Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-13
HENDERSON READY
FOR RADIO FIGHT
Early Action Against KWKH
Is Expected 0bscenity
May Be Charged.
BY MARTIN CoDEL.

Tremendous political interest, obVt-
ously rejecting the popular interest of
hosts of radio listeners throughout the
country, has been aroused by the feud
that has developed between Senator
Dill Of Washington and K. w. Hender-
son, owner and operator of station
KWKH, Shreveport, La. Senator Dill
has charged Mr.. Henderson with broad
casting obscene, profane and indecent
language"
No radio topic has ever evoked as
great an amount Of national concern,
for the station is one of the most widely
heard in the United States, and comes
clearly on good receiving sets in certain
parts of this city.
There is no doubt that the attack by
Senator Dill has stimulated the Federal
Radio Commission, charged by Senator
Dill with lack Of courage" in delaying
action against the station, to serious
consideration of the course of action to
be taken.
Legal Action Is Predicted.
The upshot of the senatorial charges,
1t can be stated with authority, will be
legal action against KWKH, but not on
the score of the owners fight against
chain stores. The charge will be that
the language heard from the station
and other of the owners acts violate
Federal regulations. Judging from the
fighting attitude of Mr.. Henderson, 1t
Is certain that this action, initiated
either by the Federal Radio Commission
or the Department Of Justice, or both,
will be carried to the courts.
In fact Mr.. Henderson has announced
that he is prepared to fight Denying
the charges of Senator Dill, he has
stated that he proposes to resist all
efforts to dislodge his station from its
cleared wave length. He is ready, he
has said, to erect super power broad
casting station in Mexico in the event
the Government rules against him.
The expected action will be the cita-
ton by the commission of Mr.. Hender-
son for a public hearing before the next
three-month licensing period begins. on
February /. At the hearing the COM
mission will inquire into the public
interest, convenience or necessity" of
the station.
Extensive stenographic reports of the
remarks made through its microphones
will form the bulk of the testimony,
while Mr.. Henderson will undoubtedly
year, with thousands of affdavitS at
testing the merits of his station.
Another course of action which Sena-
tor Dill is seeking is criminal prosecu-
ton through the Department of Justice
and the Federal district attorney of
Louisiana. Senator Dill disclaimS any
interest in the merits or dement's of
Mr.. Henderson's chain store fight. and
says he is not perturbed over the per-
taken the form OF puns upon his name
and criticism of his personal record,
and to which he has listened on the
readio here in Washington.
Obscenity Is Charged.
.fa,,I 10 c1anr T., - haa~
3ngs last week, is that the station, which
Is engaged in the direct selling Of coffee
and other products, is not operating In
the public interest and not entitled to
the use of one Of the few cleared chan
nels. Moreover, Senator Dill maintains
that the stations owner is violating
that section Of the radio statute, of
which the Senator is co-author, pro-
viding that mo person within the juris-
diction Of the United States shall utter
any obscene, indecent or profane Ian
guage by means Of radio communica-
ton"
The liadio Commission has authority,
meyer before tested, to revoke or refuse
to renew a station license under the
general public interest clause of the
radio law. Another section of the act
provides that violating the terms Of the
act or any regulations passed under 1t
fine of $500 for each offense.
The commission is prepared to charge
KWKH with failure to announce the
playing Of monograph records as such,
as required under one Of its official or
ders. Senator Dill himself listened to
Mr.. Henderson'S statement the other
night that he will no longer announce
recorded programs, and the Senator
says he regards this as a cause for
ArtiOT1 IN ffSNlf
Politics entered into the situation in
no small measure. There Is NO doubt,
as evidenced by Chairman Robinson's
testimony before the Senate commit
tee. that political considerations have
precluded acton hitherto. Judge Rob-
4nson said that certain Southern men,
bers OF the Senate appeared on behalf
Of KWKH when KVOO, Tulsa, Okla,
which, incidentally, Is owned by the
Republican national committeeman
from Oklahoma, Mr.. Sicily, fought un-
successfully for the KWKH cleared
channel last year.
Mr.. Henderson in his broadcast clear
ly shows an attitude Of defiance and
belligerence. He has been charging on
the air that number Of popular sta
tons have purposely interfered on his
wave length.
Members Of the Federal Radio Com
mission refuse to commit themselves
publicly regarding their attitude toward
KWKH.' This is probably because their
terms expire next month, and they want
their tenures more secure before enter
ing into the fight. There is an evident
determination, however, to proceed with
the case, and Commissioner H. A. La
fount Is outspoken in his belief that
the commission can and should take
action.
A picturesque situation, to say the
Least, Is promised here in Washington
when K. H. Henderson of Hello, World,
Doggone You" fame, appears at the
hearings which will soon be held before
the commission and probably before the
courts.
tCopyright, 1890. by North American News