Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-25

Admits That She Was Obfectfon-
able Because of Her Color-Hc RE-
scnts the Epithets Applied to the
lndinnoln People by the Presi-
DENTS Secretary. and Insists 1t is
stf!l the Presfdent,s Duty to Fur
nish Postal Facilities.
WASHINGTON, d. c., January "a
Constructiveiy. the Statehood bill was,
ss usual, before the Senate. but. as a
matter OF fact. the admission Of the
territories was scarcely mentioned in the
course OF the days proceedings. Early
n the afternoon. Mr.. Spooner. Of Wfscon-
Bin. took the floor to discuss the Presi-
dents action in discontinuing the post
oalce at Indianola. Miss. and refusing
70 receive the resignation Of the negro
postmater. Minnie Cox. He defended the
President. and was responded to by Mr..
McLaurin. Of Mississippi. who said there
had been no threats against Minnie Cox,
but who admitted that she was objection
able because of her color.
Mr. Spooner said he had no criticism to
had been respectful and weIl-tempered.
but that he appeared to justify the at
dtude Of the postmaster-genera and the
President He contenGed that there was
not IN Secretary Corte1Sou's announce
ment Of the Presidents attitude in the
Ease anything to justify the inference
IF Mr. McLaurin that 1t was intended to
fenounce the entire population Of In
efanola as lawless and brutal mo man
Is less likely that the President to enter
9poa such wholesale condemnation Of
The people Of Indianola," he said
HIfnnie,s Rights.
Mr. Spooner said that the Presidents 8
action had been caused by the course Of
the minority in the vicinity Of the post
nf1ice Minnie Cox. Mr.. spooner declar-
I'd. has as much right under the con-
rtitution and the laws to hold her Office
without restraint and duress, as has any
member of the Senate to hold his
seat in the Senate chamber.
Detailing the proceedings at the mass
meeting. at which Minnie's resignation
Eas requested. Mr.. spooner said the cir
sun1stances were such as to convince any
nile that she was not free agent In the
matter .'When before" he ked ''had
It been left to a local mass-meeting to
accept the resignation Of Federal office
holder. and fix .ue time within which 1t
should take efTect?" Whether this course
m the part Of the meeting had indicated
the presence cf a lawless and brutal ele-
rnent, depended, the Senator said, on the
point of view He called attention to
the fact that the sheriff of the county
was among the participants.
Replying to Mr. Tillnan, Mr.. Spooner
said that the sheriff was the conservator
OF the peace up north. To this Mr. llll-5
man responded. tina: he had not observed
r,l,o or,fr = to
to the duty as acting as bodyguards fof
the people.
Proceeding Mr. Spooner said the sheT-
tff haG not denied the statement credited
TO him He again referred to the sher-
IFS presence at the mass-meeting. and
asked whether Minnie Cox would have
resigned OF her own free will but for
the pressure thus brought upon her The
wofaan.s compliance with the request for
her resignation was. he asserted, an at
titude of fear, Of supplication to what
she considered a superior power. He ap-
preciated the 6elicacy of the situation OF
the South. he said. and sympathized with
them in their difficulties. It must. how
ever be borne in mind that in this case
she opposition was to woman, and to a
Eonlan of good character. The fact OF her
sex. the Senator thought. went far toward
tlstifying the charge that the conduct
?
Indicated in Mr.. Cortelyou's note.
Charge OF Undue Pressure.
Mr.. spooner read a letter to the posi-
office Inspector by Congressman-elect
Humphrey. bearing upon the Indianola
ease, in which he stated that "a majority
Of the people of Indianola are opposed
to the course Of the minority in in.
sisting upon Minnie Cox's resignation"
This statement. he said. confirmed the
charge of undue pressure and OF law
lessness.
Proceeding. Mr.. spooner said the Pres
sdent knew that Minnie did not wish to
resign, and had accordingly refused to
have the Office vacated. The people them
selves. to all intents and purposes. had
closed the Office. In pursuing the course
ne die the President had acted upon
principal vital to the strength and 6vlrilaty
OF the preservation Of the government,
namely that the Federal government
shall be allowed tn conduct its own al
fairs without regard TO local pressure, re
The uaaintena nee of this principle, MI.
Spooner said, was essential and be de-
clared that the President had acted upon
this principle in refusing to recognize
M!nnie's resignation.
Letters That Amused.
Mr.. Spocaer read two letters from A
q. Weeks. one of which caused consider
able amusem ent as Weeks was canda-
date for the Office. He also read a lette!
from ] L. Davis, mayor OF lndianola
who wrote the inspector that he thoughS
the best way out was for Minnie Cox 10
resign. adding that he wanted mo IN
rleasant affairs to deal with as Mayor.
The mayor was partner and brother
tn-law Of Weeks's. He also read por-
don OF the report of Inspector Fitzgerald
detailing an interview with the sherifl
and mayor The former acknowledged
that he had been correctly reported in the
Inspectors report concerning the post
saice affair.
ME-. Spooner, reverting to the President.
aid he hoped he would continue his
course Until the people OF Indianola re-
gain their reason.
The war. he said. was fought on the
principle OF the right OF the Federal Gov
srnment to control its affairs eVerywherey1
withonih the consent of the States.
Rejofnder by McLaurin.
mr.. McLaurin, of Mississippi. said he
hnd MT in his former speech discussed
fi,c propriety or irnpropriety Of the Presi
nen. in closing the post-office at Indian
ola. and he contended that nothing be
had said had justified the remarks OF the
senator from Wisconsin. He had not
-, - I, f1rsf smoke believed that y the