New-York tribune., 1903-01-03
POSTOFFTCE CLOSED.
People Of Indianola, Mss, Forced
Colored Woman to Resign.
ACTION TAKEN BY THE PRESIDENT.

Washington Jan 1.-The feature of the Cdpi-
net meeting to-day was the decision to close
permanently the postoffice at Indanoia' MISS
from which the postmaster Minnie M Co->t
colored resigned under compusion a few days
ago since which time the office has been closed
The bondsmen have brought the matter 10 the
attention of the authorities mere. with We" "
being relieved from the responsibility OIL Tue
accumulated mail The Postmaster General has
had a thorough investigation made, ana mas
become satisfied that the woman was Obliged
IN resign under duress-fn fact. that her life was
endangered Having represented this state oil
affairs to the Cabinet. after long discussion
the decision above noted was reached ana 'ie
office will not be reopened until the peoPie ~
the district are ready to accept this woman do
their postmaster
In the afternoon the President discussed other
features of the case of Mrs. Cox with seNelf'i
members of the Cabinet. Postmaster Gehelai
Pavne being in conference with him for an hour
or more 1t was finally decided to issue a lol-
NAL statement concerning the Indianoia case
Secretary Cortelyou. for the President, mace
public the following:
The postmaster at Indianoia Miss, is Mrs
Minnie Nj. Cox. oolored woman She serNeo
three years as postmaster under Presioeh; =: he
rison When President Mckinley came in she
was again appointed, in 1897, nearly SIX years
ago Her character and standing IN the coliI
reputable people in the town. Among those Oh
her bond is the present Democratic state oeila-
tor from the district together with the 1 IeauIls
banker of Indianoia, and an eX-Stale oehaeoi
from the district also a Democrat. Ihe post-
master and her husband own from 9loooo "
S15 OO0 worth of property in SunfioWer county
The reports of postoffice inspectors VINO nasu ,
investigated the office from time to time snow
that she has given the utmost satlsiac'lon 49, ~ l
the patrons of the office; that she is at all tee
courteous faithful competent and honest i'll the
discharge of her duties Her moral standng II
the community is of the highest her , repu' arada
tion is of the best. Few offices of this sraue
in any State are conducted better
The postmaster recently forwarded her resls-
nation to take effect on January l: but the le
norts of inspectors and information recelNeu
from various reputable white cltZenS vi sLe
town and neighborhood show that tle Leaiso nIa
tiop was forced by a brutal and lawless ele
rrent purely upon the ground of her color anu
was obtained under terror of threats Oh pHy se
violence The Mayor of the town and the ohellh
of the county both told the postoffice inspector
that if she refused TO resign they could not DC
answera BILE for her safety, aithoush at tlle ~ Se
time not one word was said against heI InaiIasS
nnent of the office. On January the ponuslHen ~
of the postmaster telegraphed that the posloIino i
was closed that the postmaster claimed tiiat
tar resiynation was in the Presidents hands TO
take effect on January l, and that there nau
been no advice of the appointment or heI
cessor The telegram closed with TINS std'e
,.ent. prompt action necessary for relief OF
business interests In the view or the Lit
dent the relief of the business interests re
are being injured solely by the actlon Oh ~ ~.
a0yIess element of the town, is Wholly Sc
ondarv to the preservation OF law anu .uIa oiu
and the assertion Of the fundamental prlnclpiIe
that this government will not connlVe al OF 49, .o
era te wrong and outrage of such hagrant chai
acter ... 49, following
telegram was sent by the postmaster '1eheia d. ~
the bondsmen 49,, hoo, re-
.sThe postmaster's resignation has peen .e+
ceived. but not accepted. In view OF tne IN, LII IaG
mat the office at Indanola is closed, an maj
addressed to that office will be for"arueo u
Greenville." ,o cant +o the
The papers in the case have been sent 10 'i'e
Attorney General for action