Evening star., 1936-01-02
RADIO TIME EQUAL
TO ROOSEVELT'S
DEMAND Of c. D. P.
Fletcher Asks Free Access
to Same Audience Night
Talk Will Reach.
AYLESW0RTH TENDERS
FACILITIES OF N. B. C.
Incident Taken as Another Sign
Coming Presidential Campaign
Will Be Bitter.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Possessed OF good radio uoice,"
President Roosevelt has made
effective use of this medium as
means of reaching people OF Nation;
early in administration his fire
side talks" became faUorite Uehicle
for shaping public opinion.
CuStomarily, Chief ErecutlUe de-
liners message to each session OF
Congress on its opening. NeUer mas
such an address been deltpered at
night; yesterday President Roose-
pelt announced his tOould be made
tomorrow night. Radio broadcast
ING companies, reaching greatest
audiences in evening hours, made
plans to handle speech.
With election campaign soon to
hit high speed, administration
hopes for short session. Supreme
Court decisions on major Ne,0 Deal
laps tpll be influential factor.
By the Associated Press.
The New Deals surprise move tt
start Congress off with night broad
cast by President Roosevelt became
an explosive political issue today. with
the Republican leadership demanding
quick access to the same radio audi
ence to make reply.
Republican Chairman Henry P
Fletcher declared the plans for th'
deliver of the message on the STATE
of the Nation" at joint session a.
8 o'clock tomorrow night brought thi!
annual presidential duty down to the
level of a political speech"
He served notice on two major radio
chains-National Broadcasting Co
and Columbia Broadcasting System
that Republicans expect IAN equa
opportunity to place our case before
the people with the same facilities
the same stations and, potentially, the
same audience"
AyleswOrth Tenders Facilities.
Later in the day Milton H. Ayles-
worth. vice chairman of the board Ct
directors of the National Broadcasting
Co., telegraphed Mr.. Fletcher an offer
of N. B. C.'s facilities from time to
time"
He said: I'm accordance with the
established policy of the National
Broadcasting Co. of making its facill-
ties available to responsible speakers
for discussion of both sides of public
questions affecting the national well
fare, we are glad to afford the repre-
sentative or representatives of the
Republican party whom you may
select the facilities of the National
Broadcasting Co. for such discussions
from time to time.
If you will designate your speaker
We will make early reservations OF
time
C. B. S. reserved comment.
The incident was taken by politi-
cal observers here as another omen
that the coming campaign will be
especially vehement. with both sides
struggling for maximum use of the
broadcast waves and all other chan
nels of publicity.
Fletcher's demand was for radio
time on the same terms as are ac-
corded the President. The latter S
message will be broadcast without
charge, radio officials said
Fletcher recalled that only once
before has President spoken at a
special night Session-PreSident Will
sons war message.
Two Major Issues Loom.
Congress Will meet at noon tomor-
row to attend to preliminarieS and
arrange the night session. Next week
it will get down to business, with
two major issues apparently slated for
quick consideration.
They are the bonus and neutrality.
With officials of the American Legion,
Veterans of Foreign Wars and Dis
abled American Veterans newly agreed
on one bonus payment proposal, OBJ
servers look for an especially powerful
drive for quick action.
The latest development on neu-
trality was declaration by Senator
Thomas, Democrat. of Utah, urging
(See CONGRESS, Page 81