The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-11-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
AND THE NATIONS CAPITAL
WILL HAVE A POLICE
SCANDAL.
A Woman Wants to Get on the Police
Force of the District-George Clark
is Giving Them Good Democratic
Talk Up There.
Special Correspondence.

Especial Correspondence.
Washington, Nov. 24.-This city now
seems to be on the brink of an investi.
CATION of its police which will rival the
Wholesale overhauling of the 'finest' of
New York, as engineered by Dr. Park.
hurst and carried out by the LeXow com.
mittee and Recorder-elect Goff. The I'M.
heayal in this city, if it materializes, will
not be so much the result of a general
cry OF reform from the people as u cul-
mination of the quarrelings and chickering's
OF the members of the force themselves,
Inc metropolitan police force of this city
is or has been until recently peculiarly
Constituted organization. Formerly no
man could be appointed on the force unless
he held an honorable discharge from the
UNITED States army or navy. Owing TO
the growth of the city necesstating and
enlargement of the force and the incrcas-
ing age of the veterans that rule had TO
be changed, and now any able bodied
Icitizen of the district is eligible for ap-
pointment. The trouble at present in
the department is the outgrowth of an
effort to more strictly enforce the Sunday
laws and the midnight closing of saloons.
In some of the precincts the officers have
been extremely active, while in others
the proprietors of "speak-easies" or
whisper Shops" as they are called, and
disorderly houses have been allowed TO
ply their trades without molestation AS
a result of this partiality on the part
Iol the Olhcers an Anti-SaloOn
League composed of many of the best
citizens of the district was formed some
months ago to assist in the enforcement
of the blue laws" The members of this
league have been extremely active, and
nave hled charges against number of
police officials and privates. In an
effort to clear themselves these
men have resorted to bring
ing charges against each other, and as a
result the police trial board has been in
almost continuous session for several
weeks past, with an excellent prospect
of having their labors indefinitely pro-
tracted. Already about half a dozen pri-
Yates have been discharged from the
force, and charges are now hanging over
a half hundred more.
WOMEN AS POLICEMEN.
One. of the outcroppings of the police
agitation has shown itself within the
past week in an effort of a woman to Sc
cure an appointment as a member of the
force. This ambitious female is widow
| lady and signs her application for ap-
pointment to the board of commissioners
as Mrs. Lilly A. Thompson. All her
movements since filing her application
indicate that she is thoroughly in earnest
| in her wish to be invested with baton,
badge and brass buttons. She has re-
| ceived the endorsement of quite a num-
Der of women prominent in movements to
secure female emancipation, and
is an especial protege of
Mrs. Beva A. Lockwood.
Mrs. Thompson has lived in Washington
for about four years, having moved here
from Knoxville, Tenn. There she is said
to have been an enthusiastic equestrienne
and lover of outdoor sports, and in such
exercises managed to accumulate goodly
amount of muscular reserve, which she
says she can utilize in the handling of
unruly prisoners. She is also an advo-
cate of dress reform, and intimates that
she thinks she would look just too sweet
for any use with natty blue suit, deco
rated with brass buttons, and the regu-
lation helmet coquetishly perched on one
corner of her fluffy blonde curs.
For several years past she says she has
noticed the brutality with which the blue
coated guardians of the peace are wont
to treat their prisoners, and claims that
by the use of moral suasion the same re-
suit could be accomplished. Being a
widow she thinks she fully understands
genus homo. In case she should tackle
bOisterous "drunk and disorderly" and he
should offer resistance, what would be
more simple, she says, than to call on the
by ISLANDERS, for what man would refuse
to aid femininity in distress? The chances
are that about one nights experience in
the darkness of Bloodfield, Willow Tree
Alley or Foggy Bottom, well known To-
calties of this beautiful city of mag
nificent distances" would effectually dis
gust her with the chivalry of mankind in
general and life on the Washington po-
lice force in particular. For the present
however her application is in statue quo
impaled on Il file in the Office OF the
board of police commissioners.
Under the heading of "a Texans Hon
est Words" the Baltimore Sun had this
morning the following special telegraphic
interview with that distinguished Texan,
George Clark. The dispatch reads as
follows:
"Hon. George Clark, the leader of the
administration Democrats in Texas and
an Independent candidate for the COVER
norship two years ago, expresses opinions
regarding the causes of the recent de-
feat of the Democratic party which are
worthy of consideration by all Demo
Gratis desirous of future success. Mr..
Clark says: "This administration was
elected in 1892 upon platform distinct
ly denouncing all forms of protection,
repeal of the law requiring the purchase
of silver and guaranteed honesty OF
our money and the quality of every dollar
at all times in the markets in payment of
debts. That we have deceivd the people
and violated these pledges goes without
saying. While the tariff bill we gave
the country is an improvement on the
Mckinley law, it falls far short of party |
promises, and in many instances pre- |
serves the odious principle of protection
to an unsavory degree. Th party accept |
ed the treason and must stand RESPONSE |
BILE for the law, defects and all. There is
no escape from this in practical politics.
THE SILVER CRAZE.
Regarding the silver craze which has
taken possession Of so many people, Mr.. |
Clark says: "rhe Democratic party has
been peculiarly unfortunate since its ac-
cession to power in having beaten the |
long roll of alarm many times. Instigated |
and led chiefly by our Southern senator's
and members of congress, it fought and |
delayed for a dismal period the repeal of
Highest Of all in Leavening Pc