Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-05
CLANCY DEPLORES
RADIO HAND|CAPS
"Anti-LiberaIs" in Congress
Retard Progress, Broad
casters Are Told.
a BY MARTIN CODEL.

WEST BADEN, Ind, November S
(N.A.N.A) .-Sectionalism and funda-
mentalism are included by Representa-
tive Robert H. Clancy of Detroit, MEM
Der of the House committee in charge
Of radio legislation, among the political
eross-currents affecting the Federal con-
troll of radio.
The same elements that brought on
prohibition and anti-cigarette legisla-
ton are now fighting Tor sunday oiue
laws and retardtng the growth OF radio,
Representative Clancy told members OF
the National Association of Broadcast
ers at their meeting here yesterday.
These elements we're described as ex-
tremely dangerous because they are IN
capable of understanding" the radio art
and science. The Michigan Represent
ative urged the broadcasters to rally
to the cause of liberalism" to protect
the free development of their industry.
Describes Handicaps.
One of the handicaps the anti-lib-
erals have already imposed upon broad
casting is the equalization amendment
which was added to the radio law last
year. Representative Clancy said. An
other is the uncertain tenure given to
Mr.. Clancy said. should and probably
will be extended, with perhaps some
changes in membership"
Still another danger looms in the
threat of governmental censorship Of
radio programs, which the Representa-
tive said certain "reactionarieS" would
like to institute.
Mr.. Clancy was particularly vehement
in his opposition to the equalization
wiieh he declared WAS the
direct outcome of the suspicion and
hostility toward the cities that exists
among rural folk. The urban members
of Congress who voted for it, he said,
are now sorry they did so, because of
the havoc it has wrought in their
sections.
Rural Members Dubious.
Some of the rural members of Con-
gress are extremely dubious about Its
ACCESSIBILITY, because they realize that
the best in radio programs is only avail
able from the metropolitan centers.
Meanwhile members or the Federal
Radio Commission admit that nathe-
NAUTICAL equalization of so Intangible a
thing as radio is unavoidable, but use
the amendment as an excuse for many
of their decisions.
The equalization provision is known
as the Davis amendment, so named for
its author-Representative Even Davis
of Tullahoma, Tenn. It requires an
equal division of wave lengths, power
and hours of operation among the five
zones and an ALLEGATION of radio facili-
ties to the States in those zones in pro-
portion to respective populations.
Led to Realization.
The Davis amendment led to the re-
ALLEGATION and broadcasting shake-up
Of fI1ic hrnod-
casters now here are still smarting un-
der the alleged injustice" 1t dealt
them.
For example. stations WHO, Des
Moines, and VOC, Davenport, two ma
jor Iowa stations, must divide hours OF
operation. Station WBAL, Baltimore,
another important broadcaSter, has half
time only, In these cases and others
the reduction in operating hours was
caused by the quota system" fixed for
their States
That fight is Brewing against the
Davis amendment in ( Congress was
clearly indicated by Representative
Clancy, who was one of the leaders in
the fight against it last year-a fight
lost, he said, by the narrow margin OF
II votes because rural Representatives
of the South and West aligned them
selves lin a fight Of sectional prejudice
and misunderstanding against the
Representatives of the North and East.
Repeal of the amendment will be
sought on the grounds that the differ
enceS in the Federal Radio Commission
reveal that it cannot be worked out and
is not being followed either in political
theory or physical practice.
Congress Friends Needed.
Legislation and radio activities in
Washington being among the major
considerations before the broadcasters'
association, Mr.. Clancy said he is aware
radio needs friends in Congress, just
as the automobile industry did in the
earlier days and aviation does today.
He told the broadcasters that the
Federal Government has not fulfilled its
promise of life. liberty and the pursuit
of happiness" TO the broadcasters be-
cause it has kept their industry I'M
stable and insecure in granting them
only 90-day licenses.
Favoring commission control over ra-
did, Mr. Clancy believes the only alter
native is a GEAR" in a Government de-
partment.
THE Federal Radio Commission" he
said, can be made good commission,
because fortunately we have In the
White House an able man who knows
this art and science from experience
If the Federal Radio Commission has
one or two incompetent men on 1t, you
know you can get good ones to replace
them"
(copyrisht. 1929, by North American News
paper Alliance)