The Washington herald., 1922-09-24

You have asked, why should
radiophone broadcasting be con-
tinued?'s ] cannot find any answer
to that question as Il seems so per-
fectly obvious to me that radio
phone broadcasting has come to
stay. Instead of answering would
ask: -
"who wants radio broadcasting
stopped?
What causes anyone to want
broadcasting stopped?
rs the present broadcasting
service unsatisfactory?
eff II Is unsatisfactory. this
should not be a cause for discon-
tinuing It. but rather a reason for
greater effort at Improvement"
In Close Touch with Radio.
1t was evident at once from his
replies that H. p. Davis. vice pres
ident of the Westinghouse Electric
and Manufacturing Company, had
been surprised that anyone should
ask such a question. And little
wonder. for the man who was re-
sponsible for organizing the first
radiophone' broadcasting station in
| the world-this pioneer station be-
~
and the installing of three other
stations (KYW at Chicago. ILL.,.
WIZ at Newark, n. J., and wBZ
at Springfield. Mass.) has been
closely in touch with radio for the
| past two and half years and had
evidently detected no demand from
the public for cessation OF radio
phone broadcasting activities.
Mr.. Davis called attention to the
wonderful and phenomenal spread
of popular interest in radiophone
broadcasting. and stated that he
believed that this interest was not
waning. but was increasing.
Has Become q Necessity.
You have asked me why radio
phone brosdcasting should be con-
tinued," said Mr.. Davis. Perhaps
I can answer your question best
by saying that ] can tell you many
reasons why radiophone broad
casting should not be stopped"
"Broadcasting,'' he continued.
Is rapidly lining itself up with
other utilities such as the tele-
phone. telegraph. electric light
| H1ONlnS ETC., anu just DC
these activities were crude in their
beginnings but later refined to
present-day conditions. so. in the
same way. will radiophone broad
casting be developed and will cover
and make available to all within
hearing range. all worthwhile ac-
tivities of general interest to the
public"
when Mr.. Davis was asked II
present conditions under which ra =
diophone broadcasting was done.
wherein a free service was given.
would be continued, he stated in re-
ply that a service of this character
offered such benefits to mankind in
general that a way would be found
for its continuance.
Has Audience of Million.
why" he said, consider the ef-
feet of discontinuing operations at
our four stations! We believe that
the combined audience of our four
broadcasting stations Is at least
100000 every night in the week:
II may be more. This estimate is
based on the number of radio re-
ceivers which have been sold in ;ac
territories covered by these sta
tions. What would be the result il
all broadcasting stations stopped
suddenly. with or without wan ing,
entertaining and informing this
vast audience? The effect upon
this radio audience would be about
the same as would occur II we took
away some one or more of the
utilities already referred to. such a.
the electric light. or the telephone
and we might go even further
and say that 1t might be the same
as stopping the newspapers and
magazines. and the cutting of Cf
amusements and communications.
The effect probably right now
| would not be so vital as II will be
/ later. as the service improves and
| grows-as 1t is bound to do"
Public wouId Complain.
What would happen IL this oc-
curred?' was asked of Mr.. Davis.
You know as we'll as I do" he
said. that there would be a public
clamor that would quickly bring
some solution of a State or Federal
nature. ! do not believe, however,
that this can happen, as there is
enough commercial possibility and
good will in the business to make II
worth while for those companies
that can beneft from it, to con-
tinue the service"
What Is going to happen" Mr.
Davis was asked. "if the Federal
government, continues its present
policy of indiscriminstely licensing
all applicants to broadcast"
Now" said Mr.. Davis. you have
touched on the real, vital point. 1t
is my opinion that the public is not
going to stay interested in, nor will
1t support an activity which does
not at least approximate a real and
satisfactory service. When il be-
comes possible, as 1t is now, for
anyone with broadeasting ses
good, bad or Indifferent, to claim
space in the ether and to force
themselves upon the listening pub
lie. without furnishing qualify or a
program of interest, the public 1:
going to become disguised and as
result interest will flag-for un'
der circumstances of this kint
worthwhile service cannot be giver
by those companies or stations who
have the ability and facility to pro
vide a real service, because of TIN.
interference. This Is a real danger
as will probably be recognized thi