Evening star., 1936-10-19
Much Ado Over the Air.

Much ado is being made about con-
tretempS on Saturday night when one
of the broadcasting chains abruptly cut
of Senator Vandenberg from the air in
the course of composite speech in
which he interpolated a phonograph
record of words spoken by President
Roosevelt four years ago during his cam
paign for election. The Senator cnose
to use this record in the very voice OF
Mr.. Roosevelt rather than to repeat his
words. Had he followed the latter course
there would have been no objection. But
it seems that the use of the record trans
gressed q rule Of the broadcasting COM
pany and the speech was first shut of,
then resumed after delay and finally cut
out entirely, with the result OF much
confusion. Now q sharp controversy Is
in progress between the Republican CAM
paign managers and the broadcasting
company, the former demanding that the
entire broadcast be repeated and the
company refusing.
It is not entirely clear why the use OF
phonograph record is Objectionable, so
long as 1t is made apparent that the
actual voice Of the person speaking Is
not being heard. The broadcasting COM
panies permit the use of records
for both entertainment and adver-
tising purposes, under the title of
"transcriptions." 1t is understood that
coupled with the use of such records
copyrights are respected. The Presidents
words are not copyrighted. The fullest
reproduction Of them is regarded as de-
sirable. There was no possibility on Sat-
urday night that any listeners would be
deceived into accepting the transcription
as the actual voice of the President i'm
mediately speaking.
Certainly q phonograph record OF
words spoken four years ago is valid
representation if the difference of time
between the original utterance and the
reproduction does not initiate against
the authenticity and current applicable
If Senator vandenberg could, with pro-
priety, himself repeat the Presidents
words of 1882, it would seem that he
could with equal propriety use record
to repeat them.
The real trouble seems to be that Sen
ator Vandenberg sprang a surprise on
the broadcasting company, and the COM
pany's officials had bad case Of jitters.
Would the use of record cause the
wrath Of the Federal Communications
Commission to descend upon them? No
body seemed to know at the moment
just what the law was, just what the
rules permitted, Just what would be the
consequence of this innovation in po-
litical broadcasting. So the speech was
shut of, then turned on for time after
a period of frenzied consultation, and
finally turned off altogether. It was all
very confusing.
Now the broadcasting company has
refused to permit the repetition of the
program as originally planned. It has
offered to cancel the charge for the time
used by the Senator. Meanwhile, there
is no reason whatever why Senator Van
denberg should not now repeat his
speech, himself rendering the Roosevelt
ian words of 1882, with an explanation
that he is giving in his own person that
uhich he 1Inderfnok m oive in tho percoy,
of the presidential candidate of four
years ago. The publicity given to the
incident will have whetted public in
terest. Meanwhile, clearer definition
of their own voices over the air is GER
tainly desirable.