The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-03
WEEKS WAS INSISTENT
MADE FREQUENT REQUESTS TO BE
APPOINTED POSTMASTER.
Papers I'm the Indianola (Miss) Case
Sent to the House by Postmaster
General Payne.

WASHINGTON, March 2.-Postmaster
General Payne to-day forwarded to the
House all the papers in the case of the
Indianola Miss, postoffice, which was dis
continued by the administration because
of the forced abandonment of the Office by
its negro postmistress, Mrs. Minnie ". Cox.
The correspondence shows that A. B.
Weeks. brother-in-law of Mayor Davis.
of Indianola, began his candidacy for the
postoffice against the negro incumbent as
far back as April Z. 1902, when he began
sending a long series of letters and tele-
grams to the department. The papers in
clude an extract from letter of post
office Official dated Feb. g. 1903, narrating a
conversation which 1t says took place at
Biloxi, Miss. In this letter Mayor Davis,
of Indianola, is quoted as saying that if
Mrs. Cox should again take charge of the
Indianola postoffice "she would get her neck
broken inside of two hours
On Jan. 3, last, John c. Dougherty,
United States special attorney at New Or
leans, telegraphed to Assistant Attorney
General Pradt at Washington, that There
are numerous negro county and municipal
officers serving under Democratic admins
trations throughout the Southern States.
Mayor Davis, of Indianola, wrote the
fourth assistant postmaster general on Jan.
Is last, requesting copies of all letters
written the department regarding the post
office and said that the postmaster was re-
quested by all of the citizens to resign, that
no threats were made; that she was per
feetly willing" to give UP the ONCE Fourth
clined to furnish the copies of the letters.
The correspondence shows that A B. Weeks
wrote the department several letters dur
ing last April in which he requested that
he be appointed at once and in a letter
dated May 30. 1902, he said that he was
anxioush to get the appointment supple
menting this on July with letter urging
his own appointment and giving reasons
why it should be made. On Sept 10 he
wrote the fourth assistant postmaster gen.
eral that there was a determined effort OF
or give up the Office in some way, because
she was colored and requested that his APP
wrote 1 the President that he had the assur.
ance of Mrs. Cox, the postmaster that
she will forward her resignation in the next
ton on the ground that he was the only
white Republican at Indianola. On Dec
IL he wrote the President that he would
could be seen how competent he is. Six
days later he wrote that he was the only
good friend the administration had among
the white people or lndianola ana later he
Indianola and vicinity in behalf of his ap-
pontment. On JAN he wrote the Presi-
dent that the postmaster had abandoned
the office: pressed his claims for the ap-
pointment and said that he would be glad
TO have the President wire him to qualify.
Later he wrote the President twice asking
that the postoffice be re-stablished, saying
that Mrs. Cox would not take charge Of
the Office again and urging his own ap-
pontment.
The papers also show that several other
candidates, notably John Sharkey Mont
gomery Mrs. b. d. Watts. Miss Mary
Hicks Hogin and Mrs. Lillian Green applied
for the Office In October on the understand
ing that Mrs. Cox had rendered or was
about TO tender her resignation. Postoffice
Inspector Johnston at New Orleans wrote
the department on Dec. Is that Indianola
was the county seat of Sunfiower county
and that the postal laws and regulations
contemplate that each courthouse and coun-
~ seat should be supplied with mail.
Postoffice Inspector Fitzgerald on Dec. Is
submitted a detailed report relative TO the
| circumstances which caused the people of
Indianola to order w. w. Cox. railway
postal clerk. and two other persons TO leave
| that place, presumably on account of their
color.
Senator McLaurin. of Mississippi to-day
introduced a bill to reimburse the people