National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-01-22
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The Woman Righters-Aii Wrong.

Or,cer Rodrick denies the story about his
action on the license question a. follows:
EDITOR REPUBLICAN; There appeared In your
paper on Monday last an article under the cap
ton Of "Thc License Question:" In which the
conscientious discharge Of my duty as a member
OF the Metropolitan police force OF this District
was made the subject OF prOdigious display OF
orensc knowledge and constitutional research
by "Woman's Rights Now, while would not
desire to make myself appear ungallant towards
these misguided and terribly prOscrptiye advC-
Gates Of female suffrage, secret affinitles, &C.,
dc., yet must protest against this unwarrnnt-
able attempt 10 connect my name with dis
honesty, or any unlicensed Interference with
"the right Of the people peaceably TO assemble
and petition the Government for redress OF
grlevancea.n | desire To state that did not
walk up 10 the ticket office on the occasion In
question and demand the sum OF s. did not
demand Of Mrs. Lockwood, In default OF her not
obtaining license, fee under penalty OF a line
OF 800 did not send note TO Register Cook,
nor, indeed, 10 any one else, In reference to the
matter; did not inform II. V. Cotton that he
was under arrest; did not say TO any of the
parties that the penalty Of the law In such cases
male and provided was $50 | did not publish,
Or cause 20 be published. IN the local press the
letters Of my superior oiiiceTs In advance Of any
attempt 10 make the arrest,
The above six denlals desire 10 apply directly
20 an equal number Of separate and distinct
falseho0ds, contained In the so-called "faiT
statemenr regarding this question VI license, Ms
set forth by "Nomahs Rights" And now, Mr..
Editor, permit me, u you please, to make my
statement IN reganl to his affair. While on duty
last Friday evening | observed a great many
people entering Lincoln hall M n to a place Of
amusement, and on entering myself discovered
a man eNacting an admission fee. Immediately
Inquired OF him II he possessed license, M the
entertainment within appeared To Lc one de-
signed for speculative PURPOSES The gentleman
Informed me that he had none, hut thought Mrs
lockwood, who was inside, had one, as she was
TIE business manager Of the concern. asked
him 10 please invite Mrs. Lockwood out, which
he did, when repeated my Request 10 her.
AFTER Informing me that she also had none, and
li1 not think she needed one, Us the law under
which II was claimed was unconstitutional, the
lady referred me TO Miss Anthony, Who she
said, was the president Of the society; but, as
was satisfied that nOflcense hal been taken out
dld not trouble Miss A., but repaired lmme-
fore Assistant District Attorney Miller, who said
ne would mold the case under consideration and
consult his superior Oficers. In the meantime
however, | went and saw Mr.. W. 4. Cook, Dis
referred me TO Register Cook, who gave me
note, rs previously published, back 10 the District
attorney, who In turn made his Endorsement
lheTeOnI aud which has also been heretofore pub
lished. While In the ONCE OF the latter gentle
man reporter OF the city press requested and oh
talnel permission to make Of the facts In the
case for matter OF news for the public, which
accounts for the proceedings having been, as
" WOmans Rights" thinks, prgmatuTely pub
llshed. After leaving the ONCE Of Mr.. Cook
again saw Mr.; Miller, who informed me that he
hah concluded TO take no action In the matter,
Thus y win be seen acted wholly within the
scope OF my authority. Had done lesa than
did, l would have been liable TO charges for
neglect Of duty. It's the sworn duty Of officers
OF the police force to see that the laws are en-
forced, and as for me, that duty shall lie Dis
charged fcaTleshly and to the letter as under
stand II under the instructions which receive,
al the "WomaRs Rights" and conventions IOE