Evening star., 1924-10-07

unfortunate, indeed IL such an impor-
taEt function as the distribution of
information should ever fall into the
hands of the Government. 1t would
be still more unfortunate IL its con-
troll should come under the arbitrary
power of any person or group of per-
Sons. 1t is inconceivabIe that such a
situation could be allowed to exist.
But l am not now dealing with
monopoly. Nor is this a question
where any one lays claim to a mo-
nopoly Interconnection is going on
to local extent and over the wires of
the telegraph companies, the tele-
phone companies and by radio itself.
We have promises Of superradio,
and We have promises of intercon-
nection of wired wireless. If there
are several methods. it means that we
might have several alternative pro-
grams always available. But what
ever the method Of interconnection
may be. we are lacking in a definite
organization of a national system of
programs and a basis Of support.
Il believe that the quickest way to
Kill broadcasting would be to use it
for direct advertising. The reader
of the newspaper has an option
whether he will read an ad or not.
but IL a speech by the President is
to be used as the meat in a sandwich
Of two patent medicine advertise
ments, there will be no radio left.
To what extent it may be employed
for what We now call indirect adver-
tising 1 do not know and only expe-
rience.with the reactions of the list
eners can tell.
81 do not believe there is any prac-
tical method Of payment from re-
ceivers. 1 wish to suggest for con :
sideration the possibility OF mutual
organization by broadcasters Of a
service for themselves similar to
that which the newspapers have for
their use in the press associations.
which would furnish programs of
national events and arrange for their
transmission and distribution on
some sort of financial basis, Just as
the press associations gather and
distribute news among their MEM
bers.
TT may be that we cannot find =
solution at this moment, but + believe
that one result of this conference
should be not only the consideration
of this question. but the establish
ment of q continuing COMMITTEES fof
its further consideration"
Going into the licensing by the
government of super-broadcast sting
stations. with strength OF five times
and more than that of the present
largest stations, the Secretary de-
clared that nothing must be done to
interfere with the programs of local
stations, on which SO many of the
radio public depend. nor with the wide
selective range they now have.
1T may be possible that both pur-
poses may be accomplished without
loss Of either" the Secretary declared
adding that I'VE must not stife prog
ress in any direction"
The Secretary then went into the
marine radio problem. declaring that
the use OF only two wave lengths for
marine broadcastfng is an example OF
the folly OF putting 4 straight jacket
on such 2 rapidly growing art. He
advocated assigning separate wave
lengths to separate groups or classes
of vessels. and requested the confer
ence to give consideration to tenn
porary relief from the situation.
Mr. Hoover offered the aid Of his
department to the conference In solv-
ing the vast problems OF radio broad
casting and reception.