The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-01-27

ing he had said. had justified the re-
marks Of the Senator from Wisconsin.
He had not. when he first spoke. believed
that the people OF Indianola had earned
the epithets of lawless and brutal, when
had been applied by the President $
secretary, and he repeated that II nal
not even now been shown that the
charge was justified. On the contrary,
he contended that the best feeling eX-
lists between Mrs. Cox and the people OF
InGianola. barring the prejudice OF race.
That this prejudice exists, the people
mad freely admitted. and there was no
dispositiOn to deny it. 1t exists. he
said. throughout the South aye, nc
added, and throughout the North also
The people had exercised their rlght 10
petition and had done so. and he had
never before heard it argued in the Sen
ate that the people had not the right to
assemble and make known their wants.
In this case the petitioners did not want
Mrs. Cox as postmaster, and had frankly
said so. Moreover, it was their right TO
present this petition to Mrs. Cox, If they
preferred to do so, and there was no
ground for charges on that account
Mr.. McLaurin stated that notyvith-
standing three fourth Of the people at
Indianola are colored. five sixths Of the
mail received at and sent from the post
office there is 10 and from white people.
He read the petition 10 Mrs. Cox con
tending that the address was IN every
way respectful. His information Was
that the meeting at which the resignation
had been accepted had been attended by
each OF the 50 white mel in the town.
except Mr.. A. =. Weeks, who had gone
over TO the Republicans in order to Sc
cure an office, as is the case with most
men who go to the party No dOubt
the people wanted the woman out of Of
fee because of her color, but it did rot
follow that they felt any hatred
toward her on account Of her color. The
prejudice was due. he said to
the inferiority of the colored race He
contended that the charge made by MIR.
C~ortelyou had not been directed at a mi
nority of the people of Indianola, but at
all of them as all had participated in
the meeting.
The President had shown a disposition
to shut his cars to the other side Of the
question.
Mr.. McLaurin said he had not seen all
the correspondence in the case; that he
had requested copies Of it, but had beer
refused by the Postmaster General ard
had been referred to the President.
When he received a note from TIC Prcsi-
dent he had requested to be shown al
the papers but had not seen all the docu-
mcnts read by Mr.. Spooner before tho
Senate today. He asserted that there had
been threats OF personal violence, "and,
he added. none can be found unless il
be Sound in the fertile brains Of the
President, Postmaster General and Tic
Postoffice Inspectors
Even granting there was intimidation
was it not still the duty of the President
TO furnish the people the best possible
postal facilities. In directing that the In
dianola mail be supplied from Greenvilie
the postoffice authorities had placed upon
the people Of Indianola an additional
hardship.
Mr.. McLaurin said he did not believe
the people CT Indianola had done wrone
in trying to get rid of a postmaster Of an
inferior race, but right or wrong, they
still had the right to ask for relief. That
they had done. and, only that, and only
the oratcry of the Senator from Wiscon-
sin could distort that into an act OF
duress. In conclusion Mr.. McLaurin said
he had no feeling of cnmity towards the
colored people. but that on the other hand
he always contended for the protection OF
their rights.
After an executive session the Senate
adjourned until Monday.