Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-12-02
RIVALRY GONE MAD.
BIG AMERICAN PAPERS VIEWED
FROM ENGLISH EYES.

Sir Alfred harmsworth is an English Proprietor
of a Ha!f-dozen Dailes-ne Declares That
Newspaper Enterprise" This Side the Pond
is Not Based on a Sound Basis-Vsry Few
Fortunes Made at the Business Outside
Graft Has to Make Up for Losses, and That
Accounts for Commercialism Of the Big
City Papers.
Progressive Printer.
Here is bit OF information on the
business policy which runs many OF
the great American dailies. We re.
gard our big newspapers with pride
the bigger the paper, the heftier our
pride, until we almost burst at the
million point. Read what Sir Alfred
Harmsworth, an English journalist,
proprietor OF a half.dozen dailies, says
about our philanthropic disbursements
of money, how we are going mad in
the game OF putting money in our
purses, by giving two cents for one.
Here it is:
"Concerning my newspaper inter-
ests, let me say to you at the outset
that l have no thought of starting q
newspaper in this country. In point
of profit making I consider the New
York City field a specimen OF compe-
tition gone mad. More money is lost
by newspapers Of this city each year
than / should care to count. The
spectacle of so great number Of busi-
ness people engaged in thrusting on
the public every morning and evening
tons Of paper for which they pay at
least 2f cents pound and which they
send forth in form that must bring
loss in each individual copy astonishes
me.
ain truth, have seen no develop.
ment or improvement in the news
papers here since my visit to New
York three years ago. We may have
much to learn on the other side in the
management Of the press, but you
have more to learn in conducting
newspapers as business propositions.
There are exceptions here; but, as a
rule, the extravaganza OF management,
the lavish output of papers and prac-
tically the unrestricted distribution OF
unsold copies make one wonder if the
American genius for business has not
departed from the newspaper field.
Generally speaking, it is not true
that large number OF American news
paper publishers have made great for.
tunes. Profits in England, with a
very few exceptions. are much larger
than here. John Bull is slow. apa-
thetic. but he is not giving away 2
cents for l cent"
Sir Alfred Harmsworth is a world
character, a self.made, successful man
oil ideas and achievements, and . rich
man. Here are important events in
his life:
1865, born at Dublin.
1881, age sixteen, at work as report
er.
1856, age twenty.one, started "An.
swers to Correspondents" a weekly
paper.
1888, aged twenty.three, took -four
brothers into partnership. In q year
the monthly circulation reached A..
OOO,OOO.
1894, aged twenty-nine, bought the
Evening News; equipped Arctic expe'
dition.
1896, aged thirty.one, founded Lou
don Daily Mail.
1898, aged thirty-three, started
HarmswortRs Magazine.
1901, age thirty.six, visited America
had acquired ownership of thirty. three
publications.
1904, age thirty-nine, reputed wealth
$25, 600, 600; knighted by King Ed
ward.
During this period OF activity and
phenomenal rise this young editor has
Startled England by introducing
American ideas.
Establishing the balf.penny news
paper.
Succeeding with 3'penny magazine
(others charge 6 penny.
Established carrying and distribut
ing agency.
Convicted fortune tellers as frauds.