The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1903-01-31
HUMPHREYS LETTER,
Which Caused Much Comment Ex-
planned In An Interview.

On last Monday the Times ma
showed Congressman elect Humphrey
the letter published in the Memphi
Sunday papers, purporting to be
copy Of letter written by. him I,
Postoffice Inspector Fitzgerald.
1.-THE letter, as published, Is no
the letter written by me" he replied
las will be seen by comparing 1t will
the copy which now have, and which
I will be glad to have made public.
If there is any consolation to be got.
ten by the Republicans from the let
ter as I wrote it, they are welcome tc
it,"
i How did You happen to write the
letter." Mr.. Humphreys was asked.
| "Well, was in Jackson in Decem.
Der, and from a conversation with Mr..
Fitzgerald I was satisfied the depart
ment was going to close the Office.
was naturally DESTROYS Of seeing the
tpeople Of Indianola, and SO requested
Mr.. Fitzgerald to have the authori-
ties suspend action until could con-
fer with the citizens. This he prom
ised to undertake. I then conferred
with the gentlemen as detailed in the
letter, and on the facts they gave me
based my argument against the
closing Of the Office
lis there anything else you would
like to state?"
Nothing except you might say the
conditions, detailed in the letter were
upon information given me at the
time Of its date, December 20, and had
no reference to The sentiment of the
people since the presidents action.'
Mr.. Humphrey's letter to Mr.. Fitz-
gerald is as follows: Ell
Greenville, DEG. 20, 1902.
Dear Sir: NIL ff
+ have conferred withseveral Of the
most prominent citizens of Indianola
in reference to the postoffice affair,
about which spoke to you last week,
and am sorry to say could do moth
ing to relieve the present strained
relations.
am advised by some Of the most
influential gentlemen there that very
large proportion Of the patrons of the
office, while they are practically
unanimous in the desire to have a
white person in charge of the office,
are opposed to the course which has
been pursued and is still being per-
sisted in, in insisting upon the resig-
nation of the present incumbent.
There are some, however, though
I am advised they are few in number,
who express determination not to
give their assurance that all will be
well il the resignation is not accepted.
I have not been given any names nor
have learned of any direct threats,
but have no doubt threats have been
made. regret very much my inabil-
ity to do anything towards a proper
nuJAbULACAb VI UhAo OAOuuA0 anu uO-
sire to thank you for the interest you
have manifested.
I hope it will not be necessary to
abolish the Office at Indianola and
thereby punish SO many good people
for an offense which they have not
committed. It is very serious matter
to deprive community as large as
Indianola Of postal facilities. This is
town Of some 1, 200 or /, 800 inhabi-
tants, two banks and the county site.
The people are now winding up a
years business and making arrange
ments for the year to come. This is
the season when taxes are due and to
shut of the mail facilities now may
mean the miscarriage Of non resident
land owners letters directed to the tax
collector with the possible serious
to such owners who have
in no wise even contributed
to the present trouble. / sincerely
hope the authorities may find some
other means Of dealing with this
matter than a resort to measures that
will carry punishment to many inno-
cent in order to reach guilty few.
This rule was adopted by Herod, and
| hope he will be permitted to enjoy
. monopoly in that distinction.
l am personally very much obliged
to you, because while / am not yet in
harness, know if this
office is abolished, will then be ex-
epcted to re-establish it, a task which
I know in advance will be no easy
one. I am sorry / have made such Q
poor excuse as handler Of oil in
these troubled waters, but the race
which is strong in Ms all, |
is running too high now in Indianola
TO be checked or curbed by q simple
resort to reason.
Thanking you once more, l am very
truly, B. g. Humphreys.
Mr.. Chas. Fitzgerald, Post ONCE
jackson, Miss.