The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-01-07
RAD|OLESS.
NIGH 7 IS
OPPOSED
Proposal to Cut OFF Crystal
Set Users Once a Week
Attacked.

Everyone has heard the pro
and con of the "silent night"
controversy, and nearly everyone
has taken sides on the question.
Those with crystal sets are dead
opposed to the plan and the own
ers of tube sets are, generally, in
favor of it and willing to tell the
world so. But few on either side
seem to have considered the prac-
tical side of it.
Stations in Discussion.
| The broadcasting stations feel
that they should have some say
in the discussion. They have CO.
operated SO far in every way to
give the people of Washington the
best possible service, and their posi-
ton has not been considered in the
present controversy. Everybody
probably supposed they would be
glad to have one holiday a week
like any other human beings. They
do not look at it from that view
| point.
Our local stations have spent
thousands of dollars to fit out their
studios luxuriously and suitable for
the statesmen, artists and stars of
one variety or another, whom they
are attracting for the entertainment
of their patrons. Their plants are
technically up to the minute and
provided for any emergency, at an
enormous outlay of money.
And in the end each station has
the air only three nights a week.
Three nights a week these expen-
sive studios are used, meaning an
immense overhead the broadcasters
point out. A silent night would
cut still further into the operating
nights per week, making the over
head even higher.
Duty to Rest of United States.
The Radio Corporation of Amer
lea feels also that it has an addi-
tional duty other than its duty to
the public of Washington. Most of
its listeners are outside of Wash.
ington and people outside of Wash
ington are intensely interested in
hearing any news from Washington
Washingtonians become hardened to
great men in the world of politics
and diplomacy, but outsiders con.
slider it the choice part of an eve.
ning's program to be able to hear
some one Of our national figures
The Radio Corporation is actually
the voice Of the Capital" because
it is the only big broadcasting sta
ton able to handle these features
WCAP, the other big station, is
busy with its New York program
which most fans feel can hardly be
improved upon.
While broadcasters are united in
their opinions no such unity can be
found among listeners-in. Most
crystal settlers feel that a silent
night would be an injustice. One
such fan has compared the use of
the air to the use Of the public
highways. He says one would never
think of keeping ordinary pleasure
and business cars off the highways
one day a week in order that more
powerful cars might monopolize the
roads and attempt speed records.
So, he argues, a silent night should
not be allowed to the discomfort OF
the majority for the benefit Of a
few with powerful sets.
Tube Sets in Majority.
But are the crystal set owners In
the majority? Experts believe that
tube sets are in the majority to a
ratio of three to one, and most est.
mates are far beyond that. If that
is so hard and owners of tube sets
agree on wanting silent night,
then the fans are preponderantly In
favor Of the suggestion.
Some fans have voiced the
opinion that all the discussion will
come to naught. The DIX fan, they
believe, is operating only part of
the time and experimentally at that.
But the majority of radio bugs, in
their opinion, like to sit down to
an evening of listening to good
local program which can be heard
distinctly and easily.