Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-11-27
.D|NNEEN, IN OPEN
LETTER TO PASTOR,
.FLAyS COUNC|LMEN
NviCTED SALOOk.kEEPER
SAYS HE CAN PROVE LAWS ARE
BEING FLAGRANTlY BROKEN
IN OTTAWA.

new angle was injected into the
Dinneen Ottawa controversy today
when Mr.. Dinneen, in response to
Rev. G. W. Cheeseman's sermon pub
lishcd yesterday in both Ottawa pa
pcrs. prepared an open letter to the
Baptist church clergyman, IN which
he charges that laws are being Ia
grantly violated in the city and to
whichano official cognizance Is being
given By tho administration.
A copy signed By Mr.. Dinneen was
submitted to the Free Trader-Journal.
Mr.. Dinncen says:
Ottawa. Illinois.
| Ottawa, H., Nov. n, 1917.
i Rev. G. W. Chessman,
| Ottawa. Illinois.
Rev. Sir.
read in last evenings Republic
/ an.Times with deep interest an ex
tract from sermon delivered by
4 you on Sunday last in your church.
That part Of il which particularly
/ interested me read as follows:
when the Dinneen case ia set
tied and settled right, II Is time to
carry on and enforce the law In the
three clubs and the notorious house
in Center Ottawa where liquor Is
| dispensed without license. Law.
breaking is law.breaking in these
clubs just as truly as in the Din.
neen case. A veneer Of respectful
ity aud oxclusveness does not
1 make the 0ffense less obnoxious or
/ less liable for tho laws penalty.
completely agree with you IN
/ everything that you arc credited
with saying in the aboyc extract
from your sermon; and | presume
that inasmuch as my case Is now
settled. and, as believe, you hon
csty think, sottlcd right, it is nov
time to proceed against other al
legged law.brcakers
It you arc honest in the position
which YOU have taken, and | be.
lieye that you are, ! now offer TO
produce for you the proof that the
clubs In question are selling liquor
without license; that the motor
ious house on Fulton street Is also
selling liquor without license and
that notorious gambling dens are
operating within n block of where
the city commissioners hold their
/ meetings and within stones
throw of the court house | viii
j also give you proof Of cases where
young men coming from the Fulton
street house with disease commun.
! icated the same to good girls. ! will
, show you aiIidavits and signed state
| mcnts that said house was under
police protection. will also lay
before you such facts and cOndi
} tions that when YOU have consid
j. cred them fairly. you cannot he'll
/. being convinced that 50 far as ! an
( server Of the law in comparison
] with those who are permitted TO x
(. free and unprosecuted.
s After you have considered thesl
|. facts | viii leave II To you To sa!
|. whether or not The same are no
fully known to at least some Of th'
city commissioners. viii als'
give you the complete history o
> my troubles with the commissioner
and then leave II for you to deter
mine what course you ought to pUt
! sue.
* When YOU have duly considpre'
4 all Of the above things | will thel
Is show you where plckpOckets wer
y imported 10 this city and where the.
. operated in connection with som
T. local talent and were permitted 4
get away with the money they stol
IT. without any legal prosecution.
u will meet you any time you sugees
Is aud IN addition to all of the abov
,e things viii Offer you proof OF othc
J. olfonscs which do not wish |
name here. know that us soon .