Evening star., 1933-08-06

! over tne raQlO DeCOIle d po-
wv litical talk? James H. Han
ley. recent Roosevelt ap-
pointee to the Federal Radio
Commission. opines that it is when the
sermon enters into the controversial
realm of public affairs. Specifically, he
believes that sermons by clerlcS VINO
agitate against the repeal of the eight
eenth amendment very distinctly fall
within the category of political Speecnes
and should be labeled as such by radio
tnnCuncers.
A warning to holders of radio station
licenses to guard carefully against po-
ftical talks delivered under the guise
of sermons has been sounded by Com
missioner Hanley as result OF COM
platnts that various stations have been
lending their facilities to ministers who
urge the people to vote against repeal
during their usual religious PERIODS.
California Complains.
The matter came to a head when a
Californian wrote to the commission to
complain against what was called "a
rabid, almost vicious. fight in behalf OF
the eighteenth amendment and against
repeal" ing wGged b. certain MIN
listers via the radio in that State. The
writer from California pointed out that
he had no objection to the use OF the
radio for speeches in behalf OF PROM
bition, but he did object to the fact
Chat when any one uses the radio to
speak in behalf of repeal, he is re-
uuired to stamp his address as pol1ti-
Bal talk" while the station announcer
kBerts the neutrality of the station.
The political stamp, the writer urged,
Should be labeled on talks given by
either the vets or dryS SO that the
tirys cannot use the subterfuge of SER
monizing Commissioner Hanley is in
clined to agree, though the subject Is
not specifically covered in the radio law.
1T would seem" said Mr.. Hanley,
"that in the interest of harmony and
good will the licenses of stations should
treat alike representatives OF both SldeS
OF controversial questions. For station
owners to stamp an address IN favor OF
repeal as a political talk and to allow
sermons opposing repeal to be delivered
without such designation is. of course,
q rank discrimination and should not
be countcnanced.
THE opinion of the vets is Of no
more value. perhaps. than the opinion
Of the dryS but they should argue over
the air under the same rules. No
speaker should be allowed to argue a
controversial subject deftly and subtly
while discussing another topic. In
such cases. in my judgment the llcensee
would be justified il cutting the speak
er off tEe air
Law Not Effective.
Under the radio law candidates for
political office and their spokeSmen
must BE- accorded equal opportunity to
Use the microphone under the same
hi a1o hn-
must pay the same price for time and
each must have as good an hour on the
air as the other The law does not
cover referenda, though efforts have
been made in Congress to include such
q measure.
Where the preacher really gets the
advantage Is that radio stations almost
invariably do not charge for time de-
voted to religious services and ser
mons Commissioner HanleyS warning
Is intended to put station owners on
their eUlrd against sermons il which
the p"0 libition issue is lnsinuated and
agaln9t permitting these to go on the
air as nor-political talks while requir-
litfcal.
The Radio Commission. he agreed
has no powers of censorship over what
Is said on the air, but it scrutinlzes
the program services of radio stations
carefully to determine whether sta
tions shall be relicensed in the public
interes5. On the SIDE of the anti
repeshsts. it is pointed out that the
repeal IS have often been heard on the
air over stations and networks and
that Father Coughlin. in his Sunday
sermcn5 over the special hook-up which
he himself pays for, is sernlonizing as
rabidy for repeal as the others SER
monizc against it.