New-York tribune., 1903-01-25
RACE ISSUE DISCUSSED.
THE INDI4NOL4 CASE.
.Spooner Defends and McLarin At
fqck.s the President.

v-sshsnp+o, Ian 24-Constructfvely the State
hood bill to-day, usual before the senate
hut as matter Of fact the admission Of the Terri
tories was scarcely mentioned in the course OF the
days proceedings. As the bin was laid be-
fore the Senate a number of Senators got an op-
portunty TO call up and secured the passage OF nis
to which there objection After the pas
sage of a number Of such bills the Statehood bill
was again called up. and Mr.. Spooner took the
floor He candidly confessed his intention not to
speak 10 the Statehood bill and then discussed the
Presidents action in dscontinuing the postofce at
Indianola Miss. and refusing to receive the reslg-
nation Of the negro postmaster. Mrs Cox he
defended the President, and was responded 10 ny
Mr. McIaurin Of Mississippi. who said there had
been no threats against Mrs. Cox but who admitted
that she was Objectionable because of her color
The session closed with the passage OF number
of private pension bills
MR.. sPOONER DEFENDS THE PRESIDENT
Mr spooner said he had criticism TO make Of
MIR. McLaurin. whose remarks had been respectfui
and well tempered. but that he appeared TO justify
The attitude of the Postmaster General and the
President He contended that there was not III
Secretary Cortelyods announcement OF the Presl-
dents attitude in the anything TO JUSTIFY the
Inference of Mr. McLaurin that il was INTENDED 10
.5enol,nce the entire popuation of Indianola as
laRless and brutal. NO man is less likely IMAM
The President TO enter upon such wholesale CON
demnation of the people Of 1ndianola, ne salo-
Mr.. Spooner said that the Presidents action mao
vicinity Of the postoffice Mrs. Cox had -
spooner declared, as mIch. right under the con
stitution and the laws to hold her office without
restraint and duress had any member OF the
Senate TO hold his sect in the S--l,,e caanoer.
LA -.--.-Ec>.-S.s u l1-JI--AoLA-
Detailing the proceedings at the mass meeting
at which Mrs. Cox's resignation was requested,
Mr. Spooner said the circumstances were such as
10 convince any one that she not free agent
IN the matter. When before" he asked had II
been left to a local mass meeting TO accept the
resignation of d federal ofdceholder and nX the
time within which it should take effect?' Whether
shis course on the part Of the meeting had indi-
Gated the presence of a lawless and brutal element
depended the Senator said on the point or view
He called attention to the fact that the Sherln
OF the county was among the participants IN the
meeting
Replying to Mr.. Tillman. Mr.. spooner said that
-'the Sheriff is the conservator of the peace-up
North"
To this Mr T4lInan responded that he had not
observed that generally Shertrs devote themselves
40 the duty Of acting bodyguards for people
Proceeding. Mr. spooner said that the Sheriff
had not denied the statement credited TO him He
again referred TO the Sherirs participation IN the
mass meeting and asked whether Mrs. Cox would
have resigned Of her own free VIII but Tor the
pressure thus brought upon her. The woman's
comrIiance with the request for her resignation
was, he asserted, attitude Of fear, OF suppIca-
tion to what she considered a superior power he
appreciated the delicacy Of the situation 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 objection
was TO q woman and to a woman of good char-
meter The fact Of her sex. the Senator thought
went far toward justifying the charge that the
conduct of the meeting was brutal as had been
indicated in Mr.. Cortelyou's note
Mr. Spooner read a letter to the postofflce in
spector from Congressman-elect Humphrey bear
sng on the Indidanola case in which he stated that
"a majority Of the people Of lndianoa are op-
posed to the course of the minority in insisting
upon Mrs CoX's resignati ton" This statement he
said. confirmed the charge of undue pressure and
of laN-lesSness
Proceeding Mr.. Spooner said the President kne"
that Mrs Cox old not wish TO resign and he hao
accordingly refused have the office vacated The
people themselves TO all intents and purposes had
closed the office. In pursuing the course he did