The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-13
RADIO ID PLAY b|G PART IN CAMPAIGN
Some Of The Larger Stations May Exact Charge For
 Their Time
By RAYMOND CHAPTER [Leaxed Wire To The Age-Herald.)


 WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.--A revolu- ton in political broadcasting Is be- ing caused by the popular spread of radio. Politicians have seen the pos abilities in this medium which offers them e chance to speak directly in the ears of millions of voters sim ultaneously.
 Special plans for utilizing radio during the coming campaign are be- the democratic national committee and these will be submitted to the national committee which meets here next week. Republicans likewise are preparing to broadcast propaganda during the campaign.
 Problems Raised.
 of perplexing problems for the big broadcasting stations. To meet the difficulties caused by numerous ef- forts to obtain radio publicity, one big station is on the point of going over to a commercial basis. selling it's time in the same way that q newspaper sells its space to adver- tisers. Some large stations in the east aiready. have adopted this policy. Under the commercial plan, time is sold At fixed rates, but as in the case of newspapers and their advertlsing, the broadcasting stations reserve the right to censor all matter which it handles. largely for the purpose of eliminating nbelous or offensive statements. Both major political parties will make appropriations to get time on these pay stations.
 Want To Hear Bofh Sides.
 Then there are e large number of free stations. maintained to adver- tise the concerns which operate them. These stations make no charge for matter which they broadcast and fin general seek to discourage political talks. However. they find it ex- tremely difficult to draw the line. Within the past two weeks there have been radio talks sent out from Wash ington concerning the world court. the bonus, naval preparedness and similar public questions. mostly made by senators and cabinet officers. While every effort is made to keep political partisanship out of these discussions. the mere fact that democratic senator is permitted to talk on the world court, or that an- tion, Is enough to stir up a demand for a hearing of the other side. o O O
 Must Broaden Policy.
 After the nominating campaign, the free stations will have to broaden their policy toward political matter considerably. Some of tho most im- portant utterances will be broadcast generally, as was the case in Cool idge's message to Congress. Events of this kind are of such universal interest that every radio fan wishes to hear them and the demand has to be met.
 monopoly is being raised. It is con- tended that the great broadcasting stations are able to exercise e vir- tu8l monopoly. excluding opinions with which they do not agree. Some time ago an effort was made in New York to disseminate a reply to a speech on radicalism made by william J. Burns of the department of jus tice, but although two speakers were suggested, the broadcasting concerns declined, to give them time. lust this week Senator Howell of Nebraska de- clared on the Senate floor that the radio business is in the hands of a monopoly. He was allnding principal ly to the control of apparatus map- ufactnring and patents. Remarking that the time to prevent monopoly is fin the infancy of any development, Howell said: ~ Had this been done in connection with radio. we would not now be confronted with a monopoly with radio not only in the United States but practically throughout the world. The operating companies. tho manu- lfacturing companies, are controlling this apparatus to the end that one of the most far-reaching monopolies that ever has been developed in the world is now being developed in con- nection win the radio"