Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-01-03
CLOSES POSTOFFICE.
Postnistress at Indianola, Miss
Forced TO Resign on Account
of Race Prejudice.
PRESIDENTS PROMPT ACTION
Office Will Remain Unopened Until
the People In the District Are
Ready to Accept the Woman--She
Had Made Good OFFICIAL.

Washington, Jan 3.-The feature
of the cabinet meeting yesterday was
the decision to close permanently the
postoffice at Indianola, Miss, from
which the postmistress, Minnie Cox,
colored, resigned under compulsion
few days ago, since which time the
office has been closed. The bonds
men have brought the matter to the
attention of the authorities here with
the view of being relieved of the re-
sponsibility of the accumulated mail.
The postmaster general has had
thorough investigation made and has
become satisfied that the woman was
obliged to resign under duress-in
fact, that her life was endangered
Having represented this state of af-
fairs to the cabinet, after discussion
the decision above noted was reached,
and the Office will not be opened I'm.
til the people In the district are ready
to accept the woman as their post
master.
The remainder of the meeting was
consumed In the discussion of foreign
affairs, especially the condition III
Venezuela. Secretary Hay presented
a statement showing that no definite
responses have been received from
any of the allied powers to President
| Castro's last communication. 1t is
evident that further negotiations will
be required to bring the parties TO
final agreement but it is not doubted
that they will succeed.
The Cuban Treaty.
Cuba was the other subject which
! engrossed the attention of the cabi
net, and there was an anxious discus
sion of the prospects of the pending
Cuban reciprocity treaty. the decision
finally being reached to press the
treaty forward on the same lines to.
ward ratification.
During the afternoon the president
discussed with several members Of
the cabinet other features of the case
of Mrs. Cox, Postmaster General
Payne being in conference with the
| president for an hour or more. 1t
was decided finally to issue formal
statement concerning the Indianola
case. Secretary Cortelyou, for the
president, made public the following:
1.-THE postmaster at Indianola,
Miss, is Mrs. Minnie Cox, colorei
woman. She served three years as
postmaster under President Harrison.
When President Mckinley came IA
| she was again appointed, in 1897,
nearly six years ago. Her character
and standing in the community are
| Endorsed by the best and most reputa-
BILE people in the town.
Among those on her bond is the
| present Democratic state senator for
the district, together with the leading
banker of Indianola, and an ex-state
senator from the district, also Dem
ocrat. The postmaster and her hus-
band own from $4,000 to $4,000
worth of property in Sunfiower county
Has Given Utmost Satisfaction.
"The report Of postoffice inspectors
who have investigated the office from
time to time show that she has given
the utmost satisfaction to all the
patrons of the office, and that she Is
at all times courteous, faithful. compe-
tent and honest in the discharge Of
her duties. Her moral standing in
the community is of the highest. Her
reputation is of the best. Few offices
OF this grade in any state are con
Quoted better.
The postmaster recently forward
ed her resignation to take effect on
Jan. /, but the repost OF inspectors
and information received from vari-
Gus reputable white citizens of the
town and neighborhood show that the
resignation was forced by a brutal
and lawless element purely upon the
ground of her color, and was obtained
under terror of threats The mayor
of the town and the sheriff of the
county both told the postoffice inspec-
tor that if she refused to resign they
would not be answerable for her
safety, although at the same time not
one word was said against her
Postoffice Will Be Closed.
"On Jan. l the bondsmen of the
postmaster telegraphed that the post
office was closed, that the postmaster
claimed that her resignation was in
the presidents hands, to take effect
Jan. /, and that there had been no
advice of the appointments of her sue
cessor. The telegram closed with the
statement: Prompt action necessary
for relief BY direction of the presi-
dent the following was sent to the
bondsmen:
The postmaster's resignation has
been received, but not accepted In
view of the facts the postoffice at In.
dianola is closed. All mail for that
place will be forwarded to Greene
vile. The case will be referred to the
attorney general"