davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1919-02-21

The legislature is asked to make
the wild crsbspple blossom the Of
fetal state flower Of Missouri. so
that missouri can take her place as
the thirty-ninth state of the Union
to have a state flower. The wild
crabapple blossom has been endors-
ed by three state societies, the Hor-
ticultural, Historical and the Wom-
ems. sClubs, as peculiarly suitable
and appropriate because of its I'M
iversality all over the state as we'll
as for its effectiveness and fragile
beauty.
Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1919-02-21
Improvement Cost

A perplexine question confronting
mahy live towns is as to who shall
pay for the cost of putting modern
improvements on new streets. 10
many of the older communities. il
has been customary to make such
Improvements part of the general
tax levy. II the business section OF
q town was growing fast, OUTLYING
territory within the city or town
limits would have to help pay. 1t
was argued that this is fair, since
the outlying neiehborhoods get the
benefit of the growth of business
center. by having a better market
for garden and farm products.
In practice it becomes hard to
get new sections improved where
the money comes out of general
taxation. The older districts of a
town are conservative and often OBJ
ject to such appropriations, and out
lying neighborhoods can't see what
they get out of il
AS a consequence, it has become
the custom in many states and pro-
gressive communities to charge up
improvements on new streets princi-
pally against abutting land owners
They are made to pay for paving
sidewalks, sewers, water mains
They often complain where this Is
done. They may be able to show
that the older sections of the town
got their improvements out of the
general tax levy, so that it is theore-
tically unfair if newer residents
have to pay for their improvements
out Of their own pockets.
Yet when it becomes the policy
thus to charge improvements along
new streets to abutters, it helps de-
velop town. improvements can
not be blocked by parsinony of a
few directors or over conservative
tax payers
Land owners probably fare better
under this policy. 1t raises the
value of their real estate. and pro.
notes orderly development, neat
ness. and Identification of a resi-
dent town.
Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1919-02-21

When any sort of relief work is
pr opposed, the first idea that occurs
to the amateur social worker is TO
enlist an army of salaried man.
a gers, secretaries. field agents. etc,
and pile up right at the beginning
an excessive overhead cost that in
the end eats up the major portion
of the funds contributed. The vari-
Gus councils of defense have been
especially given to this practice and
have created one useless job after
another for incompetent persons
Salaries and fuss come first and re-
lief is secondary. In how far pull
and mild. graft have been operative
in all war activities except the Red
CrOss2swe will not know until mat
ters have settled bit and we can
ia Ike dispassionate backward look.
Paris Mercury.
Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1919-02-21
Buffer Employment"

1
During the last two years there
has been practically no public work
except for the prosecution of the
war. Senator Kenyon,s bill, which
appears to be blowing ground at
Washington, provides authority for
the War Finance Corporation to-
loan not to exceed $30O,000.0OO to
states, counties and municipalities
for public work. for period not to-
exceed ten years. at five per cent
interest. The author of this bill ex-
pl aims that it is intended as sort
of reservoir for surplus labor; if
there is private employment then
I here need be no use of the power
under this bill" He adds that 1T
is an insurance policy against un.
e Employment" Unemployment is
increasing" declares Mr.. Kenyon.
i am not an alarmist. UnemplOy-
IN emf on a large scale will mean
trouble. 1t is our duty to try at
least to meet the situation in
frank and sane way"
10 the House Speaker Champ
Clark states the situation succiDctly.
He says: Il am in favor of increas
i ng the amount of public work
d raining lands. retaining them for
tn e use of farms. and doing every.
thing else to give employment"
The Department of Labor issues
a statement declaring that its basic
int crest is to stimulate general
bu siness and sffOrd what may be
d esignated as buffer employment"
for labor during the months neces.
sary for the transition from a war
to peace basis in industry"
Senator Borah injects into the
question the opinion that the Govern
ment should beeain again on its
p ublic works in order to provide
e mpoy ment where it is needed. but !
he is strongly opposed to plans in
ten ded merely to give employment,
for the reason that they would lead ,
to pork barrel" measures. There
are plenty of public works which ,
are really needed, he says. that
men can be put to work on. Other
p ublic men. not in accord with the
ppaTent majority. scent an attempt
to keep wages at war-times rates.
and insist that surplus of labor is
ust the thing to get wages and
prices down. Any suggestions will
prove unpopular that promise to
leave thousands of men walking the
streets who took up arms to fight
for their country and gave up their
positions to do so.
Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1919-02-21
Uucle Sam a Trapper

The money farmer gets for wild
animal skins is always a compare
lively small sum. representing de.
cidad minor side-line. But Uncle
Sam received $4,000 last year as
the price of the wild.animal skins
he had taken during the year as a
by product of just one phase of his
agricultural operations-the war
a gainst predatory animals on the
range land of the West. The killing
of the animals from which the
skins were taken will result in the
saving of millions of dollars worth
of live stock to the sheep and cattle
men OF the range country. The
predatory-animal determination
work is done by the Bureau of Bio
logical Survey of the Department of
Agriculture Expert hunters and
trSpperS are employed. The skins
of all the animals they capture or
kill must be sold and the money
turned into the United States Treas
ury. Nor are the hunters or tap,
pers permitted to accept bOunties.
But there is not the same tempta-
tiOn in that respect that there used
to be. for since the Government
hunters and trappers have been "on
the job" their work has been so
obviously successful that the States
either already have done away with
the old bounty system or are plan
ming to do so. The money former.
ly paid out in bounties is being ap'
propriated in many States for CO
operative work with the Depart
ment of Agriculture. with many
fold better results as to number Of
predatory animals destroyed.
Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1919-02-21

$1,000 reward is often offered for
blackmailers, Its a good suggestion
Beware of Strangers" at the Gem
Monday night. February 24th in g.
reels. Show starts at 7 o'clock-1E
and 25 cents,
Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1919-02-21

One writer thinks, now that
women are voting in Germany. that
it ought to be called the Mother
land as well as the Fatherland. And
that reminds US that Germany. once
a mighty military power. has al
most been reduced to a point of
wearing a mother hubbard and a
sunbonnet and emitting a loud
shrek when it hears a firecracker
explode.
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-04-26

You will in
mt of the resolution porchnhers
to
old bunch in
while been working day night for
damn Zion City and elhoe
deceive
work!
of bnhn andn
1914 but he did resolution
Even reading this document will
in
destroy
disgrace!
The following of the vilanu
"He (Voiva) told o his
a Independent girl a
the girl and living happily with her a Ohio"
S
Vivai
from the Church. stripped of his band uniform and weeks which
cm to live cean,ea rnesC Christian life
10 to the and
a to
challenge them will they will
utterly fall down claim they
In the held Tuesday 18th
of principles Democracy
much its members would like Vova and
O
the Illinois neither
their aside the which run with the land
n %
told the whole world what conditions land would be leased
o
other of land in the 1t does
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-04-26

Note particularly that Voliva did not sup
port ohurtlett in September, 1918; hence
the venom of Shurtleff, as shown by the
following resolution, which he introduced
in the Hotse of Representatives at Spring
field February II, 1919:
| Whereas, an institution calling itself
The Christian Catholic Apostolic Church
in Zion,' located at Zion City, in the state
of Illinois, and one Wilbur Glenn Voiva.
the owner or pretended owner of all or
nearly all of the real estate in said city.
by profession claims to be endowed with
supernatural powers, and is represented as
claiming direct communication with divine
power, and
Whereas, 1t is represented that said in
stitution and its said pretended owner and
Overseer, Wilbur Glenn Voliva, through
such supernatural and divine powers is and
has been enticing and encouraging citizens
of this and other states to invest large sums
of money in leases of lands in said city
and in other Zion enterprises, and BY and
through such leases pretending to extend
over a period of thousand years, it is
charged that the same is a mere means and
pretense to secure the moneys and property
of innocent persons under the g11ise of a
fake and fictitious religion; and that said
institution through that and other means
IS using the city government of Zion City,
the schools of said city, and courts of said
city to carry out its illegal and fraudulent
purposes in securing property and OPP
pressing those citizens of the State of II
linois who do not conform to the pretended
beliefs of said institution, and that in many
other and divers ways, it is represented
the said institution and its overseer BY con-
trolling the rents, lots and homes, the bust
ness, the municipal schools and judicial gov
eminent of said city is and has been blot
on the State of Illinois and is and has been
depriving citizens of said city of the rights
of citizenship and free government, and
is and has been mlsrepresentlng and fraudu
lently stating to the public its financial
status and religious belief and is being run
for the purpose of defrauding the public.
BE it therefore resolved by the house of
representatives, the senate herewith con-
curing, that committee of nine be APP
pointed, five from the house and four from
the senate, to investigate the said insti
tuition and overseer; and be it further re
solved that said committee is fully au-
thorzed to take evidence and have the
power to summon before it or such sub
as said committee may appoint,
witnesses and documents as said committee
may find necessary to do to fully and com
pletely investigate and examine into all of
the affairs of said institution and said over
seer and to report the same with the re-
of such committee to both
houses of the general assembly.
BE it further resolved, that said com
mittee have full power, with the assent
of the speaker of the house, to employ
sergeant at arms and secretary and such
as may be necessary to fully
and completely carry out said nveStlga
ton"
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-04-26
PILOT OF ZION CITY QUIZ JUST
HATES THE JOB
NEITHER DOES He KNOW WHAT IT'S ALL
ABOUT, But He WILL TACKLE IT.

Senator Martin Bailey of Danvile dis
covered yesterday that he had been made
chairman of a committee appointed by the
legislature to investigate Zion City
Hearings may be held at the Hotel Nor
rison, beginning the latter part Of this week,
but Senator Bailey has no definite ideas on
the subject Of procedure or what he is
supposed to investigate.
Wilbur Glenn Noliva leader Of the Zion
City flock, issued fiery denunciation of the
legislative committee Sunday, threatening
to have the members of the committee fol-
lowed and defying them to bring him before
the committee
DOESN'T MAKE HIM MAD
THAT does not make me mad" Senator
Bailey said. 81 don't know whether we
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-04-26
in town yesterday but said he had nothing
to do with the Zion City affair.
From THE CHICAGO DAILY TRI-
BJNE, Tuesday, April p, 1919.
ZION CITY COMMITTEE MEETS.

A preliminary meeting of the joint COM
mittee to investigate Zion City and Will
bur Glenn Voliva was held at a hotel
tonight. All the members were present
except Senator Herlihy, who was said to be
i'll. The committee did not name chair
man, altho it was understood that Senator
Bailey, of Danvile, would be the choice
Members of the committee, 7eho declined to
be quoted, said the meeting 7caS for the bw-
pose Of determining the scope of inquiry
and learning 7ohat the powers of the. IN
7'cStigating body are No date for future
meetings 7oaS set. limitations haze been
handed about that the committee members,
at least some of them, lack enthusiasm
From THE PARAGRAPH" Bloom
ington, Illinois, Wednesday, April %.
1910.
paper will read this number with intense
t absolutely upon the full support of all
Christian Catholic Apostolic Church in
d movement to complete the BUILDING
7 the whole proposition, and to say then
OBJECT LESSON THE
the fools who are his tools!
favored LOT is THINEr
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-04-26

Let clear thinking, fair-minded, justice
loving individuals read this resolution, and
there can be only one conclusion; and that
conclusion calls for the severest condem-
nation of this man Shurtleff on the part
of every respectable citizen in the State.
There may be no law in the statute
books by which this man Shurtleff can be
arrested and punished for the vicious, Grim
inal libels contained in this resolution, but
if he will only make these statements in a
place where | can get at him by the law,
I will promise that he will get the punish
ment which he deserves.
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-04-26
FIGHT SHY OF ZION TROUBLE
CIV a Staff Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD, ILL, April II. =
Speaker Shanahan was having trouble to-
day getting house members to serve on the
Voliva investigating committee provided
for in the Shurtleff resolution.
Prominent members on both sides OF the
chamber seemed to think there was dyna-
mite in the Shurtleff scheme to investigate
the Zion City folk who opposed his election
last fall. The speaker was SO careful in
making his selections that he insisted that
all the house members Of the commit
tee should be lawyers.
Several prominent members declined
outright to have anything to do with 1t.
Some such trouble was experienced IN the
senate but a committee was finally obtained
consisting of Senators Bailey, Bardill,
Spence (reps.), and Herlihy and Shaw
(dems.).
After considerable skirmishing the speak
ar finally got the following to agree to take
chance" Lyon, Castle, Monaghan
C,eps.) Dieterich and Devine (dems). All
are lawyers.
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-04-26
NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

FIRST: Voliva has been in charge of
Zion and of all its affairs for more than
thirteen years, and the general policy of
administration is exactly the same as that
announced by John Alexander Dowie in
hundreds of thousands of pamphlets and
papers = which general policy has been in
vogue for nineteen years.
SECOND: Volva supported this man
Shurtleff in 1912 Read the following let
ter from Shurtleff
Marengo, Illinois
August 5, 1914.
Rev. Wilbur Glenn Voliva,
Zion City, Illinois.
Ny dear Mr.. Overseer
| am dropping you a note to say that
| appreciated very much the support | re-
ceived in Zion City two years ago (the
year 1922 upon your recommendation, and
[ trust that | merited the same My name
will be on the primary ballot this year for
in the republican column.
Such portion of your people as may vote
in the Republican Primaries this year, if
any do, | should appreciate again, very
much, their favor and support.
With best wishes to you in every way,
Very respectfully,
EDWARD D. SHURTLEFF.
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-04-26

want Noliva or not did not even know
was made chairman. | guess somebody
put something over on me. | was down
at the legislature and was leaving the
chamber one day when some one hollered
something to me about this committee,
but did not know they had made me chair
man.
IF Voliva is running religious COM
munity up there according to law | don't
see what we can do about it. | don't see
that we have anything to say about his pre-
JUDGES against drug stores and doctors
HATES THE JoB
He may be all right. If he is he has
nothing to fear. If he is not we will try
to find some way to curb him. | hate the
JOB but suppose will have to take it. | am
more interested this week in an armory bill
for Danville than in anything else. Be
sides, | have just had an attack of neural
gia'
Former Speaker Edward Shurtleff, in
whose district Voliva resides, is the author
OF the resolution under which the committee
will proceed when it gets ready. He was
We believe that all readers of this
interest and we know that we can cou
officers, members, and friends of the
Zion throughout the world
Let lions answer be a great forwa
OF ZION CITY, to put the capstone
to the whole world, HERE IS THE
WORLD HAS EVER SEENr
We are laughing at the devil and al
"HAPPY ZION, WHAT A
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-04-26

Marengo, Illinois.
September 20, 1914.
Rev Wilbur Glenn Voliva,
Zion City, Illinois.
My dear Sir:
| wish to assure you that | appreciate
very much the very large vote and con-
fidence that was given me on September
9th by the voters in Zion City and the Town
of Benton, and know that this was largely
through your advice and influence.
Trusting that | shall merit the same
fully am
Very truly,
EDWARD D. SHURTLEFF
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-04-26

Zion throughout the world.
Let Zon complete BUILDING
%oF T'f HAS S' EVER sE THE GREATEST OBJECT LESSON THE
HAPBY zoS %fAT FA AZ S Dp IoT IS IS; Ti f
ds4za eA4S5
Administration Building
Rodney ssyy.l B Swift Swift -,
which Fs;s sd tz J e @ s
Of all the utterly diet lot Of t~addls
you story leading two small children carry
G n am m how the opoqs flow of tears that must have fallen
solemn and distressing season and I have
that fell from ie are sun sore from the S'''ns salt water
Now Swift: you story mean to
Widow Lotidge Of
Mcormik Harvester $3.50 you
cy alleged poor Widow odge ever sinee she so
taking washing living 9|''
You miserable old hypociteto your
community State Illinois, in the unted
You well know voiva said very
s know on, that tit @ v Td who Who You for the for the
that he could guilty alleged
s sen the Rsu sSs @
the zon eo for T M @ s15 1
proper subject Legislative
You poor old mpston Immediately read reading
called the pu1ng House and
n anu5 copy % w uo1fas OF t6usands
torial District, and throughout the State of Illinois
things baa s @ % Of s ss ss nS %
religion
you understand distinctly you invited this fight
I guarantee you will be a fight finish.
say your philosophical
ortorical grandioquen
hundred and sixty people living at Zion City, Of whom know
worthy walk this They
begged this legislature investigate the condition affairs of Wilbur
City"
challenge you public sixty
climbers criminals tally persons
deceived and
certainly very cunning that had of letting
United States time life and had visited Egypt Say Swift that
crush the bones.
in thought
oquence wonderful CD speech delivered
in the Senate Of the State of Illinois.
Your reference
of buckwheat batter have little l7sx2 Uranium
has certainly made fine old fool out of you!
have instructed have your speech embossed in gold
be- hermecs Ry sealed in order that losing
a valuable document from collection
deserving condemnation of decent faimndd
and especially YOUR s snkng hints good YOU
indicted Marion County Indiana
for obtaining money under a d your owm o5on party OF
alleged State requision being issued by the Gov
tender your your
presence upon a decent and respectable public
started fght-now take your medicine!
Nh y.
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-04-26
Marengo, Illinois.

Marengo, Illinois.
August 26, 1914
Rev. Wilbur Glenn Voliva,
Zion City, Illinois.
My dear Mr.. Overseer:
am in receipt of your favor of the 18th
and thank you very much for the same.
Respectfully yours,
EDWARD d. SHURTLEFF
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-04-26
The Lying and Hypocrisy
E. d. SHURTLEFF

Who Introduced the Resolution the House REPRESENTATIVES
Springfield to Investigate Voliva and His Religion
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-04-26

THIRD: Voliva supported Shurtleff in
1914 Read the following letter from
Shurtleff:
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-04-26

From THE CHICAGO JOURNAL
Thursday, April II, 1919.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-10-23
Teeth Made White and
Clistening In a Jiffy

BY new and perfectly harmless
process. anyone having yellow, black
or other stains or spots on the teeth,
can remove the unsightly discolcra-
lions completely in just a few mo-
ments. It is only necessary to brush
the teeth with unique. pleasant-tast-
ing preparation, originated by a we'll
known dentist, which druggists now
are selling under the name of Once
a-Week Tooth Polish" This seems
to penetrate and dissolve the films or
plaques" with which all teeth are
coated and which are bound to become
discolored In time. This information
will be best appreciated by fastidious
persons who, in spite Of the most per-
sistent brushing, have learned that the
usual dentifirices have little effect on
those tenacious fatty films.
This simple product is also an eff
fective preventive Of tartar, decay, in
flammation Of the gums, etc. Many
who have used it are willing to
affirm that a package Of Once-a-Week
Tooth Polish is worth its weight in
gold.-Adv.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-10-23
Johnson Praises Ralston
as Big Public Man

The following letter has been writ
ten by B. B. Johnson, of Richmond, to
the indianapolis Star Johnson was
formerly secretary to Ex-Governor
Ralston, whom he eulogizes.
Referring to recent comments on
former Governor Samuel NJ. Ralston,
permit me to suggest that he is one
of the big men of this country-big
in every worthy sense of the word.
Nature cast him large mould. His
instincts are true, his intelligence
keen and his courage is of a high
quality. He Is a natural gentleman.
and his sympathies are as broad as
humanity. His sense of justice Is
acute and his conscience is exacting.
He is built on a plan too broad to be-
come the apostle Of any elias or the
mere politician or party leader. AS
a public official he recognized his OBJ
legations to the whole people, and
there were none too poor or humble
to receive his careful consideration.
He kept his eye single to the public
welfare, in small as we'll as great
things.
That Governor Ralston made this
favorable impression on the people
Of Indiana has been widened in many
ways for years. Voluntary tributes
to this effect from political opponents
were much in evidence long before
the end Of his term of office. But to
those who were more closely asso-
ciated with him in any official capac-
ity. this conception Of his high char
acter and qualities was greatly en-
phasiZed. He met every acid test
and came through unscathed. Clear
headed. capable. practicay and open
minded, he is one of Americas ideal
public men, and he would confer
honor and reflect credit upon any
public trust, however high.
There is nothing flippant about him,
but he is sincere, earnest and pa
triotic citizen-one who has faith In
seh-government and in the great body
of our people who are its sponsors
and support.
Samuel NJ Ralston would not only
make an ideal candidate for the office,
but what is more important, he would
make an ideal president of the United
States. The country needs such men.
B. B. JOHNSON.