Evening star., 1947-11-01
Freedom Train
Visitor Limit
Solution Sought
Sponsors Soy Only
10000 Can Board
On 2-Doy Stopover

How to prevent thousands of
,Washingtonians from waiting hours
to see the Freedom Train-and then
being turned away-is the principal
problem facing the local committee
handling arrangements for the
trains arrival here on Thanks
giving.
The group today is considering
the possibility of selling admission
tickets.
The train, described as "a ma
tional shrine on wheels" is touring
the country with a collection of
historic American documents and
other relics of the national demo-
cratic heritage. 1t will be at Union
Station on track 4, November n
and %.
According to Frank w, Crane,
area director for the American
Heritage Foundation, which sponsors
the train, not more than 10000 per-
sons can be admitted to the train
during its visit to Washington. Mr..
Crane made this statement yester-
day at a meeting of the local COM
mittee in the District Building.
Wender Objects.
Harry s. Wender, chairman Of the
District Recreation Board, objected
that this would produce an "im-
possible" situation.
Mr.. Wender said if experience in
other cities can be taken as guide
to what will happen in Washington,
about 250,000 persons probably will
appear at Union Station in hopes
of seeing the trains exhibits. He
suggested admission tickets be sold
in advance for 10 cents.
This is magnificent enterprise" :"
Mr.. Wender said. But most OF the
good is going to be lost, if 100000
people or so have to stand around
each day all day and then not see
the train. They will go home with
very bitter feeling about the
whole business"
Mr.. Wender said Washington has
the advantage of previous experience
with the train in other cities and
should make use of this advantage.
Money Not the Object.
eve are not interested in collect
ing the money" he added. "It
would just about cover the cost OF
printing and distributing tickets.
But people would be quite willing to
pay 10 cents to know they could see
the train, or at least to know in
advance that they couldn't see it."
Mr.. Crane said the Heritage Foun-
dation legally cannot sell any
thing" Z
IT don't know what the legal
aspect of the Washington commit
tees taking such a decision would
be-" he said.
Mr.. Crane said the problem of
what to do with the overflow crowds
was a complex one and that the
foundation frankly doesn't know
the answer to the problem as 1t
stands right now
One solution being considered,
Mr.. Crane said, is the setting up OF
a display of duplicate documents
which those who failed to see the
train might study after the train
had gone. It is impossible, the
foundation representative added, to
open the train to the public for more
than IL hours each day.
Would Seek Ruling.
- The question raised by Mr..
Wender was referred to special
subcommittee on Freedom Train
arrangements. Mr.. Crane said he
would, if requested, ask the founda-
tion's Board of Directors for a clear
ruling as to whether the Washing
ton committee might sell admission
tickets.
A schedule of special days to be
observed locally during, "rededica-
ton week." before the trains arrival,
also was announced at the meeting.
Special observances are being
planned by groups, as follows:
November 20, Government agen-
cies: November 81, youth organiza-
tions and schools: November %,
veterans groups; November %,
churches; November "a, women S
clubs; November Is, labor and in
dustry groups, and November 20!
civic and fraternal organizations.
John A. Reilly, president of the
Washington Board Of Trade, is
chairman of the local committee.
Capital Transit 10 Weigh
n A. ns