican Town
Dowie now apparently is left a lonely,
old man. Shorn of his power, he is in
the little Mexican town of Ocotlan, on
Lake Chapala. Broken in health, his
life almost despaired of, he left Zion
shortly before Christmas and went to
Jamaica. Last week he went to Mexico
and there word reached him of the
actions of Voliva.
Then he understood that rebellion
against him was imminent. Trying to
recall his old authoritative manner, he
sent telegram of 800 words trying to
stem the tide. Severe reproof was given
to Voliva, the removal of the financial
head of his institutions was ordered.
A note of hope for great success was
sounded if his plans were followed.
Overthrow Is Made Complete.
Overseer Voliva read the telegram
from Dowie. Then, amid dead silence,
he announced that he refused to remove
Alexander Granger from office. This
was the first publicly announced defiance
of the authority of Dowie. The compile
ton of Dowies overthrow as a leader
followed Immediately.
Although Dowie's authority in the
church has thus been repudiated, scores
OF the industries ana homes OIL zion lily
stand upon land the titles of which are in
DoWie's name.
New Leader SO Years Old.
Wilbur Glenn Voliva, the new leader
of the church, was born in Indiana in
1870 and has been in the ministry of the
church since 1889. He was ordained
an overseer in 1901 and soon afterwards
was sent to Australia.
Leaves of Healing and Zion Banner
Dowie's papers here, have not yet re
sumed publication, but may do so this
week and make up back numbers. In
the meantime Zion people are posting
their want ads on the street corners.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, April "A cablegram
has been sent to Dowie in Mexico an
nouncing that he had been suspended from
the church that he founded. Heis declared
to have advised some of his followers
to practice polygamy, and charges of ex-
travavagance and acknowledgement are
also made against him.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 2.-Sen-
ator Plat today presented to the Senate
a joint resolution from the New York
Legislature, inviting other states to CO.
operate in endeavoring to amend the con-
stitution Of the United States to more
effectually punish and prohibit polygamy.