The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-25
SPOONER DECLARES
HISSISSIPPI'S WRATH
BRED RULE OF MOB
Menaces, He Says, Drove
Mrs. Cox From Office.
M'LAURIN RESENTS CHARGE
Debate Given Free Rein and Monopo-
lies Most of One Sessi0n-In Path
Of Quay's Statehood Wrangle-

The penchant Of Senator Quay for
being entertained moved the champion
obstructfonist OF the Senate TO give way
yesterday afternoon 20 his desire to oc-
cUpy all OF the time OF thai s5eay in the
consideration of the omnibus Statehood
bill, and he was silent listener 10 a
coIIOquy TO determine whether Mrs. Cox
left the postefice at Indianola, Miss,
under duress or whether she was driven
out by the threats Of the people Of that
town because of hatred OF the negro
race
The speeches. by courtesy of Senator
Quay. who holds the floor for eonsidera-
tion of the Statehood bill. continued IN
til SIS O'Clock, when they we're dis
placed by the special order for unob-
Jected pension bills.
In the course OF Mr. Spooner's remarks
he dissected a letter which had been
quoted by Mr. McLaEgin of Mississippi
and printed in the Record" The let
ter he interpreted as an admission from
the writer lawyer named Chapman. Of
Indianola. that a mass meeting had fixed
the time for Mrs Cox-s resignation as
postmistress. Whether there was a
lawIess and brutal element" said Sen
ator Spooner. depends upon the point
of view"
THE sheriff of the county does not
deny" said AIr. Spooner. that the post
Office inspector was expressly told by the
sheriff that Il the postmistress did not
resign he would not be answerable for
her safety. The sheriff was one Of those
who attended the mass meeting.
Would the postmistress have resigned
| OF her own free wilI?7 asked Mr.. Spoon
err "Shc sent her resignation to mass
meeting that had requested it. Such
designations are usually directed to the
President Of the Unitel States. That
resignation showed al attitude OF fear
and suppHcatlon. It is as idle as the
wind to cavil on the proposition that this
was not a forced resi- igu..tio1. 1 is alto
+ szethar erasi,-z 70 dgzel1 ~ the poHtenoss
OF the invitation to resign. 1t was the
power behini the request that constituted
/ the duress
! Mr.. SpOoIeT read a number OF letters
( to the President and Postoflec Depart
ment written by Indianola persons who
suggested that Mrs. Cox be removed. He
also told Of the summons Of the post
/ office inspector 10 the Office OF the sheriff
at IndianoIa The sheriff greeted him
with this question:
ITO get down TO business, Mr.. Fitzger-
aid. the reports from Washington about
I this postofIice affair show that you said
We had told you that If Mrs. Cox did not
resign we could not be responsible for
her safety Did you say that2"
I did. replied Fitzgerald, and I Ger
I tainly was so informed by you, and by
( Mr. Davis" There was an awkward
! pause, after which the inspector with
drew
Mr.. Spooner upheld the action Of tho
/ President in declining the resignation
and keeping the ONCE closed.
Mr.. McLaurin insisted that the clos
[ ing OF the postofTice was the action of
+ the President He regarded the state
ment from the White House as an ar
raignment OF the people of Indianola
/ as .'lawless and brutal" He said the
! basis of the whole affair was the race
( question. and that it could not be dis
I cussed without considering the ''unwtil
{ ingness OF the white people to receive
their mail at the hands Of q niger
osIma steT-
Nr. McLaurIn made sharp comment
cl5ming that he was denied access TO
the correspondence quoted by Nr
Spencer He said the people of in
q diaoIa had been treated as victims OF
tn inquisition were treated-tried and
&. codemned without hearing-and now
! "beause of the timOTOusness of the
pugmistress were deprived of postal
'-iIIties."