St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-02-18

anue, Ames, Iowa, then was re-
fused entry at three other hotels.
Finally, after contracting Me-
gro member OF the community.
Jones was accepted at the North
ern Hotel. Jones reported that he
had stopped at Johnny Simonsen's
truck stop. being forced TO lay
over because his rig could not be
loaded until the temperature rose
TO zero or better.
After he had been at the truck
stop, on U. s. Highway 81. just
south of Grand Forks. for short
time, Jones reported. Simonsen de-
mandcd that he leave.
"He said some southerncrs there
were complaining about my bsing
at the truck stop.
This II the worst situation I've
ever run into" Jones' said. The
people I truck for have asked me
to take this run because they did
not want me to so south where 1
would run into discrimination.
But this Is brutal" Jones con-
tinued. Down In the south a VIC
tim OF discrimination can find
some place for colorod. But when
they refuse you in place like
Grand Forks. there Is just no
place for you to GO"
Jones said he operates his own
rig, but hauls for Eidon Hunt In
Ames. Iowa.
He said he had been victimixed
by acts OF discrimination and ra-
cial cpithets in Grand Forks ever
since the movement began to re-
peal North Dakota's ban on inter-
racial marriages.
II haven't been bothering any
women" Jones said. I've simply
been minding my business and do
ing my job,
Il went to the law firm OF Pet
crson and Davis to see what legal
action I could take. They tell me
there Is nothing can do"
Jones WAS contacted by phone In
| A,.,n. a,a ~ ..la that ha hnA IN
sit up all night In a filling sta
tion the first night he was forced
to leave the truck stop because he
couldn't find place to stay and II
was too cold 70 sleep In his truck,
After ! was asked to leave the
truck stop I tried to get a room
at the Columbia hotel and was
told by the desk clerk that there
were no vacancies.
II then tried the Imperial hotel
and was told the same thing and
as / was leaving the hotel ! saw
two Canadian soldiers register and
went back to the registration
desk and was told by the clerk
that the soldiers had reservations.
"A little later I met the soldiers
on the street and asked them IL
they had reservations and they an
swered no." Jones said during the
telephone interview.
Jones went on to say that he
left the south trying TO escape the
very things that he has been en-
countering in North and South
Dakota.
'In Sioux Falls, s. d.. / was
sold so gallons Of water for diesel
oil at Hideaway Truck stop that
caused over $1,000 damage to my
rig" Jones claimed.
He also claimed that he was
charged eight dollars for 20 quarts
Of oil that regularly sells for S5.25
in South Dakota.
Jones claimed that there Is de-
llberate campaign being conduct
ed all over the nation TO drive Ne
groes out OF the trucking In
dustry.
He bases his charge on his 20
years experience as a driver and
owner.
Conditions have become so in
tolerable." Jones stated, that
hardly any company will hire Ne
gro drivers because of fear Of
what may happen to their trucks"
He cited himself as an example.
at one time i had five trucks
and trailers on the road represent
ing an investment of $4,000 and
because of discriminatory insur-
ance rates and sabotage done to
my rigs. I was forced to sell four
Of my trucks within the past three
years" Jones said.
Jones pointed out that he Is
forced to pay two to three hum
bred dollars year more for In
surance. despite the fact that he
had only one accident in 20 years
Of driving.
Jones Is expected to be In the
Twin Cities this week end to meet
with members Of the legal redress
committee Of the Minnesota state
eonference NJ the NAACp