Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-29
Equal Time Ruling Worries
Rodio Men in Election Year

Kefauver. Ayerill Hartman? Who
knows-not the FEC today. Presi-
dent Eisenhower? No. Senator
William Knowland? Yes.
Mony Kinds of Use
The trouble starts when any
bona fide candidate uses" the sta
ton. He may make political
or non-political-speech. He may
appear as a guest on Whats My
Line?" He may be stopped by a
man -the-street interview pro-
gram. It's all use" and his OPP
ponent is legally entitled to equal
time.
On one occasion q candidate
was introduced on the Ed Sullivan
TV show. His opponent asked for,
and got, similar introduction.
But not all seekers Of the same
office are opponents. Mr.. Steven
son. for instance. can't demand
equal time after Senator Know
land appears on Face the Nation"
For Mr.. Stevenson Is running now
only for the Democratic nomina-
ton. and his only opponents are
Democrats.
Only after his nomination by the
Democrats could Mr.. Stevenson de-
mand time equal to that offered q
Republican-and then only the ac-
tual Republican nominee.
ALI parties have equal rights
under the law, no matter how OBJ
scure the party. The only possible
exception is the Communist Party,
and that's one the FEC may have
to work out this year. The Internal
Security Act says the Communist
Party may not be deprived Of its
political rights. But the Commu-
mist Control Act says the Commu-
mist Party is not a legal political
party.
The Communists usually dodge
the issue by running under, say,
the Foofawra Party label. Then
they qualify for equal time.
Splinter Porties' Role
Why don't these splinter parties
clutter up the networks? Some
radio people believe they do, but
these factors work against splinter
party appearances: Before the
convention a splinter candidate
may demand time to match that
given only other candidates for the
same splinter party nomination.
Usually splinter party organizes
with a convention and names a
presidential candidate Immediately,
SO he has no right to demand time
equal to that Of a Democratic or
Republican candidate for nominal
ton.
After the conventions the splinter
candidate can demand equal time
with the major party candidates.
But another gimmick comes in.
Before conventions much of the
radio and TV time is offered candi-
dates free as public service. That's
when the splinter candidates aren't
running against anyone. After the
conventions, stations ordinarily de-
mand payment for time. And the
splinter parties can't afford to pay.
So stations offer equal time to all
candidates-for a fee. Only Demo-
Gratis and Republicans can raise
the money.
That does not mean the splinters
are frozen out completely. Stations
have an obligation to be fair to all
points Of view. That is why they
give splinter parties a little time;
though a few minutes Of, say, So
cialist Workers Party philosophy Is
considered to equate fairly with
many hours of Democratic and Re-
publican philosophy.
Only candidates themselves may
demand time, incidentally, and only
to answer another candidate. At
least, that is the theory. Secretary
of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson,
however, has asked extra time on
the air to answer questions raised by
farmers plants on Edward r. Muir
rows See It Now" program last
Thursday. And Mr.. Benson isn't
running for anything. sri
Mr.. Benson's demand, however,
will be based not on the candidacy
provision. but on the question Of
fairness" The Agriculture Secre-
tary specifically stated that the
Murrow broadcast gave distorted
impression" of the farm problem.
He added that the five minutes he
had on the show was not sufficient.