The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-04-29
0verseer of Zion Church Declares
Battle for Possession of the
City Has Just Begun
ELECTION WAS FRAUDULENT
Alleges That His Opponents Voted
Men without Legal Residence in
Zion in Order to Secure
His Defeat
Win back Zionl


All the energy and force that charac-
terized the life and activities of DR..
John Alexander Dowie, prophet, self
styled Elijah III and founder of Zion
City, are to be as nothing compared
with the fervor and enthusiasm that
will mark Wilbur Glenn Voliva's bat
tie against the returns of Zion City's
municipal election last Tuesday.
Wilbur Glenn Voliva, dethroned ruler
of the north shore religious sect strong
hold, is angry. His candidate for
mayor was defeated by the narrow mar
gin of twenty-one votes; his complete
overthrow from ecclesiastical dictator
ship more than intimated by his enc
mics; his model city practically over
run with liquor and tnbacco, and him
self in possession of what he declares
are glazing election frauds, the usurper
of DR.. DoWie s TIN one yesterday threw
off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, barred
his teeth and spoke his mind right out
concerning his enemies and just what
steps he intends taking toward winning
back Zion.
"Peace be with YOU" he almost
shouted as he discussed the situation,
while his passion led him to clatter
and overturn several beer and whiskey
bottles his advisers had collected and
placed on table in his office as election
trophies. "Peace be with you. Talk
about election frauds in Chicago! Why,
after the conduct of my opponents
Tuesday | say that Chicagos First
ward is behind the times in political
corruption. 1 say that Hinky Dink
Kenna and Bath House Coughiin ought
to come to Zion City and take lessons
in corruption from some of these fell
lows here.
"'I say that after the conduct Of
some of my opponents Tuesday l have
great respect for Hinky Dink and Bath
House John / have more than admira-
ton for them [ could welcome them
to Zion City. Their corruption is done
in the open, not through underhand
methods. A friend is a friend with
them, and foe is d foe. [ respect
them for those virtues [ admire them
as compared to some people here.
Peace be with them.
"Look at our city now Overrun
with liquor and tobacco! Wide open!
At the leading hotel here anyone can
buy all the whiskey he wants. People
smoke all the time on the streets. The
city is in the hands Of polluted ele-
ment. The votes of such shall not de
feat me. shall fight. I shall fight
them to the last ditch.
"Our city is almost lost. This cleo
tion has not been the voice of the peo-
pie Corruption has been practiced.
Were another election held tomorrow
the returns would be wholly different.
The people here hold in reverence the
name Of John Alexander Dowie All
but few, who seek TO put themselves
in a power they have not the intel
lectuality to do justice to, love me and
hollow my ADVICE
81 say that if such things as hap
pened here Tuesday are the work of
the real people of Zion City, then /
want to get out of zion-yes, if it is
true, then I want to get clear out of
America"
Overseer Voliva has engaged Attor-
ney L. A. Needham of Chicago to can
vass the election returns and take
steps to contest the election. The
first big gun which will be fired in the
scrimmage, however, will be Voliva Is
Sunday sermon at Christian Catholic
Apostolic church in Shiloh Tabernacle
building. The overseer asserted that
what he would have to say at the
Sunday services would "ring around
the world. "
Voliva contends that at the most
there are not more than 725 bona fide
voters in Zion City. The returns on
Tuesday revealed S37 ballots had been
cast. Voliva charges that farmers
from the vicinity of Zion were brought
to the polls and that laborers working
in the neighborhood and others not en-
titled to vote were sworn in.
simultaneously with the overseer :
expressions of indignation, his enemies
speaking fully as openly, asserted that
his end as dictator of Zion was newt
able and that another year would see
him fully deposed