New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-22

''N ivy wait lllt HlOntN uON Sptlll Oh
ships TO spend on improving the lot Of
the people. should put it differently
They want TO pauperize the people by
Old Age Pensions and Insurance Acts.
So able is THE Manchester Guardian
that | must assume it sees clearly 10
what its doctrines tend. But it is the
organ Of a community where consider
atoms Of Trade. and of what is called
Free Trade have long outweighcd all
others. The ADLER the journal the more
perncious its influence.
In these and some other matters the
English Press takes upon itself an
enormous responsibility. They take It
on both sides. The Nation" and The
Manchester Guardian" are perhaps,
each in its own way, on an intellectual
level with the Conservative papers
holding a similar relation to the Con
sentative party. ! don't like the use of
the word party I'm such a connection.
1 mean the Conservatives OF the whole
country. There's no use i'm compari-
y I
one hand and The Daily Mail" on the
.other, each is supreme in it's own way.
The Times for all the changes il has
undergone. stands alone. Neither its
cessfully challenged. The Daily
Mail" with no inheritance from the
past like The Times has created its
own public. That is the work of man
of genius who knew how to surround
himself with the men he wanted: men
Of uneXampled gifts for the work he
wanted them 10 do. What limit can
YOU set to the influence Of a paper
which circulates 100000 copies a day?
should say that the kind of ability
YOU find in all these papers does not
much differ from the kind which in
public life makes men Cabinet Min
istcrs and Parliamentary leaders.
Other papers could be named; perhaps
ought TO he named. but ! am not max
ing a catalogue: | look for examples.
II may be a question whether The
Times has strengthened its journal
istic authority by its recent policy,
but l suppose it has strengthened its
financial position: which at one time
needed strengthening But to do that,
il stepped far outside the field Of jour
ualism properly so called. 1t has be-
come a kind of Department Store. II
carries on the business Of book pub
fishing Of bookselling. Of a circulating
library. of laundry, Of a stationcr. Of
a boollbiudcr II edited and issued
the Encyclopedia Britannica. It has
become journal OF Engineering and
journal Of Education. II fosters the
development Of South America. ! don't
attempt complete list Of its expert
ments. These enterprises were begun
long before the change in proprietor
ship or in organization, and. Of course,
before the more recent change in the
editorship Of the paper.
The late Mr. Moberly Bell was re-
sponsible for some of them. lie took
business view Of journalism. He was
q man Of tremendous energy and power
Of work. OF courage which carried him
far. Of organizing skill, and always Of
an adventurous mind. The news ar
rangements Of the paper were in his
hands. and he did great things In
truth. the news Of The Times has al
WAYS been. in serious matters far more
complete than that of any other jour
when you have read IL, whether YOU
read any other paper matters little.
That is true prominently Of its for
eign correspondence and OF many do
nestle departments. Mr. Buckle, who
edited II for twenty-three years. edited
1t on conservative lines; with judg-
ment. continuity Of policy and purpose;
and for a long time with a just per-
ception Of what his own public wanted.
Perhaps 1t was hardly TO be expected
that he and Lord Northcliffe should
apreo forever on essentials. Mr..
Buckle retired. and Mr.. Godfrey Rob
inson succeeded him; whose experience
i'm Journalism, or some Of 1t, was ac-
ouired in South Africa. The modern
ization OF the paper has proceeded
apace in his hands. II is too soon 10
attempt a summary. but. clearly, in
some directions he has broadened and
liberalized it, The third article on the
editorial page now answers TO the
French conception OF a leader. The
Figaro" which NJ. Villemessant Gre
ated. never hesitated TO put first. and
often alone, on its leader page an essay
on anv subject Of interest for that day.
II might be a portrait; It might be an
essay in philosophy or morals; II might
be a dramatic criticism; naturally,
since a first night in Paris took prece-
dence OF all other matters. In that
also "The Times" has followed the
French lead: / think for the first time
this week.
on wednesday 1t published on It's
leader page a criticism Of Sir Herbert
Trees latest production at His Maj
estv's Theatre. THE Perfect Gentle
man" Mr.. Somerset Maugham's trav-
estv OF Moliere's lie Bourgeois GentiI-
bomme" and "Ariadne in Naxos,' the
music TO both by Richard Strauss.
Praising the music as refined. elegant,
delicious and worthy Of Moliere's text,
n IN