The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-25
The Republic Bureau.

l'lE ~ ana / 'iltSs N"'@
WASHINGTON. Jan. Ex-senator Spooner or
Wisconsin to-day addressed the Senate on
the Indianola Post Office matter. and made
a nerfunctory defense of the Postmaster
General, Mr.. Payne, who comes from
Spooner's State.
Mr.. Spooner is highly regarded as a law
Yer and generally speaks to the point. ne
character of his speech to-day was dlsap-
pointing to his friends. He received no as
sistance or encouragement on the ftePup-
lcan side. and such men as Mark Hanna
and Quay Of Pennsylvania and other lead
ers had a decidedly weary and bored eS-
pression as Spooner's defense of the negro
in office was made.
MAYORS LETTER.
During his speech Spooner read a ie''er
from Mayor Davis of Indianola, making a
diCniied and moderate statement OF the
situation. The Mayor wrote the depart
ment that for many years the negro woman
had held the office: that she hau never
been molested IN any way. but always was
treated with great kindness ny the White
patrons of the office; that her husband
also held a Government position; that the
two had accumulated $1,000. and that as
fve-sixths of the patrons OF the once We're
whites. they had come TO the decision l'at
il was time. under all the circumstances
and for good reasons, for the negro 10 re-
sign. and havins so Informed Mrs. Cox, she
die resign.
The MAYORS letter concluded with a state
mont that an unpleasant situation woNid
he ayerted by accepting the resignation
The word unpleasant" formed the text lor
q Crotesaue outbreak from the Wisconsin
senator. The chops and tomato sauce
ordered bv Pickwick did not conceal half
the awful message as seen ny sergeant
RuzfuZ. as did this word unpleasant con-
vey TO the Senator from Wisconsin,
TACTFUL SILENCE
In his excitement about this terrible
threat. Spooner omitted to mention the
Postmaster Generals order, making Two
members OF the same family ineligible to
serve in the postal service, or to show
what authority the President has for abol-
;shing a Post Office in a town or TINS size
Snooner disposed of that question by de-
cIaring that the office is not aboiished' that
it is operation in 1ndianola.
Spooner declared that such an incident
never would occur again. and there is gem
oral assent to this statement. There Is
abundant reason to believe the adm!n.stra-
ton will not again take such arbitrary ac-
zion. even to catch a few negro delegates.
and that 1t now is looking for the most
graceful way out of an awkward situation.
PRINCIPLE.
T, his speech. Mr.. Spooner said the Presi-
dent knew that Mrs. Cox did not wisl to
resign. and he had accordingly refused 10
have the office vacated. The people them
selves, TO all intents and purposes hau
closed the office. In pursuing the course ne
did the President had acted upon a prin-
ciple vital to the strength and viriiity OF
the preservation of the Government, name
". that the Federal Government shall be
allowed to conduct its own affairs without
regard to local pressure. Thu maintenance
of this principle, Mr.. Spooner sald' was es-
sential.
McLAURIN'S REPLY.
Mr.. McI.aurin of Mississippi said ne had
not. In his former speech. discussed the
rroprietv or the impropriety of the fresl-