Broadcasting (Jul - Dec 1944)

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li^OAOCASTD ctrvd Broadcast Advertising* 1.1. 27, No. 3 WASHINGTON, D. C, JULY 17, 1944 $5.00 A YEAR— 15c A COPY )emocratic Radio Plans Still Enigma ly May Bow Out; Craven Post To Hyde? ■L RADIO eyes are focused on icago-this week to see whether ; Democratic National Commitwill follow the lead of its Reblican adversary by adopting a .nk, forthright "free radio" link and, secondarily, to appraise lio's coverage of the Convention, l etwork cancellations. Page 57.) [f the Democrats carry out their m for a "postage stamp" platfm, then little is expected. There l.y be a sort of "reference platI'm" which will reaffirm the rty's "four freedoms" pledge of j; Atlantic charter. But broadliters, hungry for legislation that j.l stem the tide toward more iid Government control of everyfng they do, would find little sol,^ in such handling. The Republi|i plank, on the other hand, imping for a new radio law |ich will define "in clear and unstakable language the role of the tC", has won universal applause. I Fly May Leave FCC Ipre-Convention atmosphere was {fcharged with reports of impend• changes at the FCC, including ived hints of the imminent reement of James Lawrence Fly m the chairmanship. Mr. Fly used to discuss published re•"ts that he would resign. associates likewise appearto be in the dark, though it s evident the chairman had inred that he might soon leave to fage in private practice of law. |W a member of the bars in New rk and Massachusetts, it was reoly learned that he has applied admission to the District of Coibia bar. intermingled with the Fly report s the conjecture that the Demotic Convention couldn't, with imaity, ratify a plank espousing a V radio law when the FCC's leadhip has opposed any change, ur years ago the Democratic avention adopted a "free radio" link which urged "such legislative iips as may be required to afford ' same protection from censor'p that is now afforded the press ler the Constitution of the ited States". That followed the 1939 plea of President Roosevelt to the chairmen of Senate and House committees dealing with radio for a new radio law and reorganization of the FCC. Although bills were introduced, nothing happened. The vacancy on the FCC created by the retirement July 1 of Comdr. T. A. M. Craven, who joined the Iowa Broadcasting Co. as vicepresident, also is receiving attention. There are a half-dozen avowed candidates. Normally, it would be filled by a Democrat, but that isn't legally requisite. Latest name mentioned is that of Rosel H. Hyde, assistant general counsel in charge of broadcast activities, who has been with the FCC and the former Radio Commision since 1928. Mr. Hyde, a Republican from Idaho, was seriously considered for the vacancy filled last Jan uary when E. K. Jett was named by President Roosevelt to succeed George H. Payne. Lt. Jett was appointed as an independent. When the White House will be disposed to make the nomination to fill the Craven vacancy is conjectural. The Senate is in recess until next month and then it isn't known whether Congress will reconvene or simply hold three-day-a-week token sessions. If the latter occurs, the regular business would not be transacted, although executive nominations could be considered by unanimous consent. Radio Officials In Chicago The FCC now is made up of three Democrats: Fly, Paul A. Walker and C. J. Durr; two Republicans: Gov. Norman S. Case and Ray C. Wakefield, and one independent, Lt. Jett. Thus, a Republican could TurnbuU Heads GOP Radio; Church to Share Supervision Ford Bond Appointed; Carr May Get Regional Post; Publicity Director Still Unsettled staff. Leland Chesley, former news editor of KWK St. Louis and veteran newspaper man, will handle a large portion of the radio speeches to be made in the campaign. Mr. Chesley was a member of the National Committee publicity staff prior to the Convention. Appointment of a publicity director has not been announced. James P. Selvage served in that capacity in the pre-C'onvention era under Chairman Harrison E. Spangler. Several men have been mentioned as likely successors to Mr. Selvage, but Gov. Dewey's wishes have not been made known. Mr. Turnbull, who directed Gov(Continued on page 63) APPOINTMENT of Henry R. Turnbull as radio director of the Republican National Committee was announced last week by Herbert Brownell Jr., Committee chairman, who also disclosed that Wells (Ted) Church, radio director in the preConvention period, vdll share with Mr. Turnbull the task of setting up the party's national radio schedule. At the same time the national chairman revealed that Ford Bond, veteran announcer and personal friend of Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, Republican nominee, will assist the radio department with spot plans and coordination work. Mr. Bond will make a series of transcriptions for use in the campaign. Marian Martin, since 1938 women's director of the GOP National Committee, will continue in that post, assisted by Judy Weiss, who has served on Gov. Dewey's radio Mr. Turnbull Mr. Church Mr. Bond ItOADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising be named to the vacancy since the law specifies that there shall be not more than four members of the same political faith, of the seven on the Commission. Mr. Hyde's appointment would be on a merit basis, and would be wholeheartedly endorsed by the radio and communications entities, it is believed. Many top-flight broadcast executives are in Chicago for the Convention, including network officials and individual station owners. It was expected that former Gov. James M. Cox of Ohio, 1920 Democratic nominee whose vice-presidential running mate was Mr. Roosevelt, will be present. Gov. Cox has charged Chairman Fly with directing a studied campaign toward Government ownership of radio [Broadcasting, Feb. 21]. J. Leonard Reinsch, managing director of the Cox stations — WSB Atlanta, WIOD Miami and WHIG Dayton • — is radio director of the Democratic Committee on leave. Publicity director of the Committee is Paul A. Porter, who before the war was CBS Washington counsel. Another potent radio figure at the Convention will be Paul E. Fitzpatrick, newly-elected Democratic State Chairman for New York, who took over the reigns from James A. Farley last week. He is president and part-owner of WEBR Buffalo, operated in conjunction with the Courier-Express, New Deal newspaper. Mr. Fitzpatrick had been accredited by the Radio Correspondents' Assn. along with C'y King, general manager, as a news representative of WEBR. While radio executives wondered what action the Democratic Convention would take to insure freedom from Government interference, news staffs of the networks and some 60 individual stations moved into Chicago last week to begin the task of covering the Convention. In charge of the radio news gallery will be D. Harold McGrath, superintendent of the Senate Radio Gallery, assisted by William Vaughan, acting superintendent of the House Radio Gallery. Both men went to Chicago last week. ^"^^^^ In addition to two daily session s^" which will be broadcast by the corci-_ bined major networks, each of the. four nets plans special programs featuring interviews with delegates and Convention officials. Follo^ving {Continued on page 60) July 17, 1944 • Page 9