New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-23
A Great Journalist
81. l. cARvN. OF THE OBSERVER" MALL eAzgr1Ev
Copyright. 1912. by George W. sman.y)

George W. Smailey)
is his leadership less effective than IL he
governed Department or sat on one of
the Front Benches Of the House of Com
mons and made speeches which never
reversed division and seldom a vote.
He knows where he belongs, and the
service he does to the public, TO the
Kingdom, to the Empire, Is none the less
effective for want Of the official stamp.
There IS a report, or a rumor, of an
impending change in the editorship Of
THE Times" l know nothing about 1t
except as rumor much discussed for
some months past in Fleet Street and
wherever journalists are to be found.
Talk Of that kind involves the mention
of names and ought therefore to be dis
Greet, but sometimes is not. The gen.
eral world does not perhaps much con-
Germ itself with such matters, and GER
tainly does not know much about them.
Stop the first man you meet in the street
and ask him who is the present editor OF
THE Times" 1t is long odds that he
NulilApl ltll NOu i cl MI. DUNNO nae
been editor Of THE Times since 1884,
in immediate succession to Mr.. Chenery,
the eminent Professor Of Arabic, who
seemed rather disposed tC turn the lead
ing journal of all Europe into a maya
zine Of science. can recall the delight
with which Huxley used to put his finger
on long scientific dissertations in coll
umns which before that time were po-
liucal. But Mr.. Chenery was not the
man to accomplish radical changes In q
journal which embodied, and day by day
reproduced, the traditions Of more than
q century. lie was seven years editor,
1S77-'S4 and left no permanent mark
What Delane in his thirty-siX years
editorship had made the paper. that It
remained. Since Mr.. Buckle took it over
and especially during the latter half OF
his twenty eight years control, there
have been great changes; not all his.
The Times" is still THE
Times" Neither personal nor financial
influences have modified its essential
character and position.
When, therefore, a new name is men
tened for editor the first question Is,
What effect Gf any would the new can
didate have on the paper? 1t has never
been party organ. Can you safely put
a strong party man in charger AS K
happens, a Radical and a Conservative
have both been discussed; outside the
Office, If not in MIR. Garvin is the Con-
sentative. The present financial control
is I'm Conservative hands So IS the ed-
torial management but not in a party
sense. 1t may be said that Mr.. Garvin
is not strictly a party man. Even II he
were he is in position to take up and
carry on the administration Of a journal
which has certainly been a more for
enemy Of Radicalism because 1t
opposed Radicaism on principle and not
from party motives. !, Of course, do
not know how far discussions of this
sort have been carried; still less whether
Mr.. Garvin would care TO take the post
were it offered him. Nobody will ques-
ton his energy or ability.
But Mr.. J. A. Spenders name has been
put forward. Mr.. Spcnder. who is City
years old, has been editor Of THE West
minister Gazette" since January, 1906.
and THE Westminster Gazette" is not
only Radical organ. but a party organ,
and not only a party organ, but Minis
terial organ. How is it conceivable that
he should succeed to Mr.. Buckles chair?
A question much easier 10 ask than TO
answer. It surely is not proposed to
turn The Times" into an organ Of Radl-
calism. Is it then proposed that Mr..
Spender should abandon his Radical con-
victions, abandon the present Ministry,
whom he has championed with unfailing
loyalty, and step into position which
only n Conservative, I'm the essential
meaning of that word can fill? He once
defined his mission as one that required
him to smooth over the differences
which. during the Boer war and since,
divided the Radical party; or divided
Radicals from Liberals. Would he now
undertake TO level a path along which
Radicals might pass into the Conserva-
tive camp. or perChanCe Conservatives
into the Radical lines? lie has sought to
interpose between the Ministry and its
critics He would have TO relinquish
that amiable task and relinquish much
else. In a word the thing seems to me
impossible. yet 1 believe there have been
or, at least, what it has
lately become the diplomatic fashion 20
call conversation, between the authori-
ties at Printing House Square and this
soft spoken Radical.
Whereas in Mr.. Garvin's case there
would be no question Of sacrificing or
even modifying principles or convictions
He would bring to that great editorial
office not new principles, but new
methods Of enforcing them; which may
no An obstacle not less insuperable.
Gould he impose upon himself the re-
striction TO which an editor Of THE
Times" must submit? Could he-but IT
is useless to put questions. The one
thing about which there could be no
question Is Mr.. Garvin's capacity
Whether for the sake OF editing he could
give up writing, or whether he need give
up writing, as all former editors. since
and including Delane, have done. is, how.
ever. one question the more which would
have to be answered before decision
was taken. u W. %
WOMEN'S GIFTS DEDICATED