New-York tribune., 1908-01-16
Mr.. PEARS0N'S PRIZE
The Capture of The Times"-A
Long Reach from "Tit-Bits."
London. January s.

-~c- their institutions are under cloud THE
-,res- under four generations OF Walters, has
been British institution. always independent Of
rertv sometimes more powerful than govern
-7ears and ever q rsseurceful and influential
director OF the forces Of public opinion. RuTnors
current for many months respecting transfer
90 ownership and change Of management have
been repeated in clubs and drawing rooms and
ou the street with oninous shaking Of heads.
because traditions are sacred in England and
The Times" as a dignified and unsullied jour
rsl has come 10 he regarded a necessity for
national existence.
The rumors have at last been Confirmed off,
riallv but there are safeguards for reassuring
optinlists If not for silencng pessirnists One is
tie Craftsmanship Of Mr.. Walter when the lin
tied company is formed under the definite sane
tion of the courts. Another is the announce
rnent by The Times" that while the business
MANAGEMENT will be reo-ganized by Mr.. c.
Arthur Pearson. the editorial character Of the
paper viii remain unchanged and that il will
he conducted on lines Independent of party poi
itics This is pledge that the best tradition OF
the journal. once so powerful in Mr.. IDelane's
time viii not be dishonored and that non parti-
sarship will be maintained at all hazards II
Efr George Buckle remains IN charge of the
editorial page there will be the strongest war
rant for the belief that The Times" viii be
courageous end high minded leader Of public
opinion Nj Moberiy Bells retirement appears
g. foregone conclusion. since the business inter
ests and general management viii pass under
The direct personal control of Mr.. Pearson.
The ressirlists are mainly Free Traders and
Radicals and they assume that anything Ike
neutrality or independence on the main ques-
tion Of tariff reform viii be in1practcable so
long as the control Of the management passes
into the hands Of M Pearson and Sir AieAahoer
Henderson NJ Walter and Mr.. Buckle nave
been convinced for many years that a cha''se
in the fiscal system is Indispensable nut 1hey
have mt been formally connected with the
--.-s1 F7efo-ro organization. Mr.. Pearson was
r,-oud1v and affectionately proclaimed by MI
C-ha,,harIsir as his chief hustler and Sir
Alexander Henderson has heartily supported
-he same policy II there had been no reorgan-
fzafion OF the business management Mr. Wal
-e--s property would have been iTevocably
committed 10 Tariff Reform, and consequently
he transfer Of ownership and control will not
be followed hy any change Of policy on that
question
The only difference Will be that the leading
English journal viii be controlled by men who
have taken 3 more active pert in tariff reform
organization than either NJ Walter or MI
Buckle Men -partisanshiP has not implied for
? long period independence Of view on the tariff
Irish or other Unionist questions. so far as the
leading articles in The Times" are concerned
J-s columns however have been opened 10 cor
dependence from opponents and partisans slike'
ana there has been absolute impartiality' in the
reporting Of parliamentary debates, political
sneeches and general news, Men of all parties
have been forced 10 read Il Sir Alexander
Henderson and Mr. Pearson are shrewd business
men They will not begin By wTeCking great
property which has passed under their dIrec-
;ier- nor viii Mr. Walter allow them to do IT,
The theory that Mr.. Walter chairman OF the
company has been allowed 10 become figure
head for the sake Of saving his face does not
REQUIRE serious consideration
The changes impending in the Office Of The
Tines are the subject Of ingenious conjecture
s7 Fleet street. A reduction Of price 70 penny
IS currently reported but this is scarcely cred
{ble when the price Of paper is steadily rising
zn5 the Owners Of hslfpenny sheets are wonder
snr when they viii he compelled TO add another
i7slfneuny There Is another conjecture that
The STANDARD which is already owned and
controlled BY Mr.. Pearson and Sir Alexander
Henderson. v-ill be merged with The Times"
sr The St Janles's Gazette" was consolidated
with The Evening Standard There is no
warrant for this ruTnor except q hazardous
zgess that Nj Pearson viii repeat his tactics in
varying circumstances and that Sir Alexander
Henderson as the prime mover in the working
Northern railways has q ruling passion for |
doubling up." The merging OF the two jour
-a-e IN z 1v-openny Times Standard" would |
involve serious sacrifice Of capital and reputa-
cton. I seems more probable that the two !
journals viii he kept separate and that each |
vfl1 be used 70 strengthen the other
= more reasonable forecast points TO a reor-
gsl.fzstion of The Times" staff. the introduc-
-ion Of many economies ia the collection Of news
- foreign capitals the suspension ot literary
and engineering supplements and the settlement
~ the book var by which immense losses have
been sustained IN publishers advertising The
Book Club Is net likely 70 Re abandoned, but a
working arrangement will probably be reached
respecting discounts. and the receipts from ad-
,-.-r,s,nr win be speedily enlarged Mr. Pear
so- and eir Alexander Henderson are strenuous
workers with practical talent for stopping
lesksvs and increasing sources Of income
7ss story of The rise OF cyril Arthur Pearson
IN the world reads like American romance
A. 6a-4v-+y-o the controller OF The Thunderer,'
Re cs-,e 10 London when barely eighteen, with
= fAvv sbfll;ngs in mis- pocket. He the son
of : somerset parson and had been educated at
--s,c,,as+e--fbe same school where George
srctIs was trsined-and he something more
,4sae,I rhsn a scholarship at oxford or Cam
trs6ee-even q newspaper prize for the best an
ys-erx - sr examination paper The prize was a
cis-.s7iD in the Office OF "Tit-Bits," with
ssls-v q e week He began work about the
tim. ushen another youngster named Alfred
Es-n7sxo-th equally poor. earning the
ss-ae wages in the Office OF The London Illus
--r.ed News" and the pair Of ambitious push
f. tet-sheads have been going abreast ever
F4--e NJ peg rson had Tot been clerk more