Evening star., 1940-11-27
Commercial Radio
Marks Anniversary
In Speech|ess Fete
Roosevelt and WilIkie
Send Messages for
10th Birthday Banquet

Commercial radio broadcasting,
Americas most talkative industry,
held speechless banquet last night
at the Willard Hotel to mark its
20th birthday anniversary.
The 500 radio executives and
members of Washington official cir
cles heard Neville Miller, president
Of the National Association of Broad
casters, read a special message from
President Roosevelt felicitating the
broadcasters on their two decades
Of service.
Through his message, the Pres
ldent assured the radio industry that
"Your Government has no wish to
interfere or hinder the continued
development Of the American sys-
tenn of broadcasting. Radio was
born and developed in the real
American way and its future must
continue on that basis"
Willkie Praises Fairness.
Mr. Miller also read a brief mes
sage of congratulations from Wen
dell L. Willkie, which stated in part
that "as one who has just come
through a national political cam
paign as a major participant, I can
bear testimony to the fairness and
high sense of responsibility of those
In control Of our radio facilities.
May 1t ever be so. A free radio,
along with a free press, constitutes
the cornerstone of a system of free
men"
During the banquet a special
short-wave broadcast was staged,
in which the London correspond
ents of the National Broadcast
ing Co., Columbia Broadcasting
System and Mutual Broadcasting
System were interviewed from the
stage by A. A. Schechter, director Of
special events for N. B. C. The
commentators who participated from
the British Capital were Edward r.
Morrow, John Steele and Fred Bate.
With a British censor at their ell
bows, the three newsmer were con-
siderably handicapped in answering
questions, but finally finished up the
program interviewing the censor on
the British situation. The corre-
spondents managed to indicate, how
ever, that they had all they wanted
to eat and that there was an air.
raid going on as they spoke. They
were not permitted to say from what
point they were broadcasting =.
other than that they were slightly
on the ground"
Light Birthday Cake.
Earlier, all guests present who
had been in radio for 20 years were
asked to step forward and light the
candles on the huge birthday cake
Washington men in the group in
cluded Maj. Gen. ]. o. Mauborne,
chief signal Office, United States
Army; John w. Guider, lawyer; F.
B. Guthrie, r. c. A.; Commissioner
T. A. M. Craven, Federal Communi-
cations Commission; Comdr. E. M.
Webster, F. c. c.. and Meade Brunei,
r. c. A. Washington Office.
From an improvised studio ad-
Joining the main ballroom, VOL and
the Mutual network presented q
special program of the American
Forum Of the Air. Those who ap-
peared on the broadcast were James
l.. Fly, chairman of the F.. c. c.; Mr..
Miller, Rabbi Edward Israel, presi-
dent, Synagogue Council of Amer
ica; Samuel M. Cavert. general Sec
retary, Federal Council of Churches
Of America; Edward j. Heffron, ex-
ecutive secretary, National Council
OF Catholic Men; Mrs. Harold ".
Milligan, president, National Coun-
Gil Of Women: Martin Codel. Broad
casting Magazine, and Theodore
Crank, moderator of the forum.
The group commented on the past
and future of radio.
Thomas on Program.
The evenings entertainment was
headed by John Charles Thomas Of
the Metropolitan Opera Co. and
Included Jay c. Flippen, master Of
ceremonies; Romona, song stylist;
Howard and Shelton, veteran comedy
team; Bobby May, nationally famous
tuggler; the Pitchmen, novelty, and
Johnny Messner's Orchestra.
There was evidence on hand of
the current controversy between the
broadcasters and the American
Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers. Strict orders had been
given that the only music that could
be performed at the dinner was that
which was copyrighted by Broadcast
Music, Inc, the radio-nurtured pub
fishing firm.
And so the broadcasters celebrated
their Goth anniversary. But Happy
Birthday to You" wasn't played
that's an ASCAP tune.
Sponsors of the banquet were the
National Association of Broadcasters,
Radio Manufacturers Association,
the Electric Institute of Washington