Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-08-26
Illinois Central On Pan:
Boptisfs Wrangle
Over Use Of R.R.
UNFOLDING Jimcro
Pastor Reports $1,000 Brlbe
Offer To go Along" with
Switch To Jim Grow Line
Being Fought by Tho
NAACP

Chicago -- Especially ThOus-
ands OF Illinois and Midwest dele.
gates To the 18th Diamond Jub.
lice celebration OF the National
Baptist Convention Of America,
September 10 II. didn't knOw
this week which railroad system
10 take 10 Memphis. site Of the an
nual meeting.
They had been told that the H..
nnols Central RR. which In cur
renuy spending Thousands Of
dollars In q court fight with the
EAACp over the railways eAtab-
iishsd policy Of Jim Growing It's
Negro passengers. was 10 be boy.
cotted completely In favor Of seq
regation-fresd travel over the
rival CUR, Mobile d Ohio lines.
jackson Orders Change
At the last minute. however.
tickets went on sale In hundreds
Of churches In Chicago and In In
diana. Michigan. Wisconsin and
Minnesota for space aboard the
'PreAIdent's Special" train over
the &c. RH. route. apparently on
the order Of Convention President,
Dr, J. H. Jackson. pastor Of Oh.
vet Baptist church In Chicago
jackson Just returned last week
from Russia
We have been double-cross 4"
Dr. King y, Range, pastor Of Chi.
Cago'S Range Memorial Baptist
Church, fatty declared, reveal.
Ing that mysterious telephone
caller has threatened his hfc II he
porslnted In oppOaing the selection
of the Illinois Central rs the Of.
fetal transportation line for Md,
west convention delogatea
rive had dozens Of calls within
the las, few days" he sald Tho
caller said the railroad was spend,
ing plenty Of money fighting the
NAACP and no offered mo $40.
900 10 try and swing the pastors
backing the NAACP In ia Fight
on the Illinois Central Iie told
mo that someone would meet him
n the offer Ia acceptable and that
he was talking with authority"
Dr Range said no was cursed and
warned TO watch your step"
when he held tho caller We're not
for sale"
I,1adcrs To Defy Edict
Dr. r. Emerson Brown. Preai.
dent of the baptist State Convsn.
ton Of Illinois and pastor OF
Progressive Baptist Church. and
DIR, J l.. Horace. President OF the
Illinois Baptist General state Con.
vention. largest Negro Baptist
bodies, said they intended 10 defy
tho last minute edIct Of DR. Jack.
sons office to send delegates to
Memphis via tho Illinois Central
Dr, Jackson Just returned from q
trip TO Russia.
Our tickets for space on the
Gulf. Mobile a Ohio. have been on
sale ana will be continued To ba
sold" said DIR, Brown. Both
State Conventions M well az tho
Pastors Conference voted 10 by
paSs and boycott the Illinois Cen
trail this year. We are sticking by
our decision despite this attempt
20 sabotage our program"
Tho state Conventions voted In
July on the boycott and instructed
their respective chairmcn OF
transportation committees TO ne.
gotiate with the q NJ a o.
Meanwhile. a form letter over the
signature ~ DR.. n O. Lewis. pas.
wv W wv vary ilhNhilA 1ailiite
baptist Church and President
Jackson's national transportation
committee chairman, flooded
churches and members In tho five
state middle west area with this
letter.
official Letters Sent
Dear Fellow Worker. Please
ind enclosed special schedule
for the National Baptist Conveu-
ton meeting TO bc held In Mem
phis. Tennessee As fellow CO.
worker and u good loyal baptist.
I personally extend to you this In.
vitation 10 travel with the prcai.
dont( pr. J. II Jackson ot this
great body on the Presidents
Special" Enclosed In the letters