Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1953-06-27
PAGE THREE

VINO ooequdte service TO all paTLleS
concerned"
Other Council members were UNI
available for comment.
A spokesman for the Baton
Rouge Bus Company said last
night, "The company is very
pleased that service will be re-
sumed. We anticipate that we will
participate in the Council hearing
next week, and we plan to submit
a proposed ordinance to the Coun-
Gil, incorporating recommendations
we would like to make"
Mayors Statement
Mayor President Webb was die
tating statement about the strike
when he was informed that the is
sue was settled and the buses
would be running this morning.
The statement follows:
would like to make the follow
ing statement because many of my
friends have informed me that peo-
ME are spreading malicious false
hoods to mislead the public. One
rumor is that gave letter per-
tanning to the operation of the
buses in Baton Rouge.
81 want it definitely understood
that | have never given a letter
to anyone or to any group, and |
don't intend to.
There was also a statement is
sued by the United Press that stat
ed. that the ordinance was passed
to fulfill campaign promise that
| made. | have never at any time
made any promise to any person
or group of persons regarding the
bus transportation or ordinance in
any way.
an the first place, l have no au-
thority to pass any ordinance. I
want the people Of this parish to
know that these malicious rumors
and statements which have been
made about me are absolutely false
and are being spread merely to try
to discredit me with my friends.
~ don't mind being blamed for
something that l have done, and
| definitely do not want to be
talked about in things that know
nothing Of"
Amid all the official comment
the boycott continued in full force
throughout Saturday, and at city,
wide mass meeting attended by
more than 1000 Negroes that JAM
packed the Mckinley Junior High
school auditorium, leaders an
nounced that they would ask for a
separate franchise pyoviding for
Negro drivers on buses serving Ne
groes if a satisfactory seating ar
rangement is not worked out by
the City Council and the Baton
Rouge Bus Company.
At the mass meeting Saturday
night the rank and file Negro Cit
liens backed their leaders with
their money. More than $1,000
was collected in the jam packed "a
auditorium.
About $500 in checks were given
to the League by clubs, individuals e
and businesses. including the Scot ).
landville Bus Company.
The money will be used for OBJ :
Grating the Leagues fleet of 125
vehicles. Rev. Jemison said the
vehicles could be operated for a
bout $3.50 dav.
The Rev T. J. Jemison, pastor of
Mt. Zion Baptist Church and pres q,
ident of the United Defense
League, sponsoring the boycott is :.
the son of Rev. D. V. Jemison. of .
Selma, Ala, president of the Ma
tional Baptist Convention, largest :
organized body of Negroes in the
world. His church here with a
membership roll of LOO is the lar
gest and most influential congre-
CATION in Louisiana.
Speaking at the mass meeting
Saturday night, Rev. Jemison said:
"We're going to drive cars until
the Council satisfies US, and if our
people stop driving, members of
the Ueague's) executive board
will drive until our cars VIII els !
fail off"
The audience resounded with az
prevail when Rev. Jemison said,
Negroes are not going to pay Is
cents Ito ride buses) and stand
up"
He said there are two possible
solutions to the problem:
/. If the Baton Rouge Bus Com
many bus drivers don't want to
drive on buses with predominantlv
Negro passengers, then the League
will be pleased to name Negro bus
drivers.
2. If the company doesn't want
Negro bus drivers, 1--WE will ask
the C'+v Council for Negro bus
franchise.
Saturday nights meeting fol-
lowed a meeting of City Council
representatives, City Parish At
torney Gordon Kean, bus company
representatives, bus drivers and
Mayor-President Webb.
Rev. Jemison said the bus driv-
ers' attorney was out of town and
could not attend the meeting, and