New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-15
AS Alfred Harmsworth He
Borrowed Money to Start
First Paper
Abused for His Ardor
Fight for Munitions and Avi.
stors Brought Curses and
Then Fame

q
have made collective and individual
successes in Britain seldom equalled by
any similar brotherhood.
They are known to public fame as
the Harmsworths. In the family, whose
mother still lives, there are three SIS
tiers and seven brothers-the latter
named, respectively, Alfred, Harold,
Cecil, Robert Leicester, Hildebrand, st.
John and Vyvyan.
Lord NorthclfTe is just ffty-two
ycars of age. and he began his journal
/ istic career at the age of sixteen. After
spell Of work for Mr.. X. Henderson,
a worthy old London Scot, who pub
lIshed much of K. l. Stevenson's fiction
in his Young Folks" and Weekly
budget" now defunct, but which had a
great vogue in England in the SOS, he
was associated with Sir George
Mawnes and Sir Arthur Pearson on va
rious publications under the former S
control. With this he also did lot OF
free lance work for morning and even
ing papers.
Then Alfred Harmsworth resolved 70
start paper on his own account. Bor-
rowing the money, he launched "An-
swers," the popular British weekly, fol-
lowing this with Sunday Companion"
Home Chat" and others, numbering
probably fifty weekly and monthly pub
LEGATIONS, issued by the successful or
ganization known as the Amalgamated
Press, whose dividends for the last
twelve years have averaged 40 per cent
per annum.
Papers His Greatest Hobby
| The greatest opponents of Lord North
cliffe's public fame, however, are his
papers, THE Times" and "The Daily
Mail" and he is also principal pro
prietor of THE Evening News and
weekly Dispatch London papers
Of great influence and large circulation.
On the Continent the Paris edition
of The Daily Mail" is the leading Jour
nal among the Engish-speaking races,
and Berlin has pronounced It's bitter
est curses on its proprictor-whlch Is
undying fame.
Lord Northcliffe's pioneer work az
various stages of the war has resulted
in much advantage TO his country and
the British Empire His propaganda in
regard TO munitions and recruiting
were in advance of public opinion Tor
some time, but they were afterward
justified in their results.
In 1904 Alfred Harmsworth was
created q baronet, but the following
wear King Edward made him a peer OF
the United Kingdom, under the title
Of Baron Northcliffe of the Isle OF
/ Thanet. The honor was regarded at
the time as a great compliment to the
| Journalistic and allied professions, and
10 doubt is the inspiration of his lord
ships motto: "He who acts diligently
acts we'll"
Harold Harmsworth has been a
great power at his brothers elbow
in all his varied schemes, and he IS
regarded as the financial genius OF the
/ family. He is, besides being a large
shareholder in the Amalgamated Press
the principal proprietor OF THE Lon
don Daily Mirror" and "The Sunday
Pictorial two most successful picture
papers, and he also owns the Glasgow
Daily Record" and the Leeds "Mer-
curry"
/ In 1910 he became Sir Harold Harms
worth, Bart, but four years later fol-
lowed his brother to the House OF Lords.
Lords, being made Lord Rothermore OF
Hemsted by King George.
Aided the Territorials
Among his many public services is
the great assistance he rendered to the
County Territorial Associations Of
Great Britain at the critical periods OF
their formation. The success o. the
we'll known Union Jack Club, the fine
hostel for soldiers and sailors near Wa
terloo Station, London, is also largely
due 20 his generous and answering
support. His latest service 10 the state
is to be the honorary director Of the
ROYAL Clothing Factories at Pimlico,
London, TO which he was appointed by
the Prime Minister after much mis-
management had hindered the national
work. Needless 20 say, the work OF
such n business man there as Lord
Rothermore has given great satsfac-
ton.
genial politician, who Will be heard OF
more when the war is over and the
works of peace are active again. lie
represents South Bedfordshire IN the
House Of Commons, and IS torty-seven
wears Of age. He was Parliamentary
Secretary to Mr.. Runciman when the
latter was President Of the Board o.
Agriculture. and afterward he became
/ Under Secretary for Home Ahalrs. "
the coalition government beng ioFhGu'
he went with Mr.. Mckenna from the
Home Office 10 be his farhamen'dIy
Secretary at the Treasury. linen ne
vas Amounted the chairman OF the
oovernment committee TO organize
9or,an's work. which was the precursor
Of the present National Service move
msnt among women, which is having
such great success in that section OF
Great Britain's war organization Mr:
Harmsworth's latest post IS tnat OF
chairman of the committee for organ
iz;ng sunplies of fish for national con
sumntioi. a very practical work Tor the
state.
Cecil the Family Scholar
Mr.. Cecil Harmsworth has been as
ISOLATED with his brother FOR the pass
,wentv-fve years in the work or the
Amalgamated Press. In his scholasuc
Iavs he took high literary honors at
his university. being the senior moder-
ator in literature and Stewart scholar
Of his year. A short time ago ne
bought DR.. Johnson's house, IN Gough
Souare. Fleet Street, London, ana gave
II as a free gift 10 the nation a
tribute from an ardent Radical 10 y
bigoted Tory" was the way ne himseli
happily phrased ~ 49, ,.i.
The fourth brother, Robert Leiees-
ter Harmsworth, has been NJ. T. Tor
Caithness. Scotland. for seventeen
Gears, and is greatly interested in land
questions. He is now solely devoted
10 politics. and takes no part IN Jour
nalism. Many young journalists have
found A good friend in him.
Hildebrand Harmsworth has oeen
the free lance Of the brotherhood. gong
in for journalism, politics and cattle
breeding. He contested Gravesend'