Evening star., 1924-07-07
RADIO MAY CHANGE.
ELECTION METHODS.
Fans Also Believe 'PitiIess
Publicity" Will Affect Final
Vote in November.
BY CARL H. BUTMAN.

The radio fans Of the country, and
practically every one else are unani-
nous in the belief that radio will
sooner or later change the methods
of selecting presidential candidates.
Some assert that it is bound to af-
Radio, with its "pitiless publicity"
carries every word uttered at con-
ventions to members of both political
faiths. 1t shows reactions, reveals
enthusiasm. "hokum." bunk" and
apple sauce" Radio takes all fans
to the conventions. 1t has practically
killed the old methods of "infighting."
and will certainly tend to switch the
battle to more open style of play. as
the sport writer's say. 1t may urge
the direct primary system of voting
for candidates.
During. the recent political con
candidates. political headquarters.
community centers, statesmen, gov
ernmental officials and editors. even
the tired business men, shop girls and
tin can tourists, listened in on the
tenants of factional cause put any
thing over on the general public
which now has it's ear tuned to the
air through the aid of radio. SPELL
binders of the past can no longer
pattern their speeches to single
class of listeners-all classes listen
In at the same time. A speaker can
neither talk down nor up" to his
intellectuals are both on the air. The
radio audience, today especially when
a national question is being thrashed
out, is cosmopolitan, with a capital c.
opposing camps, as we'll as the in
dlvtdual candidates, get IAN earful"
every minute that convention is in
session. They no longer are forced
to rely upon scouts or read about
the criticism and pledges Of their
oopponents-they hear them first
Headquarters will have a radio re-
ceivfnS set, so as to maintain a con-
slant watch on enemy camps. Every
speaker Will have to be careful, for
his copy is no longer subject to cor
rection and editing. 1t goes out in
the heat Of his oratory to the country
at large. Even if he is a member
of Congress, he cannot claim the
privilege of editing his speech, as he
does for the Congressional Record.
The newspapers also get it direct,
without the coloring of special polit-
ical writers or imaginative reporters.
sometimes Influenced or swayed from
the duty of telling the public the
story in it's bare and ungarnished
truthfulness.
Campaign Prediction.
And so. during the forthcoming
II,
managers and assistants, including
publicity men, will have to watch
their steps most carefully else they
slip on the icy thoroughbares of the
air. Rewrites of speeches will avail
little if glaring faux pas are made in
broadcast speeches. Editing will not
disabuse the original idea picked up
by the radio voter from the air direct
from the mouth of the candidate. A
radio set insures the reception of
every speech, better perhaps than if
the listener were present at a meet
ing disrupted by "razzing and
'heckling'' Radio picks up the
speech anyhow and spreads 1t over
the land. Take Bryan's recent
speeches; the fans all heard them any
how, and probably better than the
delegates.
The radio public. at least, has
learned considerable more about poll
tics during the past month than it
ever knew before. It will not for
get soon. The votes of some 25.000,00
fans must also be considered by
campaign managers-ano other prob
lem for them to handle. Only one
solution is available. Simon pure"
honesty, plain direct statements of
facts and sincere promises, for they
are talking directly to possible con-
stituents of radio land. who will not
tolerate or even listen to "blah" and
"hot air." In other. words, radio will
prevent putting things over that are
not honest, and that makes for better
politics and campaigns of the future.
(Copyright, 1924