Evening star., 1937-07-19

Rose OF Indianapolis. were summoned
here 10 days ago, when his con-
ditlon became serious, His father
was famed for his eloquence in
the pulpit and on civic and political
rostrums. The elder Kuhn was de-
feated for the nomination for the
House of Representatives by James E.
watson after campaign which saw
the former rise to the heights of his
oratorical powers.
The Kuhn family was devout, and
Mr.. Kuhn told friends in later years of
an occasion, during his college days,
when father, mother and son preached
one Sunday from different pulpits.
He Preferred Newspaper Lite.
But, despite a fair for oratory in
herlted from hts father, Oliver Kuhn
preferred the active life of a newspaper
man to the more reserved career Of a
minister of the Gospel.
After attending Earlham College and
Butler University in Indiana he OBJ
tanned a job as reporter on the Pal
ladlum, at Richmond, Ind, where
Earlham College is located. Before
long he was serving as news editor Of
this paper-and looking for new worlds
to conquer.
He moved from the Palladium to the
indianapolis News and then to the Ok
lahoman, in Oklahoma City. Okla.
where he was appointed news editor.
From the Southwest he went back TO
indianapolis, this time as managing
editor of the Sun. Before coming to
The Star in 1912 he had served also on
the Cleveland Press, the Washington
Post and the Washington Times.
Beginning his career on The Star on
March 81, 1912, he had been. success
slVely, copy editor, foreign correspond
ent, foreign news editor, news editor,
news manager and managing editor.
Covered Peace Conference.
He covered the Paris Peace Confer
ence in 1919 for The Star and subse-
quently obtained leave of absence 10
assist the Italian government in the
preparation of history OF its partici-
patton in the World War.
Mr.. Kuhn became a close friend and
admirer of Woodrow Wilson during his
service abroad
On his return to this country he
wrote many articles on conditions in
Europe and was recognized as an au-
thorlty on international politics. For
While he wrote column on world
affairs which he called "Shrapnel.
He was an active member of the
overseas Writers Organization, COM
posed OF American newspaper men who
had covered events abroad during and
after the war period.
Established State Desk.
AS managing editor of The Star, Mr..
Kuhn established the present State
news department" which has its own
staff of reporters and editors for COL
lectlng and editing news of nearby
Maryland and Virginia counties. Un-
der this system proper recognition is
given news Of suburban communities
outside of Washington proper, so that
subscribers in outlying towns may have
news of their respective localities
along with city and national news of
the day.
From a national standpoint, his es-
tablishment of The Stars National
Radio Forum undoubtedly will remain
as an outstanding monument to his
vision and aggressiveness Beginning
IN a small way, Mr.. Kuhn personally
built the forum into one Of the most
popular non commercial features on
the air. Today, with its weekly coast
to-coast broadcast of developments in
Washington by speakers officially con-
nected with those developments, the
forum is the oldest sustaining pro-
gram OF non-commercial nature in
radio.
High Government officials, as well
as thousands of radio listeners, have
acclaimed the forum for its nom
partisan service in educating American
citizens to the nature and Importance
OF national activities in Washington.
Active in Community Affairs.
Mr.. Kuhn took an active interest in
community affairs in Montgomery
County after establishing his residence
at Alta Vista, and was highly regarded
throughout the western suburban dis
trict of the county as one of the most
ardent civic leaders in that area.
He was recognized as the founder Of
both the Montgomery County Civic
BOATS.