Evening star., 1924-10-12

Herbert Hoover has just finished
signing more than 1000 letters to
radio fans in 4 dozen states, assuring
them that he is opposed To all forms
OF radio trusts and Il monopoly of the
air in broadcasting. Appeals from
approximately 5000 radio fans against
the monopoly of the air by a So-called
broadcasting trust which, it had been
reported, planned to establish a 5000
watt oro2dcaSting station, blanketinE
the whole country and drowning out
the smaller stations now on the air,
were received by Secretary Hoover
and President Cool dge last week.
The origin of this sensational re-
port, which incensed the fans, was an
announcement broadcast by d sta
ton in the neighborhood OF Chicago,
ate III September. 1t led many lis
tcHerS to believe that the crystal sets
ana even tube sets would soon be
useless: that all the smaller, low
powered stations would be crowded
off the air and that fans would be
forced to listen to q. few high pow
cred transmitters, which would prob
ably provide little, if any. entertain
ment. contining their programs to
propaganda and advertising. Misin
formation and unfortunate publicity
further excited the radioiStS. with
the result that the President and the
Secretary of Commerce were flooded
with requests to save the air for the
people and not let the National Rad O
Conference recommend the licensing
OF stations with q total power Of
over 1000 or l 500 watts
The personal assurance of SeCre-
tary Hoover carries with il the state
ncnt that no applications for eX-
tremely high powered stations have
been received to date. Although the
third national radio conference, in
session last week, discussed the ad-
visibility o. deciding upon a power
limit for broadcasting it must be re-
inembered that 10 limit the power of
broadcasters might handicap this
growing Industry and art. for the very
fact that radio development has been
unrestricted is accountable for its
marvellous growth and expansion dur
nC the past few years. Experimental
work 10y brnadCdSters is beneficial to
All The growth Of strong stations
has brought about the excellent class
Il broadcaSteTs. and the opening OF
new wave bands has broadeued and
improved broadcaSting. HiGh-pow-
o-ed stations would rot interfere with
present receiving sets in any way, but
would bring distant stations within
the range Of crystal Set users. who to-
Gay hear but one or two local sta
tons. The power OF Il hToadcaster
Goes not prevent reception on a re-
CeiVinE set, but increases its range
snd improves its reception. Changes
III wave lengths to below 200 or over
coo meters would probably prevent
reception on the average set, how
ever
So much is dependent upon expert
mental broadCaStiug that the confer
ence viii probably be loath to place
q low limit on power. Fans may rest
. assured nothing i'll the nature of q
monopoly VIII come to pass, at least
during administration o. Mr.. Hoover.
in Canada one station is operating on
5000 watts, another is planned and
& third may try out $1,000 watts, it is
reported. In this connection it may
be necessary to try Il few higher-pow-
cred stations this side OF the border to
prevent Canadian radio invasion.
Some time ago WEAF tried out
v,00G-watt broadcaSting set, but re-
turned to its regular 500 power Set
latter short interval. Two OF our
stations of the broadcast development
Class-kDhA and WGY-are author
lied TO broadcast with a power up to
1000 watts or one XIV. Results oil
high power broadcasting are general
y believed beneficial
Some idea OF the furore and
pathos which the announcement OF
the pending radio air trust created
Is cleaned upon reading a few of the
bundles of letters addressed to gov
ernmental officials. Publicity and
propaganda via the ether are evI-
IDENTIFY sure fire" Men in all walks
Of life responded in strong
language, declaring that God gave US
the air and urging that Hoover keep
1t free from the trusts. Many women
wrote tinted notes, speaking for
themselves and families; employees
numbering 100 in some CONNER
cial houses signed joint letters
OF protest against 1.-The air hogs"
declaring they preferred small local
stations. Dwellers of cities wrote on
home and business stationery, and
p5tanusiv that fhair