The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-03
THE INDIANOLA CASE
PAPERS FORWARDED TO THE
 HOUSE.
A. W. Weeks Gives an Example of Strenuosity in Seeking Job-Mc- Laurin Introduces Bill
 to Pay Citizens.

Washington, March 2.-Postmaster Gen eral Payne today forwarded to the House all the papers in the case of the India nola. Miss. postoffice. which was discon- tlnued by the administration because of the forced abandonment of the office by Its negro postmaster. Mrs. Minnie Cox,
 The correspondence shows that A. B. Weeks. brother-in-law of Mayor Davis of 1ndianola. began his candidacy for the postoffice against the negro incumbent as far back as April 7 1902. when he began sending long series of letters and tele- grams to the department.
 The papers include an extract from letter of postoffice official dated Febru- ary g, 1903. narratng a conversation which it 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 office she would get her neck broken inside of two hours" January 3, last, John c. Dougherty, United states Speical attorney at New Orleans. telegraphed to Assistant Attorney General Pradt at Washington that there are numerous ne- gro County and municipal officers serv- ing under Democratic administrations throughout the Southern States"
 Mayor Davis of 1ndlanola wrote the Fourth Assistant Postmaster General oh January 3. last, requesting copies of all letters written the Department regarding the postoffice, and said that the postmas- ter was requested by all the citizens to resign: that no threats were made; that she was perfectly willing to give up the office.
 Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Brislow declined to furnish the copies of the letters. The correspondence shows that A. B. Weeks wrote the Department several letters during last April in which he requested that he be appointed at once. and in letter dated May %, 19o2, he said that he was anxious to get the appointment. supplementing this July ?, with a letter urging his own appointment. giving reasons why 1t should be made. September 19 he wrote the Fourth Assist ant Postmaster General that there was determined effort of the people to make the postmas'<r resign or give up the of- flee in some way because she was colored and requested that his application be re- membered. October Weeks wrote the President that he had the assurance of Mrs. Cox. the postmaster. that "she will forward her resignation in the next few days" and pressing his own application on the ground that he was the only white Republican at India1 !. December 13 he wrote the President that he would be glad to come to Washington so that 1t could be seen how competent he is. Six days later he wrote that he was the only nnnd friond tho a1rnt nj Qt the white people of Indianola and later he forwarded a petition of colored citi- zens of 1ndianola and vicinity in behalf of his appointment.
 July 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 President twice asking that the postoffice be re-established saying that Mrs. Cox would not take charge of the office again and urging his own ap- pointment.
 The papers also show that several oth- CT candidates. notably John sharkey Montgomery Mrs. B. D. Watts. Miss Mary Hicks Hogin and Mrs. Lillian Green applied for the office in October on the understanding that Mrs. Cox had ten dered or was about to tender her reslg- nation.
 Postoffiec Inspector Johnston at New Orleans wrote the Department December 13, that Indianola was the County seat of Sunfower County and that the postal laws and regulations contemplate that each court house and County seat should be supplied with mail. Postofice Inspector Fitzgerald December 15. submitted a de- tailed 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 today introduced bill to reimburse the people of 1ndianola, Miss, for money expended