The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-07-01
Successor Of John Alexander
DoWje Is Deposed From
Power in Zion City
vOLIvA GOES DOWN FIGHTING
Attempt Made to Force Adjournment of
the Council Before the New Mem
bers are Sworn in But
Attempt is Frustrated

Wilbur Glenn Voliva, successor of
John Alexander Dowie as head of the
Christian church Of Zion, was deposed
as political dictator Of Zion City We'd
nesday night when the independent
officers elected several weeks ago were
sworn in by the retiring City Council.
| The Voliva officials admitted their
defeat only after they had attempted
to adjourn without swearing in the
officers elect. This would have left
the city absolutely without govern
| ing body, but the attempt was frus-
,trated by rush into the Council cham
bers by 800 members Of the independ-
ent faction, which intimidated the CON
spirators and caused them to change
their plans
AS the new officials took their seats
crowd Of nearly 500 independents
gathered in the Council chamber, on
the stairs of the city hall and in the
street in front Of the building. The
whistle of the lace factory was blown
for half an hour and the demonstra-
ton lasted for an hour before the
members of the crowd dispersed to
their homes
A semi pathetic, semi humorous feat
ure Of the Council meeting was the
presence Of fifty members of the Voliva
faction, old men with long boards, who
sat in melancholy row at the back
of the room. AS they saw their leader
stripped Of his power and the indie
pendents cheering their new officials
great tears rolled down their cheeks,
and when the meeting adjourned they
fed from the room and disconsolately
sought their homes.
In obedience to writ of mandamus
issued June 16 by the Supreme Court,
the old Council met to canvass the vote
of the recent election. They could do
nothing but declare the independent
ticket elected, and when City Clrek w.
Fl. Fabry, who was elected city attor-
ney on the new ticket, announced the
result tunult of cheering broke forth
from the Independents in the room
and on the stairs.
Mayor w. Hurd Clendinen raped for
order and one of the old aldermen rose
and moved to adjourn. IF this had been
carried there would have been no
Council to swear in the officers elect.
Clerk Fabry waved frantically to the
new officers to come forward and be
sworn in before the Council adjourned.
Seeing the purpose Of the old Coun-
Gil the Independents made rush for
the members. Threats were hurled
at the Councilmen, and they were
afraid to carry out their plan. The
new officers came forward one by one
and took the oath of office and then
took their seats.
In turning over the gavel to E. N.
Richey, the ayor-elect, former Mayor
Clendinen said:
Mayor Richey, [ am glad to be able
to hand this gavel to as able man as
yourself. Let me tell you, however,
that I do not give it to you, but simply
loan it to you until l come back to
claim it,
This is taken as indication that
the Voliva faction will make further
attempts to nullify the election. Re
solutions setting forth that non-resi-
dents had been voted by the independ-
ent faction were introduced at the
meeting before the vote was canvass
led. Voliva's supporters declared they
had evidence of this which they would
present to the next grand jury.
The new officials are as follows:
Mayor. N. Richey.
City Clerk-E. r. Christianson.
City Attorney-W. H. Fabry.
City Treasurer-Burnett S. Love,
Aldermen-Frank L.. Norris, E. G..
McCardle, Peter F. Humphrey, Will
liam F. Miller and Roswell F. Krause.