Evening star., 1932-08-28
PRESS RATED FIRST
FOR CAMPAIGN USE
Party Leaders Heed Protest
at Partially Shown to
Radio Chains.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, August 81
Recognition of the press by leaders OF
both major political parties as the FORE
most agency for distribution Of cam
paign news was announced tonight by
James G. Stahlman, president of the
Southern Newspaper Publishers Asso-
citation.
Mr.. Stahlman, publisher of the Nash
vile Banner, had protested that the
radio, largely by reason of its novelty
and the extravagant claims OF vast
nightly audiences, which are extremely
doubtful, reaps to financial reward and
gets the most breaks on the respective
releases"
AS g. result. he explained, the news
papers do not feel called upon to bear
a great part of the expense of publiciz-
ing the campaign" Mr.. Stahlman said
the replies gave indications OF diSpo-
sition on the part of national Demo-
cratic and Republican leaders to accord
the press fair treatment in the matter
of news and speeches released during
the coming campaign"
Leaders Send Replies.
The position of the party leaders was
developed in response to letters ao-
dressed by Mr.. Stahlman to Chairman
James A. Farley and Chairman Everett
Sanders of the Democratic and Repup-
lican National Committees, protesting
discrimination against the news
papers in favor of the radio on the part
of either political party such as was in
evidence. he said, at both national con-
yentions in Chicago.
Mr. Stahlman emphasized that he
uas not an opponent of the radio chains,
but that he was "a militant champion
of the rights of the American press"
AS such, he wrote, Il cannot express
to you, and through you to your asso-
ciates in the campaign organization, In
too vigorous terms the feeling OF the
newspapers of the country.
"You must recognize. as will any man
conversant with the facts, that men in
public life must ultimately depend upon
the newspapers of the country Tor
reaching the greatest number of citi-
zens. as well as for such editorial sup
port as both party tickets expect to be
accorded during this and succeeding
campaigns.
Press Gets No Pay.
"Such being the case, you will readily
understand that the newspapers OF the
country do not feel called upon to bear
a great part of the expense OF pub
licizing the campaign, while the radio,
largely by reason of its novelty and the
extravagant claims of vast nightly audi
ences. which are extremely doubtful,
reaps the financial reward and gets the
most breaks on the respective releases.
There should not be any need to go INTO
a comparison as to the numbers IN the
Intangible audience claimed by the radio
as compared with the certain, authentic,
verified millions of readers Of the daily
newspapers of this country"
Agreement with Mr.. Stahlman's po-
sition was expressed by Senator Henry
J. Allen, former Governor and United
States Senator from Kansas ana ol-
rector of publicity for the Republican
National Committee, who replied for
Chairman Sanders.
Mr.. Stahlman said Senator Allen
was a member Of the press gallery at
both national conventions and VIII
messed the unusual courtesies accord
ed the radio and denied the press.
Bad at Both Sessions.
"It was a little worse at the Demo-
cratic convention than 1t was at the
Republican convention, but 1t was bad
enough at each meeting" wrote Sen
ator Allen.
II still hold firmly to the belief that
the most valuable publicity we have in
the campaign is that which we obtain
from the newspapers, because without
drawing any insidiouS comparison be
tween It and other forms OF publicity,
that which we get from newspapers Is
publicity plus character"
]. viii Taylor, Republican national
committeeman from Tennessee, and
others prirninent in G. o. P. councils
have taken the same position, Mr.
Stahlman said.
Chairman Farley's reply has been
DELAYED because of his recent trip to
Columbus with Gov. Roosevelt. Other
leaders in the Democratic national Or
ganization. however, Mr.. Stahlman de-
clared, have given unqualified ndorse-
ment" to his position taken in an
effort to protect the rights of the press" !"
Hull Approves Protest.
These include Senator Cordel Hull,
former chairman of the Democratic
National Committee; Senator K: y.
Mcclellan of Tennessee, Col. Urey WOOD
son, former Democratic national com
mitteeman from Kentucky, and the 1ol-
lowing national committeeman:
Herbert Fitzpatrick, West Virginia; !;
former Gov. Harry F. Byrd, Virginia; /;
Scott Ferris, Oklahoma; Judge Leon
McCord, Alabama; former Gov. Benton
McMillin, Tennessee, and Vincent
Miles, Arkansas.