Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-07-03
RADIO IS GREATEST q
NEW FACTOR Of !.
BIG CONVENTION
BY OWEN L.. SCOTT
Especial Leased Wire to The Journal.)
DOWNRIGHT 1924)

Copyright, 1924
CHICAGO, July Intent, in.
tercsted, thrilled at the novelty OF
their experience. convention audi
ence of millions. scattered over the
great open spaces OF the nation,
follows ballot after ballot, keeping
it's own tab of the progress Demo
Gratis in New York are making in
their quadrennial task of selecting
a candidate for president.
No previous contest ever had
such an audience. None ever so
thoroughly took hold of the magma
ton Of the listeners-in. The broad
casting stations here, relaying the
convention proceedings to every cor
ner Of the country, attest to this.
For week now radio has penetrat-
ed from coast to coast and from the
prairie homes of North Dakota to
the ranches Of Texas, carrying the
same story everywhere, and finding
a ready response.
Hotels entertain their patrons and
a large visiting audience with their
continuous radio convention session;
radio stores are attracting passers-
by by means Of a loud-speaker street
entertainment of convention dolngs;
broadcasting stations have their
of listeners are grouped about the
home receiving set. getting their pri-
waite, practical lessons in politics.
Every Listener Reached
The three great broadcasting sta-
lions here report, that convention
happenings have reached every lis
tener on the millions of tube sets in
the country.
The first course in political science
offered by Republicans and Demo-
Gratis directly to a whole people, free
Of charge and with all trimmings,
has attracted an unprecedented
class.
The disgruntled farmer of the
Dakotas has heard what two parties
have to say about his predicament.
and has learned, at first hand, what
they propose to do to help him out;
the worker in industrial centersI
knows from what he has heard the
party attitude of both Republicans
and Democrats toward him; the
business man has his news directly
of what he is to expect from the af-|
fairs of parties, and even the coll
lege student, learning how govern,
ment may be bettered, is now get
ings Of politics.
The education in politics Is tho
great direct benefit that comes from
the first radio convention entertain
ment. Professors of political science
say that in tn ecoming campign
personalities will become more defi-
political machine better understood
AZ So - he
ties more thoroughly appreciated
than ever before.
In both the Republican and the
Democratic conventions, the people
learned to know the party leaders.
Grouped about loud speaker in a
Chicago hotel, the crowd shows it's
particular interest in personalities.
They watch for the voice of Chair
man Walsh as he directs the great
gathered; they thrill at the
speeches of Newton d. Baker; they
were most interested in the few
they tired of the steady drone OF
nominating and seconding speeches
that preceded the big fight.
Only demonstra tons, somewhat
intriguing in their reality as the
crowd yelled itself hoarse amid the
loud Manipulating, kept them atten.
tive during those times.
Audience Keeps Tab
But now it is different. With the
voting in progress, good share of
the audience is keeping direct tab
of balloting. Thrilled comment goes
the rounds when gains for candi-
dates are noted. 1t is a real live
battle of ballots in progress. that has
a human appeal.
And just as the hotel audience 10
getting a thrill out Of the fight in
Madison Square garden, New York.
so are hundreds Of thousands, even
millions Of others, finding a new
sensation in keeping up with the
battle that Is making most impor-
tant political history.
Everywhere this silent, unnoticed
audience is learning it's lesson, hard
ly in position to give vent to emo
ton, but eager and demonstrating
as the balloting continues.