In 1927, after a typically bilious convention speech, a pugnacious resolution, and aggressive booklet campaign, Rutherford's access to established national radio chains was severely curtailed.
w3/1/34 74 (Also, in Jehovah [1934], pp. 63-65; and in the March 1, 1941 Watchtower, p. 75) At Toronto, before a large visible audience and one by radio, constituting a far greater audience, a message from the Lord?s Word in the form of a resolution and supporting argument was adopted and addressed ?TO THE PEOPLES OF CHRISTENDOM.? T he message broadcast on that occasion was afterwards printed and distributed by the millions to the peoples of earth and in many languages. Amongst other thing that message said was in substance this: ?The blessings so much desired by the people can never come through any unrighteous system of ?Christen dom? or any organization of so-called ?Christianity,? because the same forms a part of Satan?s organization, and that there is no reason for the people to give support to that hypocritical and oppressive system that blinds them, misleads them, and turns them away from God. Further, that in this hour of perplexity Jehovah God bids the peoples to abandon and forever forsa ke ?Christendom? and all of her misleading systems and organizations, bec ause all of these are o f the Devil?s organization.? (See Light, Book One, page 163) At the time of the delivery of that mess age commerce was at its zenith in operating fraudulent and oppressive schemes to get rich, and which were op pressive to the people. About the time of the delivery of that message men and women through the public press and by other means began a great croaking noise in the way of palaver an d talk and agitation, and wind-puffing, assuming great wisdom and making much noise about the ability of their various systems to bring about the desire of the people, the falsity of which the messa ge aforesaid exposed as being from Satan. Amongst these croakers were included the clergy and their newspapers, as well as the secular press. All of these things were the expression of human or man-made wisdom and all opposed to God?s kingdom under Christ. Included also amongst these croakers is the ?man of sin? class (Jannes and Jambres) who join with the public press and the clergy and other agitators to speak against Jehovah?s witnesses and against the message of truth delivered by them. Many who thought they were amongst God?s people were misled by these croakings and became offended at Jehovah and Christ and fell away, joining Satan?s organization openly. Some of these offended ones said in substance: ?Had the radio speech at Toronto been tempered with moderation the National Broadcasting Company would have permitted the continued use of its facilities to the Society.?
A few other quotes:
Life (1929) p. 345
Today the clergymen of the land are exalted by the cruel and selfish commercial interests. The clergy are working exactly in harmony with the other two branches of the Devil?s organization. The great commercial interests, acting through their agency, the National Broadcasting Company, now blasphemously and flippantly announce that the religion of the Jews and of the Gentiles have been made one, and that the financial interests have brought together the rabbi, the Catholic priest, and the Protestant clergyman, so that all may speak one religion and all may use the facilities of Big Business to proclaim their message throughout the land, with the one proviso, that no one shall use or speak of any doctrine that is offensive to the other.
Light 1 (1930) p. 168
The public press, which is the tool and mouthpiece of the ruling powers, immediately thereafter sent up a cry or howl, as a result of the sting. The Toronto press the next day urged the legal department of the government to take immediate steps to deport the public speaker of the occasion who read the resolution, and then vigorously denounced the message that was delivered. The New York Times broke its silence, and for once screeched and howled against the truth and delivered the cries of the clergy. The National Broadcasting Company, another mouthpiece of the unholy alliance, joined in the howl and denunciation, and ever thereafter has refused to have its radio facilities again used in broadcasting the message of God?s Word of truth.
w9/15/31 277
The Lord God has provided the radio, but Satan?s organization desperately attempts to control the radio and to prevent the message of the kingdom from being broadcast. The radio monopoly of Satan?s organization, which owns and controls the National Broadcasting Company and the Columbia Broadcasting System, after much bickering absolutely denied the use of their facilities to the Lord?s people for the broadcasting of the message. The arm of the Lord is not made short, however. His consecrated ones began action to build up a radio chain broadcasting network to send forth the message from Columbus.
Do the words 'tantrum' and 'persecution complex' come to mind?