Evening star., 1952-01-15
City Heads Send
Billy Graham
Mild Warning
Cupoeity Of Armory
Is Limited to 5,3lo,
Evangelist Is Told

rIcu WlIIl Ollem0a OF want
ing to enforce safety regulations
without damaging worthy
cause" the Commissioners today
compromised by sending the Billy
Graham Crusade a letter warn
ing that over-crowding the Ma
tional Guard Armory is illegal.
The city heads took this mild
step despite stronger suggestions
from other District officials.
Assistant Engineer Commission
er Thomas j. Hayes pointed out
to the board that on the evan
gelist's opening night Sunday at
the Armory the authorized 5,3lO
attendance was grossly exceed
ed" Col. Hayes added that both
Sunday and last night the au-
thorized seating plan for the hall
was violated.
Four Courses Open.
Col, Hayes forwarded to the
Commissioners a recommendation
by District Inspection Director
Robert H. Davis that if violations
continue the matter should be
referred to the Corporation Coun-
sci for appropriate action"
The engineer assistant said the
Commissioners could follow one
or more of four possible courses:
That the Crusade be notified
that existing regulations must be
complied with or prosecution
would result or that the lease
between the Crusade and the
Armory. management would be
Cancelled; that the Fire Marshal
be directed to bar the entrances
after authorized capacity was
reached: or that nothing be done.
Col. Hayes said that for OBJ
vious reasons the first two re-
courses are undesirable.
Tie Commissioners, he added.
could not take "do-nothing atti-
tude" since public safety should
not be compromised.
Favors Barring Doors.
He recommended the third
course, barring the doors when
capacity is reached.
Commissioner F. Joseph Dono-
hue agreed with Col. Hayes that
the enforcement problem is
more difficult" in the case of a
worthy cause such as the Billy
Graham Crusade"
Il am persuaded by the thought
that Mr.. Graham is doing a lot
of good" Mr.. Donohue said. But
it is the responsibility of the
Commissioners morally, and per-
haps legally, for any injuries that
might grow out of a panic in an
over-croWded Armory."
Attendance Declines.
The crusade management esti-
mated crowd of 10000 on open
ing night. District authorities
stationed at the Armory last night
reported the attendance had
dropped to 4.840. we'll under the
maximum allowable capacity.
The Graham Crusade will be here
a month.
Col. Hayes further pointed out
in his report that since 1949, seat
ing and capacity regulations have
been violated at the Armory on
nine occasions.
LAS result, the public has fire.
quently been exposed to conditions
which expose them to unnecessary
risk" Col. Hayes reported. In view
of the fact that violations of
District regulations are involved,
he added. the situation is proving
embarrassing" since other halls
are made to comply and the shows
are closed if they do not.
But rather than adopt any of
Col. Hayes and Mr.. Davis specific
recommendations. the Commits
sioners decided to notify the Cru
SADIE management of it's past vio-
lations, spell out existing regula-
tions and to express willingness
to confer with Crusade officials.
Speaks to Businessmen.
Meanwhile, the spiritual surge
of the crusade was moved directly
into the buSinessman's area with
luncheon in the Hotel Statler.
Mr.. Graham spoke on Re
ligion and the Present Emer-
gency" at the luncheon, the first
of four such Tuesday meetings.
This gathering and the crusade
meeting at 7:45 o'clock tonight in
the Armory undoubtedly will con-
tinue the affirmative approach the
evangelist has stressed so far on
the efficacy of Christian faith to
solve individual and world prob
lens.
Mixing such colloquial express
sions as now you're cooking with
gas" hold that line" and I'VE
want touchdown" with numerous
Bible quotations, the youthful
looking preacher last night moved
ceaselessly about the platform ex-
horting his hearers to accept the
proposition that belief in Christ
can solve situations other meas
ures cannot meet.
Says Faith Must Be in God.
1--WE cannot put our faith only
In fighter planes and tanks and
armies" he warned the gathering
in referring to the tense war sit
uation. Our faith must be in
God"
Following his sermon, Mr.. Gra-
ham asked the audience to bend
their heads in prayer and close
their eyes. Then, as the organ
played softly, he urged those who
wished to make a decision for
Christ to raise their hands.
Then he finished the prayer and
asked those who had raised their
hands to come forward. Nearly
120 persons moved down the
aisles to the platform and were
directed to counsellors in the
Vrooms behind the auditorium.
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