The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-23
THURSDAY. JANUARY %. 1886.
ON THE AIR
"A scRIPps.HowARD NEWSPAPERS,

before the 1886 campaign is over, control OF radio
- may dwarf many other issues.
Already the air is full of charges and counter
charges resolutions for investigation, reform
ures, and demands for government ownership.
Radio today is reaching about So million persons
many OF whom can't or don't read. AS a campaign
medium it is far more important than in any of the
four other presidential contests in which it figured
The fact that President Roosevelt it skill
fully than any other in public life aggravates
bitterness with which his opponents approach the
subject.
Republicans are charging that the Administration
exerts undue influence over broadcasters who de-
termine what shall and what shall not go the
air. A few Democrats are just angry at the Fed
eral Communications Commission because they don't
exercise more control over programs.
Republican fury at the Presidents broadcast of
his annual message to Congress, and at the refusal
Of the big chains to give sell time for the
publican propaganda skt; charges by Rep. Connery
3D. Mass that the FEC has permitted obscene mat
ter the air, and the demand of the American
Civil Liberties Union for series of freedom of the
air" bills have brought the matter to a head Con-
gess has been asked to investigate the commission;
the commission, already investigated once by the
Omen, started an investigation of its own.
The discussion is bringing out little-reazed facts
about radio
T@HERE are only 80 channels over which broad
= Il casting may be done. Because of this limitation.
the governments right to license broadcasters has
been asserted in acts of Congress- Licenses have
been issued to 629 stations, most of them restricted
+ In range.
Licenses are issued for six-month periods only
although the owners of stations have considerable
investment in them. BY insisting on this siX-month
renewal right, the FEC holds indirect power of
censorship programs Direct censorship is for
hidden by law except in the case of obScenity In
divi ual broadcasters accept reject programs at
will, with eye on the profits involved and the
other on the FEC and its power, sparngly used to
date to withhold licenses.
Republicans say it this latter consideration
that led the networks to bar their propaganda skts.
Liberty at the Crossroads" The networks say it
was decent regard for public interest. Their off,
Gals listened to the Republican drama and turned
thumbs down. William s. Paley, president of Co
lumbia, said
1--WE are convinced that dramatzations would
throw the radio campaign almost wholly to the
emotional side. Then too, we believe that the dra-
matte method by its very nature would tend to en-
phasize incidents of minor Importance and signit-
canoe, simply because of the dramatic value.
while we realize that no approach to the cleo
torae absolutely IDEAL believe American voters
have long been trained to discriminate among the
assertions of orators whereas do not believe they
could discriminate fairly among dramatzations.
that the turn of national issues might we'll depend
on the skill of warning dramatiss rather than the
merits of the issue debated"
THE Communications Commission is not, so far,
party to this quarrel Its first chance to assert
ITSELF if it wishes to do So will come Aug. l when
the license of WGN, the Chicago Tribune station,
which is putting on the Republican skits, comes up
for renewal A six-month renewal had been granted
just before WON accepted the programs.
Rep Connery's charges of insufficient censorship
will be investigated by special House committee
If his resolution is approved AT present Republicans
are supporting him, but Democratic leaders un-
willing to act.
The freedom of the air bills" sponsored in Con-
gress by Rep Scott Cd. Cal), would require each
station to set aside without charge, regular periods
each day for uncensored discussion of public social
political and economic problems and for educational
purposes They would require that two sides of every
issue be given hearing
Meanwhile members of the commission in a series
or addresses nave Deen pointing eSSeIlCIdl I'LL
ferences between newspapers and broadcasters stress
ing the need for different treatment of the two.
IF person has grievance that he thinks should
be communicated to the public he is at liberty, if he
possesses the resources publish paper anywhere
In the country" said Commissioner George Henry
Payne recently. "A similar course is absolutely i'm
possible in the Of radio broadcasting"
Pointing out the extent to which commercial con-
sideratons influence the character of radio pro-
grams Mr.. Payne contraSted historic refusas of
newspapers ito be intimidated by either power or
wealth"
The radio battles for no rights" he added
Chairman Aiming S Prall testifying recently
before the House Appropriations Committee promised
that when broadcasters improve their program
standards their licenses will be granted for longer
than six-month periods
Meanwhile more congressman are talking about
government ownership and control of broadcastng
facilities than at any time in the past.
A TOWNSEND PARTY.