Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-02
A. !. O'CONOR ST|RS
ROTAR|ANS TO HIGH
PATRIOTIC FERvOR
OTTAWA ATTORNEY LAUDS
ROOSEVELT FOR HIS LOVE OF
NATiON-STRONG CONDEMNS
netG BILL" THOMPSON m BAN
QUIET SPEECH.

II was some meeting which the
Rotary Club pulled of at the New
Clifton last evening. The occasion
was marked BY the presence of dis
trict qoycrnor Of the Rotary CLUBS,
Frank p. Manly, of Indianapolis
whlsc district covers Indiana and llll-
re,s. Mr.. Manly explained in very
lucid manner what Rotary is and
what II stand for. He demonstrated
goa,n of the reasons for the remark
able grow h of the movement, show
ing that during the twelve years OF
it's existence it had developed from
tho small beginning or less than q
(ozen members who met in Chica'
60 eating place to an organization
which today is spread all over tne
English speaking world. He showed
that Rotary Is always behind the
greatest and best things In the COM
munity. in the state and in the ma
tjCn. He attributed much OF the sue
cess 10 tho selectivc membership,
witch il so generally misunderstood
by nor members, and to the really
great democracy Of the organization
His explanation of the great part the
Rctar ians were taking in the present
great world struggle, together with
the communications read previously
hy President Richardson of the local
club, were revelations not only %
the visiting guests but to the members
Of the cub themselves.
Rersc scnatiyes were also present
rrcm the clubs in Joliet, Morris and
Eankakee. Short addresses were
made by Messrs. Vaughn Brooks, and
President j. Stanley Brown, OF Joliet
f. S. Hedges, of Morris, and Mi
Swannell. of kankakee, which show
cd that the clubs in those cities are
very much live wires in their com
mnnily.
The Ottawa high school orchestra
! furnished their most excellent music
/ during The evening and added new
/ laurels 10 these long since won as
/ the best high school orchestra in Hi
/ nois.
j Miss Dorothy Relior delighted the
gathering with two very choice yoca
selections. Miss Refior has q really
unusual voice and gives great prom
ise for the future Her selections
were very enthusiastically received
ard she was compelled to respond tl
most hearty encores,
The feature of the evening. how
dger, was the mastery address o
Andrew J O'Conor. With the an
I nouncemcnt that Mr.. O'Conor wal
to speak came the expectation tina
something would be heard reall,
worth while, but surely not even hi
most enthusiastic admirers were pre-
nared for the wonderful patriotic ad
dress delivered by that gentleman
last evening. 1t Is safe to say iha
its equal was never delivered in OF
tawa. a. man who could listen t
Mr.. O'Conor as he spoke last eve
ning and not leave the gathering
better patriot and citizen would il
decd be hopeless. It was by no mean
spread eagle" effort. but direc
appeal that went home to every ma
to be rca patriot and supporter c
: the President, the Government an
His Country in this, a vital momen
!, lntorspersed were some of the mos
!, beautiful thoughts and comparison
. that it was ever the privilege of an
audience to hear. And the real Iris
wit which Mr.. O'Conor has so gel
7. cronsly Inherited was at all times
: evidence He paid his respects
big Bill Thompson, Chicago's di
grace, and had that individual bee
: present it Is cinch that he won
: have been in full accord with that 10
ton of the speakers remarks
which he said he was glad that sprif
was at hand and that the snakes wei
leaving their holes to come out
s the GROUND that Thompson might ha'
Q scmo refuge in which to crawl. n
. tribute to Roosevelt and his presel
r position as patriot was a remar
Il able effort, particularly in view
g his advance explanation that until We
" recently he never thought vel
10 much OF Roosevelt" His praise vi
,e aa Just as it was deserved, and q
O. speaker showed his own broadmin
n. edncss when he stated that he W
k. ono who refused to believe that the
Is was any political significance In {
,s cx-Prcsident's present stand, but tn
III He gave him the credit Of being act
,e atc.L by motives of the purest pGtr
t. ism. Any attempt to reproduce
even report" Mr.. O'Connor as