Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-08
The Worlds Greatest Newspaper.


1t is probably not too much to say
that the London Times, which has just
changed hands after being owned and
edited by the members of one family
greatest newspaper. Since the closing
years Of the 18th century it has been
the leader in the journalism CT the
worlds greatest city and a prominent
and powerful factor in British civiliZa-
ton. There is no newspaper in this
country which stands in respect to our
national life as does the London
times to that of England and the
British world. Along with the estab-
lished church and the British constitu-
| ton it is a part of the historic great
ness of the race. 1t has been the most
arrogant, the most Independent, the
most unbribable newspaper III the
world. Always sober, exasperatingly
honest never to be hurried and never
to be delayed. it has gone along at its
own ponderous pace. more British even
than was Victoria herself during her
memorable reign.
They tell stories of the Times which
are probably exaggerated, but which
fairly Illustrate the way in which its
methods have Deen looked upon by
the opponents of our modern style of
journalism. One of them is to the eff
feet that young American who had
secured place upon the staff of the
Times came rushing rladly up to the
desk of the city editor with the ac-
count of a sensational murder which
he mad just secured. Very WELL"
said the city editor calmly as he took
the sheets Of cory and placed them In
q pigeon hole before him, but this is
Monday and We run murders only Oh
Friday"
But even if the Times has always
been and is INV SLOW" according to
some newspaper standards, it has
always arrived at its destination at
last, and in a way to make it's arrival
felt throughout the world. For over Il
century it has been factor in the
political life of the British Empire and
of all Europe. SO that prime ministers,
kings, and generals have always had
to reckon with it. Since it was founded
109 years ago it has been owned AMI
managed in unhrOken succession by
three generations of the Walter family,
father, son ard grandson. Now it is
the hands of a new company OF which
the head is a London Journalist named
Pearson, already the owner OF other
London newspapers and some OF them
of the type known in this country rs
yellow journals. at that
1t is inconceivable, however, at least
to the British mind. that the policy or
forA of the Times will be changed
Generations have known ii az THE
Thundcrer' and the title has well in
diCated its methods and their results
At times the paper has Tough; both
its own and foreign governments. III
has made cabinets and broken them
exposed plots Il nd diverted them. Tie
Duke If Wellington declared that the
editor Of the Times was the most
powerful man of Europe. In French
and German affairs it's influence has
been almost as great as in those OF
England and the thunderbolts which
it has hurled against this great man
and that one, and against this policy
or the other. have changed the desti-
MES OF nations and the map Of Europe
itself. Never since the art of printing
was invented has the proverbial power
of the press been SD well illustrated as
by the London Times during the past
century. The dispatches speak of its
change Of ownership as the passing of
the Thunderer," but London will no:
be London and Great Britain viii not
be Great Britain with the London
Times different than it has been.