Evening star., 1927-11-17
LATEST MEMBER
|SBUS|NESS MAN
Lafount, Appointed to Radio
Commission, Not a Party
to Coast Differences.


A. Lafount, the Salt Lake City busi-
ness man named by President Coolidge
10 be a member of the Federal Radio
Commission, was the desire on the
part Of the administration to select a
man to represent the fifth radio zone,
which embraces the States west of the
Rockies, who was not a party to the
many differences existing among Pa
cific Coast broadcasters nor subject to
local prejudices.
Mr.. Lafount, succeeding the late
Col. John +. Dillon, was recommended
b. Senator Smoot of Utah, Repub-
hcan leader. His appointment COM
pletes the personnel of the commits
sion Sam Pick on November l
having assumed Office as commissioner
from the fourth radio zone, succeeding
II. A. Bellows of Minneapolis, resign
ed. Mr.. Lafount is expected in Wash
ington by December l.
Described by Senator Smoot as "one
of the live business men of the west,
Commissioner Lafount is expected to
bring to his new office the point OF
view of the layman. He has been a
radio enthusiast for many years, said
Senator Smoot, but has not been
identified with the radio industry or
the broadcasting art. He is Al. q
graduate of the Agricultural College OF
Utah, for II years was in the hard'
ware business and for 10 years has
been manager of the Pacific Land and
Water Co.
Because of the peculiar nature OF
the broadcasting problem on the West
coast. the administration assiduousiy
sought to avoid the dissension which
the appointment of any one of num-
ber of possibilities for the radio post
would have evoked. Where complete
accord was voiced by the original Sc
lection of the late Col. Dillon. VINO
was former radio supervisor or the
San Francisco district and highly es-
teemed all along the coast. no single
person suggested from the coastal
States, which have most of the nttn
zones stations, seemed to suit all
parties.
Nominees for the position were
numerous. including several who like
Col. Dillon were particularly qualified
hv reason of technical knowledge.
But even before the appointment was
made. it was urged upon President
Coolidge to name IA business man and
preferab bly, one from inland. AS now
constituted. the Federal Radio Com
mission consists of Admiral William
II. G., Bullard. retired naval officer, an
electrical engineer and former chief OF
naval communications; o. III. CaidWell
of New York, an electrical engineer
ard former radio magazine edltor:
,I,dce z. 0. Sykes of Mississippi.
lawyer; Sam Pickard of Kansas,
former manager of Kansas State Agri-
hrn
and former chief of the radio service
of the United States Department of
Agriculture and Mr. Lafount.
Selections from Beethoven. includ-
ing the first movement of the Con
certo in d Major will be played by
the celebrated violinist. Arcade Birk-
enholZ. in the period devoted to Great
Composers. which WRC will broad
cast tonight in conjunction with other
stations of the National Broadcasting
Co.
The Hoover Sentinels, another out
standing WRC attraction. have plan
ned a trip to a mythical location
which they describe as Leisure
Land" The musical program will be
furnished by the orchestra, male quar-
tet and the "HoneymoOners" of the
Sentinels. The Cliquot Club EskimOs,
who will be heard at 9 o'clock. also
have arranged distinct novelty which
will take the form of an Eskimo BAN
Guet in an ice palace. Contrary to
usual banquet proceedings, the
speeches at this banquet will be mus
ica!.
Music predominates on the program
tonight of WMAL. In addition to the
weekly concerts of Dorsch's Dough
Bows and the Town Club Hawaiians,
there will be a program of Scotch
songs by Duncan c. Thompson, and
recital by Eveline Monico Papas, con-
cert pianist. News flashes and talk
on a scientific subject prepared by
Science Service are the other attrac-
tons.
wRHF will devote it's dinner con-
cert period this evening to the out
standing hits Of popular musical COM
edies. Selections from Rose Marie"
mo. No, Nanette." Robin Hood"
"Sunny" and THE Mikado' will. be
featured.
In the morning at 10 o'clock, the
station will broadcast it's usual wom-
ans hour program, which includes
household hints for the busy house
wife and Victor selections.
The wave lengths last night gave up
their signals willingly and with excel
lent volume, but the path of the dis
tant station searcher was strewn with
some very annoying obstacles in the
form of static. fading and heterodyn-
i~g on the lower channels. The static
Interference was mild. however, and
1t came only periodically.
Best reception was obtained from
the Middle West. The signals of the
Southern and Northern broadcasters
were strong in most instances, but
they were frequently accompanied by