Iditarod pioneer., 1917-07-07
NORTHCLlFFE'S MIGHTY PEN THAT IS FORMIDABLE SWORD
 IN GREAT BRITAIN'S CAUSE

IN GkEAl BkllAlN , IAUSE Thousands upon thousands of British sub jects have had the galling experience of dis covering that the virtue they jeered and denounced has turned out to be virtue after al-indeed an admirable saving force There were Brltons who sneered and railed at the Daily Mail and Times because they dared to warn the nation that all was not well with the equipment and manage ment of the army. In showy patriotic wrath they publicly burned these two newspapers for treading on the very national corns that not only made national progress i'm possible, but threatened its existence, says the Cincinnati Enquirer
 These people could hardly conceive of any army, gun or statesman being superlor to the British type, and they felt secure enough so long as their residential square was free from invasion. Everything else would be "muddled through" somehow or other, and in the meanwhile there was nothing to prevent comfortable armchair discussion (with whisky and soda) of such pleasant topics as How Germany Should Be Punished" or "How to Increase Our Trade After the War" The bulk of the people in Britain treated the world tragedy rather as if 1t were pageant and they the privliged spectators. One fine Sunday the Times came out with a deal of unpleas- ant truth about the misfortunes of the ex- peditonary force in France during the first weeks.
 People then rushed about buying up If for the sibe moments when they would sit down to a four course dinner while their neighbors ceedingly patriotic people knitted most "good' individuals made it law that noth- ing about the war was to be mentioned in their houses on Sunday They shelved it on the Lords day-as if it were new novel from such "feshly' pen as Elllnor Glyn's and not quite nice or proper. Others looking down familiar streets were thrilled by the sight of marching men and declared melodramatically that 1t was so thrilling to be alive while history was being made. Knitting became fashionable Feeling ex- ceedingly patriotic, people knitted most everywhere except in church. which might have been quite appropriate. Some people demanded the closing of the theaters. Oth- CTS cried shame to the dressmakers, and others appeared in the new wide, short skirt without blush,
 Fortunatly for England there were pa triots who felt called upon to do more than wave the flag, deonunce the enemy and knit mufflers One of them was Lord North clffe. This editor was indeed so great patriot that he braved outraged concet and told the brutal truth thereby striving to arouse the empire to adequate means of self preservation He denounced the govern ment's policy of procrastlnatlon and truth hiding. He exposed the tragic lack of the right kind of shells, big guns and machine guns, thanks to which thousands of splen did young lives were destroyed in vain.
 While Zeppelin raids resulted in practi cally no military loss, they helped open peoples eyes to Germanys "frightful' methods and purpose. Britons who had hated the Daily Mail and Times so immod- erately began to think they might be rather right after all They hammered on. The right kind of shells, the big guns, the ma chine guns. new armies and a new govern ment finally were brought forth. It is a great feat It has saved England.
 The situation vividly recalls famous passage in Carlyles Heroes and Hero Wor- ship: Edmund Burke said that there were three estates in parliament, but in the reporters gallery wonder sat a fourth estate more important far than they all.
 The power of the British press aS e1 by Lord Northcliffe has not been for personal gain or political ambition. His efforts have been directed to the welfare of his country without wayside compromise.
 Lord Northcliffe's aims in forcing reor ganizaton are well set forth in Charles H Grastys recent interview;
 "'The whole country has risen to the leadership of Lloyd George said Lord Northciffe The English spirit responds to his will and determination
 When asked whether he would enter the government or take any active personal part in politics, he said:
 "'To a newspaper which puts into prac tice on very large scale and with marked success the doctrine of promoting its own welfare by working along thoroughly i'm personal and independent lines for the wei fare of country and humanity, the course of the newspapers under my management needs no explanation.
 "'Throughout all these critical times, so cslled the Northcliffe press has sought noth ing for its controlling head and for a req son that may be referred to as selfish mo- tives, if only those who examine the motives do so with an informed mind.
 Newspapers can succeed only when they are newspapers and nothing else; that is to say when they print the news fully and fairly on one hand and on the other com emnt on it, having only the public interest at heart
 "'No purse would be equal to the strain of owning and running newspaper as a personal or political organ to promote the fortunes of its owner Nor could such paper ever appeal to the public in way broad enough to form base on which to build a real newspaper success.
 "'The Northcliffe press gets no power from and gives none to its director except in so far as he directs it for the good of the nation and in accordance with the de- mands of public opinion.
 "It is true that an intelgently con-