Slap

In the lexicon of radio broadcasting controversy means trouble. A radio station's stock method of handling contro versial matters is to give each side an equal broadcasting chance, disclaiming any responsibility for what either side says. Pain ful thorn in the radio industry's side has long been Michigan's broadcasting priest, the Rev. Charles E. Coughlin, whose political preachments are pugnaciously controversial, make many enemies.

No longer able to buy network time, last year Father Coughlin shopped at independent stations, set up for himself an impromptu network for one hour each week.

Three weeks ago he returned to the air for a new series with 45 stations from Maine to Kansas hooked up for him to Station WJR (Detroit). Last week he fed his 46 stations a blast against religious persecution.

Although all week U. S. radio had been speaking with thunderous unanimity against Nazi pogroms, Father Coughlin made resounding reservations when he joined the chorus. Nazi persecution of Jews was bad, he said, but communist persecution of Christians was worse. Admitting that his sources were Nazi, he said that 56 out of 59 members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party in the U. S. S. R. were Jews. He also accused Kuhn, Loeb & Co. of giving financial aid to the Bolshevik Revolution, attributed that accusation to a British White Paper.

Promptly Station WMCA (Manhattan) spoke for itself, followed its broadcast of the speech with more than the usual disclaimer of responsibility. Said the WMCA announcer: "Unfortunately, Father Coughlin has uttered certain mistakes of fact."

At week's end Station WMCA explained its unprecedented slap at a sponsor, said station officials had found errors of fact in a script submitted to them three days in advance, had told Father Coughlin where he could find documents to disprove his statements, were assured that the script would be corrected before delivery. When it was not. Station WMCA made the announcement instead of cutting Father Coughlin off the air.

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