The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-03
CLOSED The OFFICE
RESIGNATION OF THE NEGRO Wo-
MAN NOT ACCEPTED.
RESIGNATION COMPULSORY.
PRESIDENT MAKES A STATEMENT
REGARDING THE OUTRAGE.

Presidents Cabinet Considered the
Case of the POstOfflce,at IndinnoIn,
Miss.-It Was Decided TO Close Up
the Office and Make GrecnviIIe the
POstOfice for IndianOIn-Her Color
Apparently the Only Objection
Urged Against the Woman Hold
ing the ONCE.
Washington. Jan. 2.-The feature of
the cabinet meeting to-day was the
decision to close permanently the post
office at Indianola, Miss. from which
the postmaster, Minnie NJ Cox, colored,
resigned under compulsion a few days
ago, since which time the office has
been closed.
The bondsmen have brought the
matter to the attention of the au-
thorities here with the view to being
relieved of the responsibility of the
accumulated mail. The Postmaster
General has had thorough investiga-
ton made and believes that the woman
was obliged to resign under duress-
that her life was endangered. Having
represented this to the cabinet, after
long discussion, the decision above
noted was reached. and the office will
not be reopened until the people In
the district are willing to accept this
woman as postmaster.
During the afternoon the President
discussed with several members Of the
cabinet other features of the case of
the Cox woman, Postmaster General
Payne being in conference with the
President for an hour or more. 1t was
decided, finally, to issue a formal state
ment concerning the Indianola case.
Secretary Cortelyou, for the President,
made public the following.
Had Given satisfaction.
THE poktmaster at Gndianaoaa,
Miss, is Minnie M. Cox, a colored
woman. She served three years as
postmaster under President Harrison.
When President Mckinley came she
was again appointed, in 1897, nearly
six years ago. Her character and
| standing in the community are in
dorsed by the best and most reputable
| people In the town. Among those on
| her bond is the present Democratic
| state senator from the district, to-
| gether with the leading banker of In
| dianaola and an ex-state senator from
| the district, also a Democrat. The
| postmaster and her husband own from
$4,000 to $4,000 worth of property in
Sunfiower county. The report of
postoffice inspectors who have investi-
gated the office from time to time
! show that she has given the utmost
| satisfaction to all the patrons OF the
| office, that she is as all times courte-
ous faithful, competent and honest in
the discharge of her duties. Her moral
standing in the community is of the
highest. Her reputation Is of the
best. Few offices of this grade in any
state are conducted better.
"The postmaster recently forwarded
her resignation to take effect on Jan.
], but the report of inspectors and
information received from various rep
utable white citizens of the town
and neighborhood show that the resig-
nation was forced by brutal and law
less element purely on the ground of
her color and was obtained under ter
ror of threats Of physical violence. The
mayor of the town and the sheriff of
the county both told the postoffice in
spector that IL she refused to resign
they could not be answerable for her
safety, although at the same time not
one word was said against her man
agement Of the office. On Jan. / the
bondsmen of the postmaster telegraph
ed that the postoffice was closed, but that
the postmaster claimed that her res
ignation was in the Presidents hands
to take effect Jan. /, and that there
mad been no advice of the appointment
of her successor. The telegram closed
with this statement:
Prompt action necessary for relief
of business interests.
A fragrant Outrage.
ain the view of the President the
relief of the business interests. which
are being injured solely by the action
of the lawless element of the town. is
wholly secondary to the preservation
of law and order and the assertion of
the fundamental principle that this
government will not connive at or toll
crate wrong and outrage of such fla
grant character.
by direction of the President the
following telegram was sent by the
Postmaster General to the bondsmen:
The postmaster's resignation has
been received, but not accepted In
view of the fact that the office at In
dianola is closed. all mail addressed to
that office will be forwarded to Green
VILE
THE papers in the case have been
sent to the Attorney General for ac-