The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-03
RAMS HER DOWN
PEOPLES THROATS
They Reject Her, the Office
is Closed.
THE INDIANOLA FIGHT
ANegress Designs the Postmastership Under
Duress. Roosevelt Decides That All
Must Suffer for the Element
Which Drove Her Out
(By the Associated Press.)


Washington. Jan. 2.-The feature of
the Cabinet meeting today was the de-
cision to close permanently the post
office at Indianola, Miss, from which the
postmaster, Minnie NJ. Cox, colored, re-
signed under compulsion few days ago,
since which time the office has been
closed. The bondsmen have brought the
matter to the attention of the authorities
here with view to being relieved of the
responsibility of accumulated mail. The
Postmaster General has had a thorough
investigation made and has become salts
fled that the woman was obliged to resign
under duresS-in fact that her life was
endangered. Having Represented this
state of affairs to the Cabinet. after a
long discussion the decision above noted
was reached and the office will not be re-
opened until the people in the district
are ready to accept this woman as their
postmaster.
During the afternoon the President
discussed with several members of the
Cabinet other features of the case of
Mrs. Cox, Postmaster General Payne be-
ing in conference with the President for
an hour or more 1t was decided, finally
to issue a formal statement concerning
the Indianola case. Secretary Cortelyou,
for the President, made the following:
"The postmaster at Indianola, Miss,
is Mrs. Minnie NJ. Cox, colored woman.
She served three years as postmaster un-
der President Harrison. When President
Mckinley came in she was again ap-
pointed in 1897, nearly six years ago. Her
character and standing in the community
are endorsed by the best and most re-
putable people in the town. Among those
on her bond is the present Democratic
State Senator from the district, together
with the leading banker of Indianola,
and an eX-State Senator from the dis
trict, also a Democrat. The postmaster
and her husband own from ten to fifteen
thousand dollars worth of property in
Sunfiower county. The reports of the post
office 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, that she is
at all times courteous, faithful, compe-
tent and honest in the discharge of her
duties. Her moral standing in the COM
munity is Of the highest. Her reputation
is of the best. Few offices of this grade
in any State are conducted better.
''The postmaster recently received her
resignation to take effect on January 1st,
but the report of the inspectors and in
formation received from various re-
putable white citizens of the town and
in the neighborhood show that the resig-
nation was forced by a brutal and law
less element purely upon the ground of
her color and was obliged under terror
of threats of physical violence. The
mayor of the town and the sheriff of
the county both told the postoffice in
spector that if she refused to resign they
could not be answerable for her safety,
although at the same time not one word
was said against her management of the
office. On January 1st 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 January
1st, and that there had been no advice
of the appointment of her successor. The
telegram closed with this statement:
Prompt action necessary for relief of
business interests In the view of the
President the relief of the business in
terests, which are being injured solely
by the action of the lawless element OF
the town, is wholly secondary to the
preservation of law and order and the
assertion of the fundamental principle
that this government will not connive at
or tolerate wrong and outrage of such
fragrant character
by direction of the President, the fol-
lowing telegram was sent by the Fosl-
master General to the bondsmen:
.ssThe poStmasters resignation mas
been received. but not accepted. In view
of the fact that the office at Indianoia
is closed, all mail addressed to that office
will be forwarded to Greenville.'
THE papers in the case have been sent
to the Attorney General for action"