davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21

and anywhere. Is this dream to come
| true?"
I'VE are often asked that question, "
he answered. This idea presumably
calls for a simple radio-telepfone
equipment for individual use. The gen
eral public, however, does not under
stand that it is the number of avail
able channels which is the limiting fac
tor. and not equipment. Even in 1850.
with marked progress in creating more
channels. 1t is quite unlikely that in
dividual telephone service will be
realized. There must always be a limited
number of radio communication chan
nels, and these will always have to be
applied to the best interests of the pub
lie at large.
But, on the other hand, radio
telephony as a public or toll service is
certain to thrive during the next two
decades. The international telephone
service is being steadily expanded. Elk
periments with short-wave radio-tele-
phone links may point the way to a
vast increase in the number of chan
nels available, in which event the serv-
ice must ultimately extend to all parts
of the world"
"WHAr are the chances for out get
ting into communication with
other planets?" I inquired.
Gen. Hartford smiled. ATTEMPTS,
both serious and otherwise, have been
made to establish communication with
other planets, yet the technical and
general problems are so involved, while
the rewards are SO uncertain, that fu-
ture communication activities
seem certain to be confined to the
25,000-mile circumference of Mother
Earth"
What does radio offer as a vocation
to young men and women today?"
radio is firmly established as an art
and science in its own name, and is a
most attractive field of endeavor for
young men and women" answered the
president of the Radio Corporation Of
America.
However. it should be realized that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21

ments. With the co-ordinated research
and engineering facilities at our dis
posal, 1t would appear to be question
OF time only when the multitudinous
problems of television must be solved
and We may enjoy seeing as we'll as
hearing the events Of the world at our
home firesides.
will we enjoy home talking movies
as well as television?" was my next
question.
yes" Gen. Harbord answered.
Home talking movies will be enc of
the outstanding developments of the
next two decades. BY home talking mo-
vieS mean perfectly synchronized pic
lures and sounds: Today. the talking
picture is being developed for theater
In which equipment and costs are of
secondary Importance to the realistic
results obtained.
For the home application, however,
the questions of equipment and cost be-
come paramount. Many intricate tech
nical problems must be solved in pro-
viding the simple and inexpensive out
fit that can take its place alongside
the broadcast receiver and the per-
fected photograph. Ingenuity of high
order Is already at work on the problem
OF home talking movies" 90
X X
"WHEN all this becomes true. won't
" the public lose its interest in
the actual event?"
There are apprehensions, at this
early date, in regard to this aspect"
continued Gen. Hartford. There are
some who fear our future prize rings,
base ball diamonds and foot ball grid
irons may be deserted except for a bat
terry Of television canfUaSl
Perhaps we can find the answer to
such fears In present broadcasting and
motion pictures. Present broadcasting
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21

radio Is highly specialized field and
demands carefully trained workers. 1t
calls for radio engineers, trained In
radio technique. II calls for business
men, fully conversant with the pecu-
liar problems Of radio. Radio broad
casting. with its Unsuitable appetite for
microphone talent, offers exceptional
opportunities to gifted persons to be-
came national figures almost overnight.
The very romance of radio must always
attract an overabundant supply Of
willing workers. Yet only those with the
can hope to find q place in the future
march of radio, for the pioneering days
are over and the race will henceforth
be to the swift"
rs there any likelihood Of reaching
a saturation point with radio?" was my
next question.
"Broadcasting has every promise Of
continuing on an ever more lavish scale
in entertaining the American family
on the one hand and providing q re-
markable publicity and goodwill me-
dunn for progressive industries.
International exchange Of broadcast
programs seems assured within the
next two decades. despite the many
obstacles In spanning several JhouSand
miles Of ocean with fair degree Of
regularity.
"The present high attachments In
radio broadcasting seemingly leave little
to be desired. The magnificent pro-
grams and remarkable reproduction by
the latest achievements In broadcast
reception already have reached such
heights that further progress seems
impossible. Yet 1t must be noted that
only q very small proportion Of the
public actually enjoy the latest bsne-
Ats of bycadcasting. In many bones
today the programs Of 1929 are being
received through the tin-horn loud
speakers Of 1924. Hence. 1t must re-
quiYe a decade or two for the public
at large TO progress toward better radio
equipment so as to make broadcasting
achievements available to al"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21

with President Arthur. For the Presi-
dent never dimes out.
But there have been numerous exam
pies where the daughter of q man of
high official rank has been his Official
hostess" The most recent examples
were Miss Ailsa Mellon and Mile. Gret-
ziano, daughter Of the Minister of Ru-
mania. While both of these young ladies
sat at the head Of their fathers table
and performed the usual function Of
the "oficial hostess" in receiving for
the wives Of officials next In rank be-
low their fathers.
THE excitement over the official
= precedence" of the sister Of Vice
President Curtis actually began in Wash
ington over two years ago in the inner
circles Of the Senate Ladies Lunch
Club, which consists OF the wives Of
Senators.
Considerable discussion was aroused
as to whether any other relative (that
Is, If you call a wife relative) Of q
mership. It was decided that only sena-
tcrial wives were eligible and that other
, near female relatives should be mem
bers," but not "active members"
At the election this Winter Mrs.
George Moses, wife Of the President Pro
Tenn Of the Senate, was elected presi-
dent.
So you see that even though we have
thoroughly established the rank Of the
Vice President himself and of his wife,
there is some debatable ground still left
for the protocol and the otficials and
dealers with the Solemnities of Wash
ingtons social usage to attend to.
There Is one saying-if 1t does not
amount to a rllle-which every new
conner to the National Capital must get
by heart before she has bought her first
pair of gloves to make her first round
of calls. 1t is this:
"Never invite an ambassador or min
lister and justices Of the Supreme Court
together"
In general the theory Of courtesy to
the foreigner" usually gives them what
might be called the best fighting chance
to get something to eat. But some one
usually goes away sore.
Mr.. Justice Taft, having kindly con-
sented to be q President before he was
Chief Justice, has been given by
usage a rank Of his own and can be
ct is said seated at dinner at the
hostess right even II there be an am.
bassador present.
Not Winter passes but that some
lady thinks she can invite an associate
justice and some leading member Of the
diplomatic corps at the same time.
Such q case has occurred since the In.
auguratiou and the justice in question
made no secret Of his annoyance.
ut Is not myself" he said, but the
whole court is insulted!"
Any one Is entirely mistaken who
thinks that 1t Is the wives Of the ON
Gals concerned In Washington's con-
slant controversy on social rulings who
are counting the number of chairs to
the right and left Of the host and
hostess. He Is as mistaken as those
who think this whole subject IS o Joke.
.0N one occasion when Roosevelt was
~ giving dinner to the Supreme
Court the Chief Justice was taken III
and asked TO be excused. That made
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21

From that time to this there has been
an intermittant attempt to get at some
sort of orderly arrangement-to estab-
lish, in short, system Of what is called
precedence" with an accent on the
next to the last syllable.
The people first historically concerned
are the foreign diplomats, Imagine for
moment that there were no fixed rules.
The President gives dinner to the
corps. How shall he choose who shall
sit in the seats of honor? Obviously
great political significance can readily
be given to the choices he might make.
There existed additionally in all Eu-
ropean courts what is called o "proto-
COL" which determined every detail for
court usage. Monarchies passed and
republics came in. but protocol" re-
manned.
Under protocol q ruler is always
first in his own country. After the ruler
comes the heir apparent. After the
heir apparent come the royal family.
An ambassador is In theory the per-
sonal representative of the ruler of his
own country. A minister Is the repre-
sentative merely Of the people Of the
country.
Monarchies gone, peoples remaining,
, still, under protocol" ambassadors OF
cupy their old distinguished position.
Now, cross the Atlantic to the United
States. What had been lucid, logical,
workable. gets tangled between tradition
and practice.
In the first place, we never had even
a division of protocol" at all until
something over year ago. Every ques-
ton Of this sort had to be solved per-
sonally by the President, leaving to him
all the chances, political and interna-
tional, involved.
We have not now q whole division of
protocol, but division of international
conference and protocol. All sorts Of
details concerning every international
conference in which this country shares
are handled by this division.
Incidentally 1t gives some Of It's atten-
ton purely as courtesy. to those who
ask its advice in the arrangement for
official entertaining.
But it is q mistake to believe the
large staff In this division spends its
entire time answering telephone calls
about the niceties Of official entertain
ing In Washington. That is only mo-
mentary part Of the work. The theory
of their very existence is that they are
to be helpful particularly to the foreign
corps, just as similar groups in the for
eign offices of other corps are helpful to
our representatives abroad.
So, as has happened more than once,
when dinner Is kept waiting an
hour because q guest has fallen out.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21
"Stand By" for This:

l. Televson will supplement sound broadcasing-soon
will see as we'll as hear radio entertainment.
@ Home talking movies will be outstanding develop
ment Of the next two decades
vast expansion in radio circuits and traffic volume
impends-short waves will provide many more channels
With increased communication may expect radio
gram service to all parts Of the world.
s. Photographs drawings fngerprints and commercial
documents will be flashed across and continents
Londoners will read New York newspapers day
whole being flashed around the world present.
day dots nd-dash telegraphy may be doomed.
Radio telephony public toll service is certain to
thrive during the next 20 years.
international exchange Of broadcast programs the
near future seems assured
Radio, art science attractive field
or endeavor for young men and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21
Capital Always Worried by Inadequate Rules of Precedence

Mr.. Justice Harlan the ranking JUS
tice."
That leader of the common people.
Uncle Joe" Cannon, was then Speaker.
He had been invited.
Before dinner Uncle Joe" called up
the White House and asked who was
going to take Mrs. Roosevelt in to din
ner He was told Mr.. Justice Harlan.
Whereupon he said: Il am sorry, I
can't come"
The dinner was held without him.
Afterward T. r. said to Secretary Of
the Navy Moody. do you know the
representative of the plain people
wouldn't come to my dinner because
Mrs. Roosevelt was to be taken in by
Justice Harlan?"
What are you going to do about IT."
said Moody.
IT called the old gentleman on the
phone" T. r. answered, land ] said:
Uncle Joe, you wouldn't come to my
dinner. I tell you what I'm going to
do; I'm going to give you dinner OF
your own"
So that, IL is said In washington, was
the origin Of what Is still today the
Speakers dinner"
with the seating Of the three Ruths"
In Congress discussion for some time
held In allegiance has again struck fire.
Does q Congresswoman elected in her
own right receive the courtesy" rank
Of q Conzressman's wife?
So far as the State Department has
committed itself, they have equal rank.
But that idea does not please the Con-
gresSwonlan. So the ball Is being batted
back and forth between the division
of protocol and the Speakers ONCE.
Some people are mean enough to ask,
What is the official status Of the hus-
hand of Congresswoman? Can she
make him her official host?
And If We keep on with propinquitouS
inquiries. these mean people go on to
say, What is the position Of the hus-
band Of the ofiicial hostess of the half
sister Of the Vice PRESIDENT"
X y =
So you see it can all get very COM
plicated. And you can quite sympathize
with any protocol division Of State De-
partment or President who throws I'D
his hands over it.
II representative OF each Of the CO.
ordinate branches Of the Government
were to sit in with the dean Of the dip
lomatic corps, or, let US say, II some one
from the Senate, the Speaker and one
or two representatives, OF the foreign
corps were to sit In with Q delegate
from, say. the State Department and
the Supreme Court. they could settle
the whole thing In no time.
II they arrived ut any sort Of ar
rangement, officials In Washington Who
were afterwsrd pouty about their prece-
dence or injured In their pride could
not take refuge behind the excuse that
1T was an insult to their ONCE"
1t might be worked out so that peo-
pie who now never can meet at dinner
could get happily acquainted with one
another. It would certainly take q
weight on the shoulders Of Washing
tons harassed ofacial ladies.
And 1t finally would rob Of any poll
teal or personal significance the simple
Little matter Of dining IN Washington.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21

'Yet today, due to organized research
and engineering development, the future
is to a considerable degree nodded along
definite lines rather than left to chance
discovery or accidental invention. It
becomes possible to look into the future,
which is largely of our own making,
from the vantage point Of present trends
and tendencies. We may, therefore,
speak of the probable achievements of
1850 with much the same security that
the artillery officer, knowing how his
gun is pointed, can discuss the remote
and even invisible target which he Is
going to hit"
What are the things for the average
interested man who has radio in his
home to look for?" inquired.
THE main developments we may look
for during the next two decades" ex-
planned Gen. Harbord, ARE the fruits CT
intensive research and engineering de-
velopment. Progress in radio today is
based on study of definite problems
followed by their systematic solution.
Vast research laboratories in which are
modified unlimited personnel and ma
terial forces are seemingly invincible
in the solving of any and all radio
problems if given SUFFICIENT time.
Its really a matter of logical prog
ress. The experiments of today are re-
duced to the definite formulas of to-
morrow. Freak performances of today
become clearly understood and fully
mastered principles of tomorrow.
Natural obstacles are studied for their
weak points and finally mastered. Our
personnel, trained in the broad field of
radio technique, becomes divided and
subdivided into highly specialized bodies
for the intensive study Of every phase of
radio, assuring us of developments far
beyond our fondest expectations.
UWHEN we turn the dial on our
radio in 1885," I asked, ARE we
going to be able to see as well as hear
the program?"
"Television must eventually come to
supplement sound broadcasting," he re-
piled. Eventually the family circle
must see as well as hear the radio en-
tertainment. News events, sporting
events, prominent speakers and other
subjects will be flashed on the home
te1eviSion screen.
"Television, or seeing at long dis
lance, is a worthy problem for modern
research and engineering. It is q
problem filled with obstacles that stand
in the way of its immediate application
to home entertainment. The basic
principles of television are firmly
established today, and, for that matter,
have been for several decades. TeIe-
vision, as we have it In the laboratory,
is largely matter of gathering and APP
plying well known principles, followed
by amending refnementS and improve
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21
BY HYDE CLEMENT.


A NY discussion of what is called
~ society In Washington must
begin and proceed and end in a
different way from any discus
sion of what is called society"
in any other city in the country.
For Washington exists as the only
city in this land where society" is
something closely approaching a
business.
The business of politics being so
largely, a matter of numerous private
conversations, and the business Of
diplomacy being so largely matter of
numerous private conversations, 1t Is
quite natural that the politicsl capital
of the country and the only American
city which contains diplomatic corps
should be forced to take its social ife'
seriously
For those private conversations"
very frequently happen most naturally
and easily at some of the long ~ of
dinners which line the WintAr OF
Official Washington.
And. also quite naturally, since no
comedian is so funny as he with the
solemn face, no one so laughable as he
who takes himself too seriously, and
nothing so funny as the other fellows
slip when we have avoided the banana
peel, Washington brings smile to the
rest Of our citizenry when they observe
her solemnly tripping up on what looks
to the rest of us like particularly
small bit--namely, the matter of who
shall sit next to whom at dinner.
Tt is a matter which might have
begun by being eight and might have
continued 10 remain slight If it had
not been complicated by two things
the existence in Washington of the
diplomatic corps and the tripartite
equality Of the branches of our Gov
eminent, legislative, judicial and
executive.
Thus complicated, IL became very
early in our history q cause of public
discussion. and it has continued TO
burst suddenly into widespread COM
ment from time to time. from Je1er-
son to Hoover.
NTASHINGTON'S sense Of form laid
Nv down simple but adequate rules.
.Jeffersonis theory Of democracy could
not brook the idea that any human be-
ing should pass ahead of any other.
He introduced into the White House the
theory of what is called "pele-mele,"
His noble experiment in Anericanism
resulted in such i'll feeling on the part
of the then Ministers of France and
England that the idea was soon aban-
,Goned.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21

"The average man, Gen. Hartford, is
nightly interested in watching from
the sidelines the struggle between the
big companies for wave lengths. He is
also interested in the big. Nationwide
networks. What is going to be the fu-
ture in these subjects?" I next ques-
toned.
During the next two decades the
commercial. side will witness a vast ex-
pansion in radio circuits and traffic
volume. The steadily increasing ex-
ploitation Of short waves, particularly
the virgin field Of ultra-short waves
now being studied in the research lab
oratory. must provide many more chan
nels than are now at our disposal.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21
FORECAST BY

GEN. JAMES G. HARTFORD,
President Radio Corporation of America,
AS Told TO Haydn S. Pearson.
A STARTLED world gasped with
~ amazement when it read the
"A fabulous adventures of Aladdin
4 4 with his wonder working lamp.
The imagination of mankind
was fired when Jules Verne looked down
the murky-arehed vista of futurity and
prophesied that men would saddle the
forces of nature and drive their ships
beneath the surface OF the ocean and
their chariots along the broad Appian
trails of the skies.
But the fires kindled in the minds
of men died away and the cold, drab
ashes of reaction, calumny and vituper-
alton were heaped on those whose only
sin was a God-given gift to read the
future. For decades the clammish chill
hand Of tradition shackled mans
progress.
About half a century ago the chains
were Embossed. Science came into its
own. Epochal inventions followed one
another in rapid succession until the
course of the river of life has been COM
pletely altered. The startled astonish-
ment of the first decades has become
matter-of-fact expectancy. Truly the
humblest workingman of this new
Western Nation has luxuries and COM
forts of which the mightieSt emperorS
of Rome never dreamed. Steam trains
and boats, telephone, telegraph, cable,
the Harvesting of electricity to the
myriad needs of humanity, automobiles,
airplaneS-we accept them all without
a thought as part of our routine of
living
Thus 1t was with radio 1t has be-
come part of the very warp and wool
of our daily existence. In many re-
SpeetS radio is the most marvellous OF
all inventions. Through its daily init
mate contact with millions of people
its influence is incalculable.
WHAT of the future? What is radio
w going to be in 1850? To find the
answer to this question I went to Gen.
James G.. Harbord, president of the
Radio Corporation of America.
Can you tell what radio will be
doing in 1862" I asked him.
Gen. Hartford smiled. 1t was large
order He would be bold man or a
fool who would hazard guess regard
ing the future of any art or science"
he answered. Particularly with a
rapidly developing technique such as
radio, whose basic principles yet remain
to be fully understood and mastered. 1t
is impossible to speculate with certainty
on the attainments a few years hence
much less decade or two away.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21

brings many sporting events into the
home in the form Of gripping word
pictures. Yet the promoters Of sport
ing events apparently suffer no loss of
revenue. The crowds are greater than
ever. Motion pictures portray famous
stage folk, yet the same play can re-
turn to the legitimate stage at any time
and score huge successes. It would
seem, then. that there will always be
a novel thrill in seeing and hearing the
actual event. This special thrill cannot
be supplied by proxy, no matter how
realistic 1t may be. Hence the world of
sport Or the theater or the lecture plat
form has nothing to fear from tele-
vision"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21

while the anguished hostess tries to get
in touch with the State Department to
tell her what to do. she might as well
have asked some social secretary. For
the State Department is extremely aloof
In giving opinions or rulings. It only
offers advice. And even it does not
always know exactly what to do.
For, under the theory of democratic
government of our fathers, the State
Department, being branch of the ex-
ecutive department and, therefore, only
one of the coordinate three, does not
feel, It is said, that it has the right to
decide questions of precedence between
the two other equal branches or between
the two other and the executive.
The President of the United States
precedes All others. even to the point Of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21

A NY discussion of what is called
~ society In Washington must
n begin and proceed and end in a
different way from any discus
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21

Complications Have Been Cause of Embar-
rassment Since Early Days of Republic.
Seating at Dinner One of Chief Sources of
Official Differences-"Uncle Joe" Cannon's
Historic Insistence on Personal Rights.