Jewish Groups Seek to Check Move of Owner of Radio Stations Charged with Bias

The Federal Communications Commission was urged today by a group of Jewish organizations to deny the application of G.A. Richards, principal stockholder of radio stations KMPC in Los Angeles, WJF in Detroit, and WGAR in Cleveland, for transfer of control of his stock in the corporations holding the licenses granted to the three stations.

Richards has been charged with instructing employees of KMPC to slant the news in support of his personal political views and to stir up prejudice against the Jews. Es has admitted the authenticity of documents tearing his handwriting, submitted in support of the charges.

In a memorandum filled with the FCC in behalf of the American Jewish Congress, Anti-Defamation League of B’nai Brith, Jewish Labor Committee, Jewish War Veterans of the U.S., Los Angeles Jewish Community Council, Detroit Jewish Community Council and Jewish Community Council of Cleveland, the Jewish groups maintain that Richards’ application for transfer of control should be denied on the ground that it does not effectively eliminate the possibility that Richards will retain influence over the policies of the radio stations.

Pointing out that Richards and his family would retain ownership of sizeable blocs of stock under the transfer plan, and would continue to be the principal financial backers of the stations, the memorandum concludes that “regardless of any theoretical abandonment of control, Richards will still hold the purse strings.”