The Washington herald., 1922-08-06
D. C. GROUPS SEEK
AN AGREEMENT TO.
DIVIDE AIR WAVES
Compromise Expected to
Bring Peace to Long
Standing Feud.
PUBLIC INTERESTED
Rapid Progress. of Radio Is
Credited to Independent
Workers.

Inere u every iuuiCAtoh thst
this fall there will be a much bet
ter relationship established be-
tween amateurs and the large body
of radiophone listeners-in than has
existed since broadcasting became
a nationwide practice. One wash
ington Institution composed largely
of amateurs. another made up Of
amateurs and members of the lis
teners-in group. are furthering
their own interests with some con-
sideration for the good of radio as
a whole. This changed attitude
which Inevitably results when 1t Is
seen that cooperation and not op-
position work for the satisfaction
OF all parties concerned Is a well
come Indication of better times In
radio.
No one can deny that the amateur
is entitled to full credit for the
early development of radio. II was
the amateur who made apparatus
and built radio sets: who expert
mented with and developed each
invention made in the science: who
not only listened-in on government
stations which had been operating
for years but established his own
transmitting equipment and gave
Of his experience freely that radio
as a public utility might gain fur
ther recognition. The average
amateur was a man of radio
knowledge and experience. This
he had gained not from another's
practice, but by patient and per-
.istent endeavors of his own. He
brought radio to the fore as
demonstrable science.
Public vitalIy Interested.
A period came in the develop
ment of radio when the general
public was vitality interested. That
period. which Is still continued,
was marked by a rapid develop
ment of interest in a science which
prior to 1920 was of everyday con-
Germ to the amateur or expert only
This development was the use OF
c. W. transmission and the broad
casting of the human voice to be
received at audio frequencies over
long distances. The general pub
lie, the larger portion of the lis
teners-fn now supporting these
newer advances, brought to more
general use the valuable discov-
cries OF the amateur. The Arm
strong circuits. the most valued OF
all radio inventions, were the work
Of a man who always takes pride
in declaring himself one Of the
amateurs. Armstrong; circuit. how
ever. might have been largely
limited to the $4,000 or so radio
amateur transmitting stations in
the country IL 1t had not been for
the public demand that apparatus
be developed and broadcasting sta
tions be established whereby all
might share the thrill and interest
of listening-in.
This Immediately brought forth q
great deal of radiophone broadcast
ing music and speeches which, de-
clared the amateur, interfered with
his spark or damped wave transmits
sion. Persisting as to an extent he
had q right to persist. with his spark
transmission. he aroused q certain
amount Of public disfavor because the
public wanted to hear voice only; they
neither understood nor were interested
in code and did not appreciate the
fact that transmission Of code was
not a wffful misdemeanor on the part
of the amateur transmitting 1t. nor
that Is in many cases the transmit
ting station was a licensed govern
ment station
Approach Better Understanding.
At this stage of radio history both
parties to the controversy are ap-
preaching the question from the only
angle which can eventually satisfy
each side and maintain the high re-
pute the business Of radio transmits
sion Is entitled to. 1t Is not a question
Of whether the amateur may send
spark nor II the operator of a radio
phone st may transmit on c. W.;
both are entitled by law and by fair
play to their share Of hours and ether
The question Is whether both anna
teurs and radiophone enthusiasts will
consider the other fellows rights just
as a pedestrian should respect the
right Of an autoist and vice versa.
although both may refuse to be run
over each will attempt by every fair
means to promote an advance of
radio science even at the cost of per-
sonal preferences
1t Is this ideal state of understand
ing which Is now becoming an actual
ity; the public has a better under
Of radio and the skill re-
quired for the development of the
science: It no longer insists on hear
ing Cuba each night: 1t knows In
radio terms that selective tuning and
distance range are not determinate
factors OF every radio receiving set;
the amateur likewise knows that In
regulations now proposed his rights
on the lower wave lengths particu-
larry are to be respected. Each body
Is controlling its own miscreants to
a degree which augurs well for better
radio service the coming months.