The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-03
WEEKS FOR MONTHS
WAS CLAMORING FOR THE OFFICE
MINNIE cox HELD.
APPLIED MOST PERSISTENTLY
LOST NO OPPORTUNITY TO PRESS
HIS CLAIM.

Postmaster General Payne Has
Furnished the House All the Cor
respOndence In the IndianOla
Cnse-Weeks Not the Only Appli-
cant-AlI Seemed to Think 1t Ger
tain Minnie Cox Would Get Out.
Damaging Threat That Mayor
Davis Was Alleged to Have Made.
Washington, March 2.-Postmaster
General Payne to-day forwarded to the
House all the papers in the case of
the Indianola. Miss, postoffiee, which
was discontinued by the administra-
ton because of the forced abandon
ment of the office by its negro post
mistress, Minnie v. Cox.
The correspondence shows that A.
B. Weeks, a brother-in-law of Mayor
pavis of Indianola, began his candi-
dacy for the postoffice as against the
negro incumbent as far back as April
Z, 1902, when he began sending long
series of letters and kilograms to the
department. The papers include an ex-
tract from a letter of a postoffice Of
fetal, dated Feb. %, 1903, narrating
conversation which he states took
place at Biloxi, Miss. In this letter
Mayor Davis of Indianola is quoted
as saying that if Minnie 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. Daugherty,
United Stats special attorney at New
Orleans, telegraphed to Assistant At
torney General Pradt at Washington
that there are numerous negro coun-
ty and municipal officers serving un-
der Democratic administrations
throughout the Southern states"
wouldn't Furnish Correspondence.
Mayor Davis of Indianola wrote the
fourth assistant postmaster general
on Jan. 8, last. requesting copies of all
letters written the department regard
ing the postolfice. and stated that the
postmaster was requested by all of the
citizens to resign; that no threat was
made, and that she was perfectly will
ing to give up the office. Fourth AS
sistant Postmaster General Bristow re-
fused to furnish the copies of the let
tiers,
The correspondence set forth that A..
b Weeks wrote the department sew
eral letters during last April, in one
of which he requested that he be at
once appointed, and in a letter dated
May 30, 1902, he stated that he was
anxious to get the appointment, sup
plementing this on July 2 with a let
ter urging his own appointment and
giving reasons why it should be made.
On Sept 10 he wrote the fourth assist
ant postmaster general that there was
determined effort of the people TO
make the postmaster resign or give up
the office in some way, because she is
colored, and requesting that his appli-
cation be remembered.
On Oct Weeks wrote the President
that he had the assurance of Minnie
Cox, the postmaster, that she will
forward her resignation in the next
few days." and pressing his own appli-
cation on the ground that he was the
only white Republican at Indianola.
Was willing to he Seen.
On Dec 10 he wrote the President
that he would be glad TO come TO
Washington so that it could be seen
how competent he was. Six days later
he wrote> that he was the only good
friend the administration had among
the white people of Indianola, and
later he forwarded a petition of ne
groes of Indianola and vicinity in be-
half of his appointment.
On Jan. l he wrote the President
that the postmaster had abandoned
the office; pressed his claims for the
appointment, and said that he would
be glad to have the President wire him
to qualify. Later he wrote the Presi-
dent twice, asking that the postoffica
be re-establshed, stating that Minnie
Cox would not take charge of the Of
flee again, and urging his own APP
pointment.
The papers also show that several
other candidates, notably John S.
Montgomery, Mrs. 3. d. Watts, Mary
H. Hogin' and Lillian Green, applied
for the Office in October on the under
standing that Minnie Cox had ten
dered or was about to tender her
resignation.
Postoffice Inspector Johnston at New
Orleans wrote the department on Dec.
10 that Indianola is the county seat of
Sunfiower county, and that the postal
laws and regulations contemplate that
each court house and county seat shall
be supplied with mail. Postoffice In
spector Fitzgerald on Dec. Is submit
ted a detailed report relative to tire
circumstances which caused the peo-
pie of Indianola to order w. w. Cox, a
railway postal clerk, and two other
persons to leave that place. presuma-
bly,, he said, on account of their color