The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-01-27
intimates That The Pee pie
There are Insane.
ACASEQF "ME UND GOTI"
The People Have No Right Petition, i Would
Appear From Spooner's Argumen.-
M%ci-aurin Answers Him With
Som! Plain Truths.
Som Plain Truths.
lPy The Associated Press.)

the Statehood bill was today, as 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 in the afternoon
Mr.. Spooner. of Wisconsin, took the floor
10 discuss the Presidents action in dis
continuing the postoffce at Indianola,
Miss, and refusing to receive the resig-
ration of the negro postmaster-Nrs.
Cox. He defended the President and
was responded to by Mr.. McLaurin, of
Mississippi, who said there had been 70
threats against Mrs. Cox, but who ad-
mitted that she was Objectionable be-
cause of her color.
Mr.. Spoonor said he had no criticism
to make Of Mr.. McLaurin whose remarks
had been respectful and Well tempered
but that he appeared to justify the at
titude of the Postmaster General ard
the President. He contonded that there
was not in Secretary Cortelyou's an
nounccmcnt of the Presidents attitude
IL the case anything to justify the in,
ference CT Mr.. McLaurin that it was in
tended to dcnounce the entire popula-
ton Of Indianola as Iawlcss and brutal.
y man IS less likely than the Presi-
dent TO enter upon such a wholesale con
demnation of the people Of InGianola,"
he said.
Mr.. Spooncr said that tho Presidents
action had been caused by the course Of
the minority in the vicinity of the post
office. Mrs. Cox. Mr.. Spconer declared.
has as much right under the Constitution
and the laws to hold her office without
restraint and duress as has any mem
Der of the senate to hold his seat in the
Senate chamber.
Detailing the proceedings at the mass
meeting at which Mrs. Cox's resignation
was requested, Mr.. Spooner said the cir
cunstances were such as to convince
anyone that she was not q free agent in
the matter. when before" he asked.
had it beer left to a local mass-meeting
to accept resignation of q Federal office
holder and fl the time within which it
should take effect?' Whether this course
on the part of the meeting had indicated
the presence of a lawless and rutal 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 meet
ing. Replying to Mr.. TiIlman Mr.. Spooner
said that the sheriff is the conservator
o. the peace-up North" To this Mr..
Tillman responded that he had not OBJ
served that generally Sheriffs devote
themselves to the duty Of acting as body
guards for the people. Proceeding, Mr..
Spooner said the sheriff had not denied
the statement credited to him. He again
referred to the sheriff's participation in
the mass meeting, and asked whether
Mrs. Cox would have resigned of her
own free will but for the pressure thus
brought upon her. The woman's COM
pliance with tho request for her resic-
ration was, he asserted, an attitude Of
fear, Of supplication to what she consid-
cred a superior power.
He appreciated the delicacy Of the Sit
Uation Of the people Of the South. he
said. and sympathized with them in their
difficulties. It must. however, be borne
in mind that in this case the objec-
ton was to a woman OF coed character.
The fact of her sex, tho Senator thought
went far coward justifying the charges
that the conduct of the meeting was
brutal as had been indicated in Mr.. Cor
~ttlyou's note.
Mr.. Spooner read a letter to the Post
office Inspector from Congressman-elect
Murphy Humphrey. bearing upon the
iG1t III ~ ~ otd1S tiic'' =
majority Of the people Of Indianola are
opposed to the course of the minority in
insisting upon Mrs. COX's resignation. >
This statement, he said confirmed the
charge OF undue pressure and of laWiess-
ness.
Preceding. Mr.. Spooner said the Presi-
dent knew tha Mrs. Cox did not wish
to resign and had accordingly refused
to AVE the office vacated. The people
themselves, to all intents and purposes,
had closed the office. In pursuing the
course he did. the President had acted
upon a principle vital to the strength and
v~irility of the preservation o. the Gov
| eminent, namely, that the Federal Gov
eminent shall be allowed to conduct its
own affairs without regard to local pres
sure. The maintenance of this principle,
Mr.. Spooner said, was essential and de-
clared that the President had acted upon
this principle in refusing to accept Mrs.
Cox's resignation.
Mr.. Spooner read two letters from A.
B. Weeks. one Of which caused consider
able amusement as Weeks was a can
didatc for tho office. He also read q
letter from J. L. Davis, Mayor of In
dianola, who wrote the inspector tina
he thought the best way out was to
get Mrs. Cox to resign. that lie wanted
no unpleasant affairs to deal with as
mayor The mayor was q partner and
brothcr-ir-law Of Weeks.
lie also read q portion of the report Of
Inspector FITZGERALD. detailing an inter
view with tho sheriff and mayor. Tho
former acknowledged that he had been
! correctly reported in the inspectors re-
port concerning the rostoffice affair.
Mr.. ~Spoonor rcverting to the President,
said he hoped he would continue his
course until the people of Indianola re-
gain their reason.
TIL war. he said, was fought on the
principle Of the right of the Federal
Government to control its affairs eyery-
where without the consent of the States.
Mr.. McLaurin, of Mississippi. said he
had not in his former speech discussed
the proprlety or the improperly Of the
President in closing the postoffice at
! lndianola, and he commended that moth