The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-25
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Washington, January 24.-Constructive- ly the statehood bill was today, as usual, before the senate. but it was scarcely mentioned during the days proceedings A number of senators were afforded an opportunity to call up and secure the passage of the bills to which there was no objection.
 After the passage of a number of such bills, the statehood bill was again called up, and Mir Spooner took the foor but discussed the Presidents action in dis continuing the postoff1ce at Indianola, Miss, and in refusing to receive the resig- nation of the negro postmaster, Mrs. Cox. He defended the President and was re- sponded to by Mr.. McLaurin of Missis- sippi. who said there had been no threats against Mrs. Cox, who admitted that she was objectionable because of her color.
 Mr. spooner Begins. At 1:30 the statehood bill was called up and MT. Spooner took the floor. but began discussing the Indianola, Miss, postof- flee case.
 MT Spooner said he had no criticism to make of MT. McLaurin, whose remarks had been respectful, but that he appear ed to justify the attitude of the postmas- ter general and the President. He con tended that there was nothing in Secre- t2TX COrtelYOuS announcements OI the | Presidents attitude in the case to justi- | fy the inference of MT. McLaurin that | if was intended to denounce the entire | nonulation of Indianola as lawless and | brutal, mo man is less likely than the l President to enter upon such a wholesale | condemnation of the people of Indianola," he said.
 MT Spooner said the Presidents action | had been caused by the course Of the mi- noritv living in the vicinity of the post | ofrice Mrs. Cox Mir. Spooner declared, | has as much right under the constitution | and laws to hold the office without re- | straint and duress as has any member or | the senate to hold his seat in the senate | chamber.
 Not Free Agent. | Detailing the proceedings at the mass | meeting, at which Mrs. Cox's resignation was requested, MT. Spooner said the c'r- | cumstances were such as to convince any | one that she was not free agent In the | matter. "When before" he asked, had 1 it been left to local mass meeting to | accept the resignation of federal office-
 holder and fix the time within which 1t | should take effect?' Whether this course | on the part of the meeting had indicated l the presence of lawless and brutal ele-
 ment 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 in the meeting. l Replying to a remark by Mir. Tillman. MT. Spooner said:
 "The sheriff is the conservator of the | peace up north.'
 To this MT. Tillman responded that he | had not observed that generally sneriffs 1 devote themselves to the duty of acting l as bodyguards to people.
 Proceeding. MT. Spooner said the sheriff had not denied the statement credited to
 him. He again referred to the sheriff g participation in the mass meeting and | asked whether Mrs. Cox would have re- | signed of her own free will but for the
 pressure thus brought upon her. The l woman's compliance with the request 'c- her resignation, he asserted, WIS an att- tude of fear,
 Meeting Was Brutal.
 He appreciated the delicacy O. the situ-
 ation of the people of the south he said, and sympathized with them in their diffi- | culties. It must. however. be borne in mind that in this case the objacilon was a woman of good character. The fact o' her sex, the senator thought. went fef | =