Broadcasting (Jan - June 1943)

War Conference Lavs Plans for Future REPS AND REPARTEE ran rampant at this NAB War Conference huddle (front row, 1 to r) : H. W. Slavick, WMC, Memphis; John Petrie, president, Branham Co., Chicago; Ed Frase, WMC. Standing, Clem Peterson, Branham Co., Chicago; Jack Gross, KFMB, San Diego; Joe Guenther, Branham, Chicago; Harry Goldsmith, Grover Labs., St. Louis. Industry Problems Get Thorough Airing MEETING in the Palmer House, Chicago, April 26-29, for a critical War Conference, the NAB and related industry groups went thoroughly into all phases of wartime operation and discussed plans for post-war broadcasting. Running account of the proceedings follows : Miller Leads With Petrillo As Topic Even before the War Conference got under way formally Tuesday, the Petrillo recording ban proved a leading topic. President Miller told an informal press conference Monday afternoon that while the recording ban is very serious, no station to his knowledge yet has been forced to close down because of it. He described it as a very serious detriment to the war effort insofar as morale both at home and with troops abroad is concerned and expressed the hope for a prompt solution. The American people are ingenious, Mr. Miller said in predicting a successful outcome. The ban by no stretch will put radio "out of business", even if it continues indefinitely. He said at the moment he felt there was no immediate crisis. Alluding to the May 10 resumption of conversations in New York between the transcribers and the international board of AFM, Mr. Miller said it was his understanding that these discussions would continue until a solution is reached or unless there is a complete stalemate. In the latter event, he said, overtures to the War Labor Board might be pursued — a course he TOP TWO executives of the Yankee Network were snapped at meeting of station affiliates held in Boston April 21. John Shepard 3d, chairman of the board (left) is seen with William F. O'Neil, president, who is also president of General Tire & Rubber Co. was disposed to recommend. But he pointed out that the transcribers did not want to go to Washington with their complaints until every prospect of a negotiated settlement had been exhausted. Mr. Miller pointed out that negotiations between the phonograph record manufacturers and Petrillo were broken off a fortnight ago after Mr. Petrillo had agreed to discuss separately with the two recording groups (transcribers and phonograph record manufacturers) terms ^for lifting the ban, in effect since Aug. 1. He declared that both groups were fundamentally opposed to the Petrillo plan for an unemployment relief fund and that he thought some other basis would have to be found to meet the objections of the transcribers, in any event. Pointing out that when the ban was called, dire px-edictions were made that many stations would be forced to leave the air because of lack of recorded tunes, Mr. Miller said these predictions have not materialized. "Most Serious" of NAB Meetings Monday's registration totaled nearly 600 — as against 150 the first day of the Cleveland meeting a year ago. Mr. Miller pointed out that the attendance was made up largely of key station personnel attracted because the agenda is the "most serious in the history" of the association. The fact that committee meetings were well attended, Mr. Miiler said, is further proof of the seriousness with which broadcasters are viewing their task. Pre-conference meetings included those of the sales managers executive committee, public relations committee and research committee. The sales managers recommended a present and post-war study of automotive advertising to be presented to the industry. The public relations committee resolved to a policy of continuing to bulwark its news coverage with highly trained personnel as "befits the industry's greatest service to the public." The research committee urged a continuing study of problems facing the industry in post-war planning. It pointed out that developments in broadcasting in all its branches made by the armed forces in the war period are of such importance as to warrant appointment of such a committee by the trade association. Miller Formally Convenes Convention The total registration had passed 850 when President Miller formally convened the War Conference Tuesday morning. Dispensing with the customary reading of officers' reports, which had been filed previously, Mr. Miller announced the appointment of an elections committee headed by John M. Rivers, WCSC, Charleston, and a resolutions committee, with H. Spencer Mitchell, WDAE, Tampa, as chairman. Attention was called to three minor amendments to the bylaws, distributed to the membership in advance, to be voted on at the Wednesday afternoon session. These include moving of Maryland from District 4 to District 3; amendment of the language of the bylaws to eliminate the term "executive committee," abolished last year, and a minor change in the method of electing directors-at-large. Mr. Miller observed that the conference was called to give broadcasters an opportunity to discuss with Government representatives problems confronting the industry and growing out of the war. The sole effort of the industry, he said, is the best possible cooperation with the Government in the war effort. If the industry can help shorten the war only by a matter of days, it will prevent sacrifice of many lives on the battlefronts and save an enormous sum of money. In the last war, he said, allied casualties amounted to 3,000 per day. Gardner Cowles Jr., OWI assistant director in charge of domestic operations, estimated that the war now costs $250,000,000 a day and is rapidly approaching the $300,000,000 mark. "We have a concrete goal to shoot at," said Mr. Miller. "Our effort will be to help shorten the war by as many days or weeks as we can." Manpower Story By Lawrence A. Appley Introducing Lawrence A. Appley, executive director of the War Manpower Commission, as the first formal speaker, Mr. Miller emphasized manpower as perhaps radio's first operating problem. Mr. Appley, along with subsequent speakers at the manpower session, did little to alleviate the fears of broadcasters that the personnel outlook is not good. As a matter of fact broadcasters were warned not to put too much stock in the industry's status as an "essential" operation and, were urged to train replacements in all lines, seeking them from the ranks of women, draft-deferred men and, where possible, the physically handicapped. Mr. Appley, former vice-president of Vick Chemical Co., painted a broad picture of the task confronting WMC and the Selective Service System and cited mathematics to show that the mobilization of manpower, even in essential industries, will intensify as the war progresses. Every effort is being made to decentralize manpower regulations and he urged against appeals direct to Washington. Mobilization and utilization of manpower is an "unpopular activity", Mr. Appley said. Because it is so highly personal, those not classified in an essential industry feel WMC is wrong. He admonished broadcasters, however, that they must realize, along with all other groups, that all activity must sacrifice something for the good of the whole and that no industry can hope to retain full activity. Citing figures quoted in the re-t cent past regarding the manpower situation, Mr. Appley said that simple mathematics prove that there will be a greater drain on man-: power in all walks of life. He said an amazingly good job already had I been done but that despite this people still talk about the "manpower muddle". Because the manpower problem is so mobile in character, Mr. Ap Page 28 • May 3, 1943 BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising