Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-03
WHEN STATESMEN FACE THE mike"
Vast Unseen Audience AWeS
Some, but Most Are Good
Radio Speakers.
All Welcome Chance to Ex.
plain Issues to People
of Nation.

Radio is destined to become the great
est single factor in the perpetuation and
preservation of the Nation, according to
many of the highest placed statesmen
in the American Government. No
longer viii people Of the United States
be permitted to remain in darkness as
to the great public questions as they
arise, for the President, members of his
cabinet, Senators and Representatives
have but to turn to the microphone to
reach the people over great national
broadcasting chains.
With a knowledge Of given problems,
the people are in position to. better
Judge the relative merits Of given issues.
Once these problems are understood,
the peoples viewpoint makes itself
manifest not only In Congress but in the
executive branches OF the Government.
During the last year more men high
IN public life in Washington have
turned to the microphone than ever in
the history Of radio. Sixty members Of
the cabinet, the Senate and the House
Of Representatives have spoken In the
National Radio Forum arranged by The
Washington Star and sponsored by the
Columbia Broadcasttng System. Every
phase of governmental activity has been
broadcast throughout the Nation. The
public response has been instantaneous
and general from coast to coast.
One Of the interesting things encoun-
tered is the reaction Of great statesmen,
as they carry their thoughts to the
people over the air. Great men who
never tremble as they stand before
gigantic audiences, men who never are
at loss for a word in the halls Of Con-
greSs, oftentimes are different and hesi-
tant when approaching the mike"
Borah Dislikes Microphone.
Senator Broah, although he initiated
the National Radio Forum programs Is
known to dislike the microphone. Not
that he does not realize the importance
Of radio and is DESTROYS of reaching the
people, but, to him, there is no inspira-
ton. His dislike In speaking to q mere
piece Of metal Is evidenced during the
course Of his addresses, but. as all radio
audiences can testify, he Is an excellent
radio speaker. He has q way Of lifting
his audiences from the level of the mum
dane onto the plane Of the tnspirstional.
Strange as It may seem, Senator Borah,
however, does not dread the microphone
as long as 3 great audience is before
him. He then feels the personal touch;
gathers all those strange inspirations
that come from the audience to any
orator.
Secretary Mellon is as difident before
the microphone as In public, but once
he has initiated his speech he really
speaks better over the radio than before
personal audiences Of whatever size.
One Of those feeling most at home be-
fore the microphone, and who really
enjoys the experience, Is Secretary
James j. Davis Of the Department Of
Labor. He pulls the microphone over
to him as though he means business
and, as millions of people can testify,
speaks as If his heart In in the job. On
one occasion he sang. It was the first
time In history that cabinet officer
ever burst into song over the radio. The
response was immediate from coast to
coast, for when Secretary Davis sings he
really sings. His high, clear tenor Is
vibrant. His Welsh folk songs as rem