Evening star., 1936-05-24

y, nave been completed. because tnes
nominee is unknown, the Republican
conclave will not be controllable to the
same extent as the Democratic in so
far as radio time is concerned. Thus,
while every effort will be made to have
important events broadcast during
"free time" there is no definite assur-
ance that such will be the case.
Arrangements have just been COM
pleted by the Democratic Committee
with representatives of the four net
works to broadcast its political ex-
travaganZa from Philadelphia June
1920. The schedule of broadcastS has
been drafted to interfere as little as
possible with the normal program
offerings of the chains. All important
speeches and activities will be segre-
gated during two periods of the day
and night.
The bulk of the afternoon activities,
under the prearranged plan, will oc-
cur between the hours of and S. And
at night, efforts will be made to con-
centrate the heavy business after 10
o'clock, when regular sponsored pro-
gram schedules will be out of the way,
for the most part. The idea of this
is twofold: First, the networks prefer
it that way, and secondly. the Demo-
cratic moguls feel the listeners will
have more kindly attitude if their
favorite programs are not interfered
with.
THESE details, plus many others,
were worked out by representatives
of the committee and the networks at
a session in Washington last week
Sitting for the committee were Charles
Nicholson, veteran public relations
chief of the New Deal; William B.
Dolph, radio director, who normally
functions as manager of Station VOL,
and Oliver A. Quayle, assistant to W..
Forbes Morgan, chairman of the Ar
rangements Committee.
The networks which will carry the
Democratic convention proceedings are
N. B. c., Columbia, Mutual Broadcast
ing System and Intercity Group, the
latter embracing some eight stations
along the Eastern Seaboard. In ad-
dition, Station WILL, in Philadelphia,
will have its own private booth for a
running commentary of the event.
All of the networks, of course, will
have their ace commentators, an
nouncers and engineers at both con-
ventions. They maintain the cover
age will be more comprehensive than
ever before. The radio commentators
will have their own radio gallery"
totally distinct from the press gallery.
at the Philadelphia convention, to ac-
commodate two dozen men of the mike.
This arrangement is exclusive of the
booth facilities supplied each network
on the platform.
ID Ado will signalize the opening of
-~ the political conclave on June
% without the frill and fanfare that
usually accompanies such an event.
Postmaster General Farley, chairman
of the committee, will be heard at
this opening session. Then that eve
ming at 10 pm. the keynote speech
will be delivered by Senator Robinson
of Arkansas, majority leader Of the
Senate.
The high-spot occurs Thursday,
June IS, when the presidential nom
mating speech is delivered, again at
10 pm, and at the same hour the
following evening Vice President Gar
ner will be heard. The climax oc-
ours Saturday at 10 pm, when Pres
ident Roosevelt will deliver his accept
ance speech from Franklin Field, Phil
adelphia.
Handlers of the convention and the
networks were fearful about the
music copyright situation in connec-
'tion with the convention. The net
works do not hold licenses to perform
the music of Warner Bros. publishing
houses, and they dreaded infringement
suits, lest some of the floor delegation
bands strike up tunes on the re-
stricted list which would throw the
networks and their affiliated stations
open to infringement suits.
EOREWARNED on this, radio off,
cials Of the Democratic committee
had decided to demand that all bands
submit complete lists of numbers they
would perform in advance. The un-
= derstanding was that if any band
started tune not on the eligible list,
the radio pick-ups would Immediately
be cut of, to prevent possible per-
formance over the air. A music
copyright Checker" was to be on the
convention floor as added protection.
All this, however, it now develops,
becomes unnecessary because the War