Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-03
BAPTIST PASTOR
.SPURNS OFFER TO
SERVE AS JUDGE"
REV. CHESSMAN ISSUES OPEN
LITTER IN REpl.i TO DAN J
piNNEEN'S OFFER 20 EXPOSE
law VIOLATIONS IN OTTAWA.

In reply to former Commissioner
Daniel J. Dinneens open letter to
Rev. George W. Chessmsn, the Bap.
list clergyman, today issued state.
mcnt spurning Mr. Dinneens offer to
serve as Judge and Jury while the lat
to. cited his cases with proof of open
violations of the law in Ottawa. Rev
Chessman in refusing the Cfer gives
a. his reason belief that he could
not further the cause Of law enforce
men. in Ottawa b. accepting Mr.
DinLeen's offer
HI, reply is in its,lf an open et
:er" and says:
In reply to Daniel J. Dnneens open
letter:
The open letter Of Mr.. Daniel j.
Dinneen, published in the Ottawa
papers last Tuesday. never came to
me personally. The writer OF the
letter sent 1t direct to the newspa.
pers and it came to my attention
cnly as it would come to the atten.
ton OF any other resident of the
city. will answer II in the same
open way,
After careful consideration OF the
contents Of the letter, came to .ho
conclusion that ! could not furher
the cause Of law enforcement in
Ottawa by accepting Mr. Dinneen's
offer. am not in position to dis.
believe that he has the evidence he
Gains, but the very fact that in
jlnction proceedings have been III
3t'tuted against his place OF busi
ness after the verdict of the Jury
in his recent trial, discounts, to my
mind, his value as cO.worker for
reform.
took occasion last week 20 in.
form our city attorney OF my Oh
thusiastic willingness to co.ope rate
with the law enforcing arm OF the
cry government. II any law en-.
forcement is accomplished, it will
be accomplished by those avthori2-
ed to so function. | recognize the
men who exercise the prerogatives
OF police power. Any evidence
might obtain from Mr.. Dinneen
must of necessity be submitted to
these authoritative persons. Mr..
Dinneen, II sincere in the interest
OF law enforcement. has the same
privilege to submit evidence tina.
would have. and the responsibility
for action on the part of city Off
Gals would be as imperative in the
one case as the other.
Mr. Dinneen's offer to reveal the
details OF his trouble with tn, city
commissioners may have some per.
tinency to the matter of evidence
as to non.enforcement of law, but
on the surface 1t appears something
to put me in the light of a partisan
in matter where | have no dispo
sition to meddle.
In almost five years of residence
and pulpit utterance In Ottawa
think my record will substantiate
the assertion that ! have not been
a prying busy-body, as that term is
current in common parlance.
have not coveted the title of fight.
ing parson" or sought to bask in the
spotlight of sensationalism by har.
assing public officials.
| have spoken In the interests OF
law enforcement and have not been
backward in criticlzing public Off.
cials for laxity in performance of
duties incumbent upon them by vir.
tue OF their Office and It's oath. This
I | take It, is one Of the inescapable
I duties of minister of the gospel.
| My conception Of the church OF
Jesus Christ Is that 1t speak as
! forcefully as II can in such matters.
| Anything in the city life demQraliz.
ing to the morals Of our youth or
manhood is an object for the az.
gressive voice and action of the
i. church for the removing.
II A preacher, where he can do so,
/ must do more than talk for the at.
tainment of law and order. Action
, is vital and necessary But the fact