The Washington times., 1911-03-06
ZION CITY AWAITS.
SUMMONS TO WAR
Faces Peril of Armed Insur-
rection Against State or
Civil Strife.
PEOPLE ARE DIVIDED
INTO TWO FACTIONS
States Vaccination Rule to Be
Resisted to Death, >" ZionistS
Declare.

ZION CITY, ILL.,, March 6.-The roll
Of a muffed drum, the peal of the great
bell in the tabernacle, and a hasty
gathering of the faithful may bring
Zion City-the perfect city of John
Alexander Dowie and his successor,
Wilbur Glenn Voliva-into armed in
surrection against the State of Illinois,
or may precipitate armed civil war
among the believers in the prophet.
Two grave perils beset Zion City and
her half-starved people, in a rage, are
desperate. The first peril is the order
Of the State board Of health 10 vacci-
nate every person in the city-an order
the Zionists have voted to resist Ito the
death"
The second is the internecine strife
In the ranks of the Zionists that has
already led to serious rioting on the
streets and the stationing of armed
guards to prevent an outbreak on the
part Of the Independents.
Two Factions.
Zion City is divided into two factions
one of which, headed by Wilbur Glenn
Voliva, is for following the rigid rules
laid down by Prophet Dowie. These in
clude prohibition Of the sale of cigars,
cigarettes, oysters, soda water, pork.
and drugs, and prevent dancing and
other forms of lighter amusement.
The Independent faction favors more
relaxation for the people. Two years
ago, the Independents won in the cleo
ton. and since then cigars, cigarettes,
pork, and drugs have been sold within
the city. Last week, Noliva secured, by
purchase, in the courts, control of Zion
City.
Sign Posted.
Immediately he posted an i'm
mense signs which read: Zion City
The Perfect City:
NO tobacco-no whiskey-no beer
no theaters-no doctors-no drugs-no
pork-no oysters.
"A Clean City for Clean People"
Then gathering 50J Of the faithful
about him he paraded the streets of
Zion and Was attacked bv the indie
pendents. Several heads were smashed
in the subsequent riots.
NOliva announced today that he had
ordered his attorney, George Field, to
tiCipated in Saturdays assault upon the
parading faithful. Efforts TO arrest the
independents, it is declared, will be re-
sisted with force.
Last night two giant negro Zionists,
armed with Winchesters. guarded Vol
iva's sign, and today four other men,
similarly armed, took their places.
Vaccination Order.
At meeting in the tabernacle, pre-
sided over by Noliva, tie faithful de-
cided TO take matters into their own
hands.
The order of the State board of Health
directing every person in the city vac
Cinated, was read. 1t was decided TO
resist the order TO the last We will
suffer Imprisonment and even death be-
fore me will let the authorities vac
cInate US declared the Zionists.
1t vas decided 10 station aD armed
guard in the tabernacle with a drum.
The appearance of the State authorities
% vaccinate the Zionists will be a
SignaI for the beating of the drum and
the Zlonists are thereupOn to appear
at the tabernacle. armed to resist.
A similar signal will call the faith
full together, still armed, to resist
any movement on the part of the in
dependents. Armed guards were
also sent to guard the NOliva house
night and day, and negroes with Win
chesters have taken up their sta
ton.
In an interview, today, Voliva de-
Clared these guards would be main
tanned until the city election of April
IS, when the faithful declare they will
defeat the independents.