Evening star., 1938-04-03

n
to call the special attention of the
public to many questions of national
Importance.
Mrs. Edgar B. Merritt, who had for
some years been in charge of a local
radio program, sponsored by the Dis
trict of Columbia Federation, was ap-
pointed by the Executive Board to take
Ncharge of the national broadcast Hav-
Ing served as both president and di-
rector of the District of Columbia
federation and being in close touch
with policies and principles of the
general federation, Mrs Merritt was well
equipped for the undertaking. She
made arrangements for speakers, Sc
lected subjects and attended to the
contracts with the radio company.
Since her appointment she has served
continuously as radio chairman of the
general federation and at the same
time has remained in charge of the
local broadcasts.
Half-H Hour Program Now.
The initial program of the General
FederatlonS series went on the air
October IL, 1885. Mrs. Roberta Camp
bell Lawson, who had been elected
president the preceding spring, was
the first speaker and she discussed
the set-up and obiectives of the fed
Grafton. Once each week during the
following two years a l5-minute
broadcast dealing with single sub
Ject was presented. Last fall the sched-
ule was changed and at the present
time monthly program of a half
hour, with special theme discussed
from several angles by distinguished
speakers. is being given.
"A wide variety of subjects has been
covered in those three years" Mrs.
Merritt said. We welcome contro-
.Versial subjects. Plays, episodes, work
Sof outstanding rural communities,
cancer control, traffic, marihuana.
these are some of the topics around
which programs have been built The
work of the federation has been pre-
sented through series of talks
planned by the nine department chair
men, and the entire project has been
D.
sons administration, which is 'Edu-
cation for Living"
In amplification of this theme Mrs.
Lawson has said This means the
sort of education which fits US to live
in this old world. that sort of educa-
tion which will bring to citizenship a
better sense Of responsibility in hold
ing an even keel to the ship of state
an education for living at peace with
our neighborS at home and abroad"
Prominent Speakers Heard.
Anon gthe speakers who have taken
part are Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt,
tie Right Rev, James E. Freeman,
Bishop of Washington; Mrs. Ruth
Bryan Owen, J. Edgar Hoover, DR..
Thomas Parran Mrs. Anne Hard and
Miss Katherine Lenroot
With the change in schedule that
began last October, forum discussions
with the speakers of national repu-
tatlon presenting varied views on
topics have been held. Since October
the following subjects have been pre-
sented in this way: Government
Begins at Home" Education Through
Modern Mediums" will the Ameri-
can Home Survive?" WISDOM and
a Health" Crime Prevention and
Parole and most recently. Bills We
All Help Pay" The subject of the
next forum will be Women in Public
Life"
AS these programs had been under
taken as sort of an experiment, there
were two questions the radio chair
man wanted to have answered. First, |
Gere the club women getting the kind
Of programs they wanted? Second |
Does the interest of the listeners |
justify the generosity of the broad |
casting company's valuable gift of time
on the air?
Response Is Wide.
Club women were asked to send their |
impressions of the programs to head
quarters. 1t was announced that |
mlmeographed copies of the broadcasts |
could be obtained At the federation
council meeting in Miami, tiny fans
with, Send your fan mail to the fed
Grafton headquarters" printed on them !
We're distributed to the delegates. |
sent to club members everywhere.
Responses came in quantity from all |
over the United States and from such /
remote sections as Africa, New Zea-
land and France. Several club lead |
ers wrote in to say that listening to
the broadcasts was a regular part of |
their programs.
There was ample proof that the |
programs were satisfactory and we
were encouraged to go ahead" Mrs. |
Merritt said.
Although Nationwide broadcasts |
have been given only since 1885, the |
value OF radio as means of extending |
club forums has long been recognized |
by State federationS A program spon- |
Eored by the California federation has |
been on the air for nine years. The |
Illinois federation manages an average |
OF SO programs week In Massachu- |
sets, the federation gives seven
broadcasts in week.
Program Here Five Years Old.
In the District of Columbia radio |
program has been sponsored by the !
local federation for five years. This is |
lo-mlnute program, presented |
weekly. and this too has been under
Mrs. Meritt's supervision. The speak
ers for the most part are local club |.
women. and the subjects discussed are |
Of local and timely interest. The pro-
gram this week, Friday at 2 pm, over
WRC, will have as the speaker Miss
Alice Hutchins Drake, who will talk |
on Christ in Art" subject suited to |
the Easter season.
THE position of a radio chairman |
Is filled with thrills, some disappoint-
ments, deep satisfaction and often |
breath-taking anxiety" Mrs. Merritt |
said. Thrills when some speaker you
especially want says yes Immediately |
on being asked: satisfaction when your
speaker complies with your request for
immediate reply. copies and subject i
of talk according tn rap,llatiops of