The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-03
POSIOFFIcE CLOSED
On Account Of Resignation Undsr
COmpuIsiOO.
THE PRESIDENT ISSUES A STATEMENT
Declines to Accept the Resignation Pend
ing Reference TO the Attorney Cen
eral for an Opinion.

Washington. January 2.--Fol!owing q DC
clsion OF the cabinet ut its meeting today
TO close the postofdce az Indianola. Miss
on account nf the resignation under CON.
pulsion Of the postmaster, Minnie Cox, a
negro woman. until the people Of the In.
dianola district are rendy 70 accept her
as their postmaster. Il was decided to is
sue a formal statement concerning the
case During the cabinet meeting Post
master General Payne stated he was salts
ned Mrs. Cox was obliged TO reStSu under
durcss aud that her life was endangered.
Tho statement which was issued by Sccre-
tary Cortclyou al the instance OF the
president after an hours conference with
Postmaster General Payne. ~ Us follows:
The postmaster ut Iudlanola, Miss, Is
Mrs. Minnie W. Cox, n colorcd woman
She served three years SIS postmaster under
President Harrison. When President Nc
hinley came In sne was again appointed
In lsa7. nearly six years Eso. Her chsrac-
ter and standing in the community are IN
dacsod by tho best and most reputable pep
pie In the town.
Among those on her bond Is the pres
cut democratic state senator from the dis
trct, together with the LEADING banker OF
Indianola. and an ex-State scnator from
the district. also democrat. The postmAS
ter and her husband own fros- $4,000 to
$4,000 worth OF property la Sun1ower
county, The reports OF postoi ~ lDspec
tors who huve investigated the olnce IRON
Lnuu TO Tune snow tnut sue has gwen inc
utmost satisfaction to all the patrons ol
the otnce. that she Is at ali tunes cour
tvU.-s, laitniul ana honest ID the discnarSc
OF Der duties. Ter moral standlnS IN the
community Is of the hignest. Tier rCputa
NtsaVk 40 atI Ia ~ Inss
grade In any State are conducted better
The postmaster recently forwarded hef
resignation, to take effect January l, pnt
the report or inspectors and information
received from various reputable white clti
Gems of the town and neigbDorhoOd SDoW
that the resignat ton was forced by brutal
aud lawless element purely upon the
ground of her color, and was obtained
nnder terror of threats. The mayor Of ths
town and the sheriff Of the county both
told the postofhce inspector that II she re
fused TO resign they could not be answer
able for her safety, although, at the same
time not one word was said against her
On January l the hondsmen OF the post
master telegraDhed that the poStothce was
closed: that the postmaster claimed that
her resignation was la the Presidents
hands to take effect January ] and that
there had been 10 advice Of the appoint
ment OF her successor. The telegram closed
With the statement: Prompt action by the
president necessary, for the relief Of the
business interests which are being injured
of the town Is wholly secondary to the pre-
servahon Of law and order and the asser-
tlon OF the fundamental principle that thls
government will not connve or tolerate
wrong and outrage Of such daGraut char
acter'
by direction OF the president the FOL
lowing was sent TO the bopdsmen. The
postmaster's resignation has been received,
but not accepted. In view OF the fact that
the postoffce ut lndianola Is closed. all
mail for that place win lie forwarded TO
Greenville. The case, win be referred to
tho attorney general"
The fcetVro of the cabinet meeting was
the decision TO close the postofdce at In
dfanola Miss The bondsmeu have
brought the matter to the attention of the
authorities here with a view to being re
lieved Of the responsibility of the accumu
lated mail. The postmaster general has
had thorough Investigation r.,dc and Il
satisfied That the woman was obliged 10
resign under duress: In fact. that her NE
was endangered Having represented this
state Of affairs 70 the cabinet after long
discussion the decision above noted was
reached and the office Will not 10 re-.
opencd, until the people in the district are
ready to accept this woman as their post
master.