Evening star., 1947-11-03

running hve years.
Mr. Shugrue had in mind such places as
New York, Philadelphia and Boston when he
spoke of repeat stops of a week or longer.
These are places the train has been, leaving
in its trail some comment by incensed editors
who felt freedoms super statesmen had all
but passed them by.
Philadelphia was where the train got up
steam for three days, opening on Independence
Day, September IT, with 12908 persons pouring
through. The exhibit was allowed to run two
hours longer that day than the 1o-to-10
routine rigidly adhered to since.
> How many thousands were turned away no
one can accurately gauge. but the crowds
were so tremendous that the tail" was put
on at 6 pm.
Before the train reached New York, 1t was
ascertained that 10000 q day was to be the
tours average capacity Anything more than
that took great herding job. and then there
were complaints from those who wished longer
to scan the documents.
But in Paterson, N. j., on September 49, the
train hit its peak to date, cramming 1922
aboard.
The school superintendent of Paterson was a
vigorous man. He had juveniles streaming
through the train from 10 am. to p.m and
the adults were shut out almost altogether,
Nobody was the winner, for all were pushed
through too fast.
Then came New York and these enigmatic
figures for two days: 1910 and s,16s. Oh, the
crowds were there, all right. Everybody was
certain of that.
The line started in Grand Central Station
and where it ended was a sight. 1t wound
through the long concourse to Vanderbilt ave-
nue., thence to Forty-fifth street, around the
block to Park avenue and up Park avenue to
5lst street. That adds up to about IS blocks,
and the people were standing four abreast.
Although the train sponsors are not con-
vinced all the waitees were eager to board the
train. it is obvious they were not commuters
who got into the wrong line.
Some Wait Eight Hours.
The line was even longer, but not as thick, at
Philadelphia and Boston furnished the clincher
for any who thought the rush might taper off.
On the first day of that two-day stand more
hopeful people were in line by noon than could
be handled all day. Some stood for six or eight
hours. Even the conservative figures placed the
disappointed at 100000
So 1t went :. Little Burlington, VT, out
drawing its population with 10,529 spectators
after rededication week that saw George Wash
ington, Paul Revere, Betsy Ross and other
colonial figures walk the streets again in real
istic celebration Dover, Del. where 250,0 900
turned out for two-hour parade, the biggest
crowd and parade in the towns history 4.
Elizabeth, NJ j., where it rained all day and
the staunch people huddled three and four
under umbrellas
What was the answer Said Edward Man
son. the trains able publicity man:
-I~J,
the week when the citizens are asked to reafirm
their faith in the tenets of freedom. The Free
dom Train is climax for that week. But in
some places we found it hard to sell rededtca-
ton week and so We oversold the train
Walter H. O'Brien, veteran railroad execu-
tive who LIS the trains director, had an answer
to why the stops were not longer. -.
II the train were billed for one city several
days, the people would show up only in a trickle
at first and try to crowd In the last day or so,
he said. In addition to the cities visited, only
Baltimore and Washington, where the train
comes Thanksgiving day, are two-day stops.
Mr.. OBrien agreed that rededcation week
was the prime goal, but that the train gave the
people something tangible an incentive.
He was convinced the rededication program
was meeting its goal, with 80 per cent of the
people who saw the train signing THE Freedom
FleQRef, WIN many OIQerS SenQlng IN tne
pledge though they never saw the train.
In planning the Freedom Trains itinerary,
many factors were considered The stops were
divided by States on a population basis There
was the problem of meshing the program with
the facilities OF So railroads, over which were
bought round trip tickets that would stretch
7s feet.
Trip Costs S9SO,00O.
The problem of financing "a $sso,ooo budget)
and the contractual convenience of year had
much to do with settling on the 361-day time
limit. Already the most ambitious tour of its
kind, it would run into difficulty with the rail-
road laws to schedule beyond years time.
There certainly can be no complaint about
the Freedom Trains buildup. It's thoroughly
done job calling for an area director to enter
a town and set the props eight weeks before
the train arrives.
He contacts the mayor, and begins setting
up committees. Then he drops In once a week
thereafter to offer suggestions and advice The
towns vie with their neighbors for the best
showing, it snowballs into huge event with
parades, rallies, and . grand rededication week
topped off by the trains arrival.
In Manchester, N. H, the area director ran
into something little different. He felt the
buildup was tagging and told some of the
committeeman So
The committee chairman also was turning
the crank for giant reception for Jimmy
ONei the towns police chief who had just
been elected American Legion national COM
mander. Then, too, he was ramrodding a
Navy Day program featuring Afr Secretary
Symington the day the Freedom Train was to.
show
A very busy, civic-minded man. the commit
tee chairman told this reporter he could not
in good conscience build up the Freedom
Trains visit more than he had.
Il was not going to be placed in the posi-
ton of trying to kid the people of Manchester
into believing 10000 people would get on that
train he said.