Evening star., 1948-06-03
Truman Can't Admit
Trip Is Political, Due
To Radio Use Rulinq
Would Not Be Entitled
To Combined Networks
If Talk Is on Compoien
Bv David Laurence

By David Laurence
There's q rather simple explana-
ton behind the .hesitancy of the
White House to concede that Presi-
dent Truman's westward trip is po-
litical. 1t has to do with the use Of
radio network facilities.
If, for example, Mr.. Truman con-
ceded that his trip Is political, he
would not be entitled to the facili-
ties of all three major networks at
the same time. These networks obey
the request of the President of the
United States and cancel their COM
mercial programs when he wants the
radio time to make an address on
a topic related to his Office and not
to politics But if the address Is
plainly political, whatever network
finds it convenient to broadcast the
speech does so and others may re-
frain.
Then there is the problem of right
of reply. When a President of the
United States gets time on all three
networks, the latter do not feel that
they must give equal time in re-
buttal to any one from the opposite
political party. Where the address
is plainly political, there would be
an obligation to give equal time to
some prominent Republican. The
networks do not relish tieing up
their facilities for political broad
casting so close to the campaign 1t.
self.
Charge After Certain Date.
AS a matter of custom, all the
networks make charge for politi-
cal speeches after a certain date.
Thus, after the acceptance speeches
by the presidential candidates sub
sequent to the national conventions,
all radio broadcasts by those candi-
dates must be paid for. Otherwise
the networks, being corporations,
might run afoul of the Federal Cor
rupt Practices Act, which forbids the
making of contributions to politi-
cal candidates or organizations.
1t is similarly unlawful for any
newspaper or periodical to give away
display space to political party or
candidate during campaign If the
advertisement is political in nature.
The big question that arises with
reference to presidential broadcasts
at this time Is whether they are
political. The White House indig-
nantly denies that Mr.. Truman's
forthcoming speeches will be politi-
cal in nature The broadcasting
companies have a rule that they ac-
cept the word of President of the
United States on this point. Some
Presidents are. Of course, very me-
ticulous in observing the rule and
would not wish to abuse the cour-
tesies given them. This Is why Pres
ident Truman, it may therefore be
inferred, told the political leaders
or members of the staff of the Dem
ocratic National Committee who
might have accompanied him that
they had better stay away.
Actually Mr.. Truman does not
need to make an explicitly political
speech on his Western trip. He
has every right to visit different
parts of the country and discuss
public issues. If he makes a good
impression, it will inure to his po-
litical benefit, but this Is true with
respect to every act or utteranceI
from the day a President is inau-I
gurated.
Roosevelt Criticized.
Mr.. Roosevelt used to travel around
In campaign years making "inspec-
ton trips at national defense
establishments. He got radio facil-
tiles but he was subjected to much
criticism because some of the trips
revealed him to be comforting with
political leaders and the purpose
was declared by critics to be OBJ
viously political.
Mr.. Truman is not likely to miss
the opportunity to confer with
officeholders and other persons of
political influence in the Demo-
cratic Party on his journeys, but
when he goes before the micro
phone the assumption is that he
will not be partisan or refer to
party politics. 1t will be tempta-
ton for him to do so, as the coming
trip will dovetail with the days
just before the nominating is done
by the Republican convention-in
fact, the President will be on his
trip during the first days of the
Republican convention.
Mr.. Truman is very likely to hew
to the line on his radio speeches
but he has ample opportunity to
talk politics and issue statements
to the press wherever he Is. 1t is
the particular function that he ad-
dresses and the kind Of speech
r1ade in each instance which will
determine whether, from the stand
point of the radio broadcasting
companies, the speeches are "po-
litical' in the sense in which they
apply the term.
Recently a network in California
declined at first to broadcast a
Truman speech on the ground that
it was political but later agreed to
broadcast a transcription. There
are some legal complications that
have never been cleared up as to
the obligation of stations to give
time for the reply, but so long as
the stations apply their rules uni
formly-making all candidates pay
or giving all candidates free time
they can keep out Of legal Difficult
ties. After the conventions all
presidential candidates or their po-
litical campaign committees must
pay for the time used in broadcasts
until after election day.
Reproduction Rights Reserved)
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