Imperial Valley press., 1939-12-05
Decision Held Up
After Fiery Blast
Aimed at Arena
(Continued from Page u

Continued from Page u
spokesman forgotten. DR.. w. A. Nc
Cleneghan of the Methodist church
spoke on behalf of the Ministerial
Association, which went on record
Monday as arena opponents. He
condemned wrestling crowds on NOR
al grounds and said;
I'VE believe the arena would be
a very harmful influence on the
community E. injurious TO YOUTH"
Some discussion followed as to
whether or not professors repre-
sented a minority of the people
and an unidentified citizen volun-
teered.
Haven't Christian people always
been in the minority?"
Mayor Fawcett remarked that
Christian people are supposed to
be tolerant, before moving the
meeting on TO other aspects of the
subject.
One defender of the arena who
spoke was DR.. Earry Findley of
l07 South Fifth street. He explain
ed he had no interest in the matter
OlIleT lIlall IalT play.
In every athletic sport there are
people who take sides" he said
Some like football but don't like
tennis IN this question there
are only two issues, moral detri-
ment TO the community and finan-
cial annoyance. People who live in
business zones must expect TO put
up with annoyanceS No proof
has been offered that the arena
would be a detriment to the COM
munity.
Il believe lots has been said that
can't be subStantiated"
Spirited exchanges followed dur
ing which the council was quizZed
altsrnatively BY Mr. and Mrs. John
j. Green OF ATS Sandalwood drive
and several ether citizens on re-
course in event the arena proved
nuisance. Whitelaw, in between
blasts, explained legal aspects.
IN an effort to explain both sides
Mayor Fawcett commented:
"As far as noise goes I've had
protests on other forms of amuse-
ment . football games 1t is
not settled in my mind that this
will be nuisance. Nothing, how
ever, would be Saddled upon the
people . The permit, if granted,
could be revoked The council
has no object except Service to the
majority q. No councilman has an
axe to grind in this matter"
The meeting became decidedly
more exciting than the wrestling
matches under discussion when
Councilman Gordon Scriven COM
mented:
1T appears to me we should be
little broad minded about this
thing 4. The world is made up of
many different kinds of peoples e..
I don't think all are vicious who go
to wrestling matches E. 80 per cent
who attended are adults, anyhow :"
There were murmurs from the
audience and few "humphs" of
displeasure.
Athletic promoters pay heavy
taxes too," Scriven continued. Are
they not deserving some consider
alton? I think you are unduly alarm
ed. certainly don't think it will
hurt morals"
Councilman Charles Blalack add
ed:
I'm afraid my morals are bad,
because I have attended wrestling
matches for years I have seen
less drinking at wrestling matches
than at college football games"
Dr. McCleneghan, later in the dis
cusslon, related his own experiences
at wrestling bouts and said he had
become "disgusted by the drinking
that went on.
The Rev. DR.. George w. Thomas
OF the Presbyterian church drew
applause when he reiterated moral
charges and declared:
We have enough degrading in
fluences already -
During this discussion Mayor Faw-
cett, answering a question, denied
that the theater building had been
condemned.
The meeting closed after a brief
explanation from Mayor FaWcett
that the council had no formal no
tification of the arena and would
not have until an application for
49,