Evening star., 1936-01-05

undoubtedly get-plenty Of time on
the air for their Establishments to the
electorate.
The political year on the air will
really open with the Nationwide
broadcasting of President Roosevelt's
address at the jackson day dinner Of
the Democratic party in washington
Wednesday. Then, on the night of
January 25, comes former Gov. Alfred
E. Smiths speech at dinner of the
American Liberty League in Wash
ington, which will undoubtedly be
broadcast. Thereafter the lid will
be of-and politics will command
more and more radio time up to-,
through and after the party conven-
tions next Summer, or until the very
eve of the November elections.
Because the politicians are so in
f1uential, and for the sake of main
tanning the principle of free speech
on the air, the American radio has
always been peculiarly amenable to
demands for time on the air. Unlike
the situation in most foreign coun-
tries, where the party in power usu-
ally controls the radio, or where, as
in England, only a fixed but small
amount of prediction radio time is
allotted the candidates or their
spokesmen, the American radio is
open to practically all comers during
a campaign year. The networks de-
mand only that the speakers be bona
fde spokesmen for their parties.
I JsUALLY the speakers are quite
willing to accept radio schedules
that do not interfere with regular pro-
grams. not only for the convenience
of the radio people, but in order to
cause the least offense to listeners
who might otherwise be deprived of
hearing their favorites. Time is given
free of cost until the Summer con-
ventions, which this year, as in 1882
and 1928, will be broadcast nationally
throughout practically the full day of
both the Democratic and Republican
sessions. After the conventions pol
itics goes on "pay-for-your time"
basis. not only on the networks, but
on all stations locally, which charge
the politicians regular commercial
rates Casually payable in advanceD
and which by law are enjoined only to
give each candidate or his spokesman
an opportunity to use radio facilities
equal to that accorded rival candi-
dates or spokesmen.
How much time the major parties
will buy from networks and stations
during the campaign proper will de-
pend upon how much they are willing
or able to spend The Republicans
have reported themselves entirely free
Of debt and with money in the bank
The Democratic National Committee
still has a deficit, which includes a
debit item of $185,000 owing the
radio network out of the S500,000
worth Of time they bought in the 1882
campaign.
HAVING declared their willingness
to buy time. the politicians usu-
ally expect all wires to be cleared as,
If and when they want to speak. And
1t is usually done, even though regu-
lar schedules may have to be dis
rupted, particularly when the presi-
dental candidates themselves are to
be the speakers. Even President
Roosevelt. as the undoubted Demo-
cratic candidate. and the Republican
presidential nominee, whoever he may
be, must have their time on the air
paid for during the campaign months.
The fact that the President of the
United States can speak whenever he
pleases over the radio under ordinary
circumstances, securing the facilities
without cost to himself or his party,
does not count during the campaign
and neither Presidents Hoover nor
Roosevelt, the biggest users Of radio,
ever asked for free radio time be-
tween nomination and election time.
President Roosevelt, in fact, has
been a relatively spare user of radio
in the last year, though when he first
assumed Office he employed it quite
regularly for his notable 'f1reSide
chats" One or both of the networks
carried only 81 of his speeches during
1885, which included one fireside chat
last April % and his bonus message to
the joint houses of Congress last May
%. Otherwise all of the speeches were
pickups of public addresses made in
the routine Of his high Office. Since
his inauguration President Roosevelt
has spoken SO times on the radio
networks, including seven fireside
chats, four of which were heard in
March, May, July and October of
1888, two in June and September of
1884 and the aforementioned one last
April.
President Roosevelt is an exceedingly
able radio speaker, and the persuasive
quality Of his voice may mean many
votes for him the Forthcoming CAM
paign. On the other hand, he also is
a good psychologist and he has excel
lent public relations advisers. It was
because he did not want to overreach