Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-03
: A STATE BROADCASTING
STATION

The Portland Press Herald. in
further comment on the bill for a
State broadcasting station introduce
ed by Senator Maher Of Kennebec.
expresses a wish to get 1t down to
"a business basis" In other words
It would have the State establish a
broadcasting station in that COM
munity which would pass the hat
anG raise most toward having it. put
the States affairs up to the highest
bidder. We infer. though just why
we should is not clear. that 1t would
not entertain bids from outside the
State. Boston. for instance. could
broadcast more concerts and jazz
than could Portland. and II the State
Of Maine had any business to trans
act through the station. why the
State could send 1t in by wire. same
as it might were the station In Port
land. Indeed. If seeking what the
Press Herald terms business basis
Boston would seem to be situated so
1t might bid higher than Portland.
Possibly New York might go even
higher than that.
II the State is to establish broad
casting station it should do so ex-
clusively and with view to serve
the State as a whole. not for the
sake Of giving to any community in
the State preferential privileges. 1t
should be used for States business.
which f1ttingly would include pub
licity Of the States advantages. not
those solely pertaining to any local
ity.
Evidently the letter Of an Augusta
resident to the Press-Herald did not
make favorable impression on the
editor as it did on us. Among the
excellent suggestions Of the writer,
George r. Weber. of this city, we
notc the following and would invite
to them the attention of the Port
land editor: ''Why Augusta as site:
geographically in Maine the right
location: no expense for a site-State
muster grounds are high and an
ideal location: accessible to every
body and easy to lease wires to 9th.
or cities which are leased on mileage
basis. which naturally is less from
Augusta. this being more the CEN
ter Of the State: this is the head
quarters Of State police; this is the
mobilization point in case Of war:
this is the State capital and seat of
all State departments"
~ These are some Of the excellent
reasons why the station should be
located at the State capital. We
would not deprive the State police
Of any advantages which might be
had from use Of such a. station in
apprehending criminals. We do not
agree with the Press Herald that it
would injure Names reputation as
o law-abiding and law-enforcing
State If some of those outside should
oyerhear instructions sent out to
State police. especially il sent in
code. and it might serve as a re-
minder that q State so enterprising
nowadays in apprehending criminals
offered unusual attractions to the
law abiding.
A State broadcasting station at the
State capital would be in line with
development. BY means of 1t much
valuable information might quickly
reach the thousands of farm homes.
the lumber camps, and the many iso-
lated places of this great New Eng
land State would be kept in touch
with the affairs of the world out
side. And the world outside would
be told many things that otherwise
might escape its notice and told i'm
pressively. Indeed it's possibilities
are beyond the present day imagina
ton. And it should be what it's name
implies-a State broadcasting sta
ton. placed where 1t may best serve
the State as whole.
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