Evening star., 1932-11-20
XER Is Case in Point.


The most striking case in point is
XER, the station built opposite Del Rio,
Tex, by DR.. John r. Brinkley, the de-
posed Kansas medico- -broadcaster, whose
radio station license was revoked by the
Federal Radio Commission several years
ago and who thereupon not only went
to Mexico but twice ran for the govern
orship of Kansas. In last weeks elec-
tion he was decisively beaten.
It was the apparent political power
that Brinkley welded that caused the
State Department to hesitate to ask the
Mexican government to stop his broad
casting activities. Shorn of any SEM
blances of political power now, the rep
resentationS cautiously made to Mexico
on the score of Brinkley and other pro-
spective Americans seeking to broadcast
from Mexico may now be pressed vigor-
ously The latest Brinkley move is
plan to raise the power of his Mexican
station to 100000 watts. which would
make it within tuning range OF most OF
the radios in use in North America.
More than that, it threatens serious in
reference with perhaps dozen Amer
ican and Canadian stations on waves
adjacent to those XER may use.
Senator Dill of Washington, leader in
radio legislation in the Upper House, has
asset LIldG lllC A1ChiIdAL
problem must be met, as has Repre-
sentative Ewin L. Davis, chairman of
the House Committee in charge of radio.
Both think Mexico should be asked to
refuse haven to American broadcasters
who are persona non grata in radio
way in their own government. II
Mexico wants more channels, in Sena-
tor Dill's opinion, these can be procured
either in the long wave band or by
doubling up some of the clear chan
! nels now used on the East and West
Coasts in this country.
Supporter of Roosevelt.
Senator Dill will undoubtedly have
more influence over future radio leglsla-
ton than any other man in the Demo-
cratic Congress. He was an early sup
porter of Governor Roosevelt. He knows
radio thoroughly. He is third in line
| for the Craftsmanship Senate Committee
in charge of radio and may possibly get
| that post. President-elect Roosevelt will
undoubtedly confer with him on radio
matters.
Mr.. Davis was defeated in the pri-
maries for reelection, but he Is promi-
| nently mentioned for a radio commits
sionership after his term in Congress eX-
| pires March 4. 1t happens that the
4 UtllH VI SOIIlllLoo4OllCt ".
pires February 23 If Sykes IS not re-
appointed, Davis is a likely choice for
| the third zone commissionership. His
political position cannot be said to be
| weakened by the fact that his brother,
Norman H. Davis, prominent member Of
the Geneva disarmament delegation, IS
highly placed Democrat who is being
mentioned for Secretary of State under
Roosevelt and may at least get an un-
dersecretaryship.
President Hoover's waning term will
have two Radio Commission vacancies
open for appointments. Besides the ex-
piring Sykes term, he still has to name
successor to Maj. Gen. Charles NICK.
Saltzman, representing the Middle
Western Zone, who resigned last July
and whose post has remained vacant
since then-either because Hoover did
not want to offend the many Repub-
| lican politicians seeking the place for
protegeS or because the President has in
mind recommending to Congress that it
cut the commission to three members.
Reduction Is Unlikely.
If the commission is not reduced
and it now seems unlikely in view Of
the patronage that Roosevelt must give
out-a Republican choice by Hoover
| IlOlu IilC AOilC oCCALi W
| stand little chance of confirmation by a
Democratic Senate. The reason is
simply that the administration in power
is entitled to commission majority.
AS now constituted the commission has
two Republicans and two Democrats. 1t
is assumed that the third zone appoint
ment, whether Sykes or Davis or some
! one else is named, will go to Demo-
crat because that is the zone of South
ern States.
The Radio Commission heaved sigh
of relief when election returns reported
the defeat of Rev. Robert P. Shuler by
William Gibbs McAdoo for the Sena-
torship from California. Shuler'S radio
license was revoked by the commission
last year on the grounds that he abused
the broadcasting privilege by attacking
persons in public and private life over
his Los Angeles station. He was obvi-
ously aiming for reprisals among the
commissioners.
No less satisfying to the commission
was the defeat of Brinkley for the gov
norship of Kansas, but some regrets
were expressed that Henry Field, him.
self radio station operator in Iowa,
was defeated for the Senate in the
Roosevelt landslide which carried his
Democratic opponent to victory. There
was also some regret that the same
landslide brought about the defeat OF
DR.. Frank w. Elliott, former manager
Of WHO-WOC, Des Moines-Devenport
who sought a seat in Congress as a
Republican from Davenport.