The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-03-10

space and the natural phenomenon
of wave lengths is a public property
! and resource, as Mr.. McNinch sees
il. That property is loaned to pri-
vate industry, first to render a serv-
ice to the public, and second to
earn a reasonable profit. The fran
chise is granted with the under
standing that it will be revoked un-
less the company serves and be-
HAYES as the government thinks 1t
should.
Radio on the Spot
Railroads and power were men,
toned by Mr.. McNinch as having
gotten into trouble with the public
by combining for their own interest
instead of for the best public inter
est. He said, in effect, that the
trusts had depended on political pull
and the use of propaganda to get
by. But it didn't work in the long
run. The radio industry is more in
timately related to the public than
any of the older utilities, and its
behavior will be more quickly no
ticed. Mr.. McNinch said that a
member of the industry told him,
Radio could not survive an insult
But while warning of monopoly,
which would consist of certain types
of chain broadcasting, of manage
ment contracts, and of pressure
methods in dealing with local sta
tons, the chairman at the same
time condoned and even praised the
national hookups that produce the
fine programs. 1t is only through
the commercial support of huge au-
diences that the worlds best talent
can be brought into millions of
homes. Regarding advertising sales
talks on the air, Mr.. McNinch
warned broadcasters that the public
will revolt against too much talk
or bad taste. Some legitimate prod
ucts and services, he said, simply
cannot be talked about on the air.
These matters the industry must
govern.
The Mae West broadcast was only
an incident, but doubtless it did IN
huence the big radio boss in his
conclusions on radio ethics. He
made it very clear that all creeds,
religions, races, ideals and ages
must be respected. This is in ac-
cord with the democratic rights of
minorities. Radio men say that this
constitutes drastic limitation ON
what may be said and discussed
over the air. But none of them
argue il is unfair In the field of
music and the other arts of sound
there is no limit.
Japanese Boycott
While the boycott on Japanese silk
still makes news, latest figures from
the Department of Commerce show
that it has had very little effect.
Actual imports Of raw silk from
Japan are only per cent below
normal. But the organized protest
against invasion of China, chiefly
evident in womens refusal to buy
silk stockings, has brought about
some serious consequences.
The State department, of course,
is deeply concerned. This country
buys about So per cent of Nippon S
total raw silk production. Our silk
bill, therefore is an important item
in Japan's war chest. II the boycott
should become fully effective, ia
J pan would be no little provoked
That, plus possible clash with Jap
anese salmon poachers off Alaska
plus another incident like the Panay
sinking in the Orient, might cause
real trouble. Conversely, too, an.
other incident might put the boy
colt under way in earnest.
But there would be little the State
department could do about it. Any
protests from Japan would have tc
be answered with shrug. For a
boycott is simply form of free
speech and free press. Any action
by the government to the contrary
would be departure from the DEM
ocratic principle. The Mikado
would get the same answer that Hit
Ter got when he complained about
Mayor LaGuardia' utteranees.
American silk manufacturers are
being seriously damaged by the boy.
colt. Fear that another incident
will intensity feeling so that womer
win really decide to do without sill
has caused store managers to issue
hold orders on stockings and other
silk goods. Silk mills and raw sill
; importers are getting stuck witt
supplies on hand. It is estimated
that SOS 1000, 900 of American capita
invested in silk and allied industry
has been frozen.
Jobs in Jeopardy
The jobs of more than 1000 PEG
! pie engaged in the throwing ans
weaving of silk and in the manufac
ture and distribution of silk prod
7 ucts are jeopardized. When the boy
colt first started the public supposed
that finished stockings and other sill
goods came directly from Japan
People did not know that American
labor and industry produced tn
/ | I-r 1~41 81