St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-08-26
Illinois Central On Pan,
Bopfisfs WrongIe
Over Use Of R.R.
UNFOLDING Jimcrc
Pastor Reports $4,000 Bride
Offer To GO Along With
Switch To Jim Crow Line
Being Fought BY The
NAACP


Chicago Especially Thous-
ands OF Illinois and Midwest dele
gates 10 the 18th Diamond Jub-
lice celebration OF the National
Baptist Convention OF America.
September to IL, didn't know
this week which railroad system
10 take TO Memphis. site OF the an
nuaI meeting.
They had been told that the II
linois Central R.R. which Ia cur
rently spending thousands Of
dollars IN a court fight with the
NAACP over the railways estab-
hshed policy Of Jim Growing It's
Negro passengers. was to be boy
cotted completely In favor Of seq
rcgation- freed travel over the
rival Gulf. Mobile & 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
Presidents Special train over
the &c. RR. route. apparently on
the order OF Convention President.
DIR. J. II. jackson, pastor OF oil
vet Baptist church in Chicago.
Jackson just returned last week
from Russia.
We have been double-crossed."
DR. King s. Range, pastor OF Chi
Cages Range Memorial Baptist
Church, fatty declared, reveal
ing that a mysterious telephone
caller has threatened his life II he
persisted in opposing the selection
Of the Illinois Central as the Of
fetal transportation line for Mid.
west convention delegates.
i've had dozens Of calls within
the last few days" he said. "Thc
caller said the railroad was spend
ing plenty OF money fighting the
NAACP and he offered me St0,-
900 TO try and swing the pastors
backing the NAAcP In It's fight |
on the Illinois Central. He told |
me that someone would meet him
II the offer Is acceptable and that |
he was talking with authority"
DIR, Range said he was cursed and |
warned TO watch your step" |
when he held the caller We're not |
for sale"
Lenders To Defy Edict
Or, r. Emerson Brown. Prcsi-
dent OF the Baptist State Conven-
ton OF Illinois and pastor OF |
Progressive Baptist Church, and |
DR. j. l.. Horace, President OF the
Illinois Baptist General State Con-
vention. largest Negro Baptist
bodies. said they intended to defy |
the last minute edict OF Or. Jack.
sons office TO send delegates TO |
Memphis via the Illinois Central.
DIR. Jackson just returned from u
trip TO Russia.
Our tickets for space ON the |
Gulf. Mobile a. Ohio. have been on |
sale and viii be continued to be
sold" said DIR. Brown. Both |
State Conventions an well as the
Pastors Conference voted to by
pass and boycott the Illinois Cen
trial this year, We are sticking by
our decision despite this attempt
to sabotage our program"
The State Conventions voted In
July on the boycott and instructed
their respective chairmen OF
transportation committees TO ne
gotiate with the q, NJ. a. o,
Meanwhile, form letter over the
signature OF DIR, u. G., Lewis pas
tor Of the Gary, Indiana Gallileo
Baptist Church and President
Jackson's national transportation
committee chairman, flooded
churches and members In the five
state middle west area with this
letter;
Official Igtter. Sent