The New York herald., 1922-06-04
SEES SERIOUS NEED
TO LIMIT AIRS USE
Big Increase in Broadcasting
Is Presenting Problem for
Public Thought.
USEFULNESS is GREAT
Benefits,to Nation Hardly Can
Be Exaggerated as Use Of
Radio Grows.
USEFULNESS Is GREAT
By L. n. KRUMM.

ny n ~ ~ M us
Superintendent of Radio Operations,
Westinghouse Electric and Mdnufac-
turing Company.
No prediction as to the future uses and
applications of broadcastihg can be too
broad. There will be no greater unifying
factor in our national life. The immense
advantage of a universal national Ian
guage such as we have Is not fully ap-
preciated in this country because 1t has
never occurred to US that any nation
would use more than one language in its
intercourse. Those OF US who have a
clear conception Of the national condi-
where several languages are spoken.
realize what common language means
to the nation.
Now that in broadcasting we have a
means of transmitting this common Ian
guage to practically all sections at one
time, the effect in knitting US together
as a nation cannot be overestimated. 1t
may play great part in our national
legislative activity and the day may
come when the speeches of Senators and
Congressman may be sent out from a
broadcasting station covering the entire
nation.
The President may issue his national
proclamation by radio telephone. Ma
tional political campaigns will no doubt
be waged by yNmeans of speeches broad
casted by the candidates. Selective sys-
TENS Of broadcasting may develop by
which subscribers can obtain the particu-
lar character of information or amuse-
ment they desire without the possibility
Of being interfered with by other sta
tions.
Can Supplement- Newspapers.
Broadcasting has already supple
mented the newspapers to a wonderful
extent and may greatly increase their
activities. It's value to farmers or others
living at remote points when newspaper
information Is not easily accessible is
beyond calculation. Already the live
stock and grain reports sent out by the
Department Of Agriculture regarding
farm projects and business has met a
response indicating that this is one of
the most important fields Of service in
radio broadcasting.
Here Is the means that brings the in
formation to the radio listener even
quicker than 1t would reach an auditor
In audiences Of ordinary size. In many
parts Of the Middle West, the farmer is
guided almost entirely by the informa-
tion he obtains from the Westinghouse
station at Chicago. which broadcasts
quotations every half hour from the
Board Of Trade operations. Local
brokers handle the farmers orders
which his country line telephone enables
him to place upon the receipt of the
guiding radio information.
President Roosevelt during his ad-
ministration appointed commission to
no ~ "a
farmer. In the words of the old song.
down on the farm" Broadcasting viii
accomplish more in this direction than
any means yet devised. Motion pictures
and the broadcasting bring cosmopolitan
life into the most remote farming re-
gions. Public health instruction is sent
out from one government station and
the function will no doubt be greatly in
creased.
Cannot All Talk at Once.
However. in closing this article. the
most important impression that we de-
sire to leave is that unlimited broad
casting activities, instead Of attaining
all the objects outlined heretofore. will.
rather. prevent successful attainment.
Free speech does not mean that we can
all talk at once, and only those with a
real message can get attention. Many
of us labor under the delusion that we
are called and have such n message,
but II we speak only in behalf Of our
selves or repeat platitudes we add to the
din but not to progress.
Unfortunately. the elements control
ling radio limit the number of stations
that can operate successfully within
limited wave bands or geographical
areas. The public must decide whether
Il shall endeavor to pick out the worth
while message in bedlam Of broad
casting that may come with the estab-
lishment of a large number of stations
or whether they prefer to limit and
classify the broadcast stations, grant
ing them license which will carry some
Of the exclusive features and advantages
OF franchise and with its continuity
dependent upon the maintenance of a
certain standard of excellence and revo-
cable when 1t is evident that the station
no longer fulfills the public demands.
Radio broadcasting stations are now
fulfilling a public service without any
direct recompense and IL Is an old adage
that things obtained gratis are not al
ways appreciated. II behooves the radio
T.ublic to consider carefully the effect of
unlimited broadcasting and to take an
active interest in the radio laws and