Evening star., 1941-02-04
District Citizenry
Congratu|ates WMAL
On New Transmitter
Wider Service to
Area Forecast in
Dedieutory Program

Washington congratulated The
Star and WMAL during half-hour
broadcast last night at the studios
In the Trans-Lux Building, officially
inaugurating the stations new 5000
watt tranSmitter in Montgomery
County, Nd, which was put in
operation yesterday morning
Representatives of various COM
nunity interests in the Capital
voiced appreciation of The Stars
and WMAL's past services to the
community and brought greetings
from the groups on the acquisition
Of the new tranSmitter.
Fleming Newbold, vice president
and business manager of The Star,
spoke on behalf of The Evening Star
Newspaper Co, which owns the
station; William S. Hedges, station
relations vice president Of the
National BroadcaSting Co, which
operates the station, brought felici-
tations from his organization, and
Kenneth Berkeley, station manager,
spoke for the studio.
The program was enlivened by the
music of Morgan Baer and his
N. B. c. Orchestra and the baritone
singing of Gene Archer.
Hazen Notes "Wise Policy"
Unable to attend because of ILL
ness, Melvin c. Hazen, president of
the Board of Commissioners, sent
telegram, which was read by an an
nouncer. Mr.. HaZen congratulated
WMAL and The Star on the progress
represented in completion of the new
transmitter and declared that he had
NOTED the wise policy" Of the sta
ton using its facilities in Connec-
tion with the advancement OF
worthwhile undertakings which
benefit the City of Washington"
adding, Construction of this new
tranSmitter with its increased power
indicates continuance on an even
broader scale of this policy
MI NeWbold told of WMAL'S
origin, reminding the radio audi
ence that the last three letters of
the stations name are the initials
of its founder, Martin A. LeeSe
whose family long was connected
with The Star The Star, he said,
had maintained a friendly interest
in WMAL since its beginning in
1926
A wish expressed by Mr.. Leese
that The Star some day would aC
quire the station was realized about
three years ago, when the newspaper
bought WMAL, Mr. Newbold related
He said The Star. in deciding to
enter the radio field. saw an OPP
portunity to render additional serv-
ice to the people of Washington.
The occasion we are celebrating to-
night" he continued, is but one
manifestation of our intention to
make the most Of that opportunity"
Dedicated to the Public Interest.
Mr. Newbold promised that the
stations progress would not stop
with the acquisition of new trans
mitter. "As new developments oc-
cur in the magic realm of radio"
he declared, friends of WMAL and
The Star may expect to find their
favorite station keeping fully abreast
of the trend. The Star
pledges that WMAL always will be
conducted in the interest of the
public in general and Of the citi-
zens of the National Capital in
particular
Mr. Hedges, referring to WMAL
as "a mirror of Washington ac-
tivities," declared it was a key sta
tion of the National Broadcasting
Co.'S blue network. Through it."
he said, "the North, the South the
East and the West have kept in
touch with their Government
Station Manager Berkeley said
staff members of WMAL believe
that the enlarged community which
will be reached by the new power
setup will receive an important
service heretofore denied it," Tracing
the stations career" he declared
that WMAL is IAN expression of
Americas right to freedom of
speech and freedom of thought"
Mrs. Doyle Expresses Thanks.
Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle, presi-
dent of the Board of Education, said
she wished to express the apprecia-
ton of the board and herself for
the service rendered by WMAL and
The Star in making possible many
programs that interpret the work
of the public schools. The two in
stitutions, she declared, were
pioneers in Washington in a con-
tinuous effort to acquaint the COM
munity with the work of the public
schools"
Herbert L. Willett, jr., director
of the Community Chest; James E.
Colliflower, president of the Board
of Trade, and Harry N. Stull, presi-
dent Of the Federation of Citizens
Associations. in brief messages added
the congratulations and best wishes
of their organizations.
Others unable to attend the cere-
mony, but who sent kilograms which
were read over the air, were George
z. Burrus. president of the Ad-
vertising Club of Washington; the
Rev. Albert J. Mccartney, pastor of
Covenant-First Presbyterian Church
and chairman of the Committee on
Religious Life in the Nations
Capital, and Archibald MacLeish,