The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-17
A VICTORY

Lloyd Georges victory in the recent English elections was
a newspaper victory, pure and simple. He had the press with
him, and the press is allpowerful. Lord NorthcGffe made
LLOYD George possible and compelled a coalition cabinet of
which he became a part when he was appointed chief Of the
British mission to America, and later head Of the department
of propaganda in enemy countries rte has been called the
British Hearst. He controls the Times, the Daily Mail, the
Evening News and the Weekly Dispatch, all newspapers of
great wealth and influence. His brother, Lord Rothermore,
was the head of the air ministry. and is now connected with
the ministry Of information. He controls the Daily Mirror,
the Sunday Pictorial, the Leeds Mercury and the Daily Rec
ord, Of Glasgow. Major Astor, NJ. p, is parliamentary sccre-
tary to the ministry of food. Lord Bcauerbrook is minister ,oi
information, and controls the Daily Express. The earl Of
Derby is a director in the Daily Sketch, Daily Dispatch, Eve
ming Chronicle, the Sunday Herald and the Sunday Chronicle.
These great and powerful newspapers were very naturally loyal
supporters of the government OF which their chiefs were a part,
and as some of these chiefs had it in their hands to censor, con-
troll or color all news given out, they were prudent enough to
give out nothing that would initiate against themselves and
the ministry of which they were a part. This was a great
advantage, but not the only one or the greatest from a poiti
cal standpoint. They had it also in their power to compel OPP
position newspapers to publish what was complimentary and
sustaining to themselves or deny them any governmental news
whatever. Control of the great newspapers IN England much
more than in this country, means control OF public opinion,
and so necessary IS te support OF efeat newspapers; Una "It"
the London Daily Chronicle got out OF line and criticized the
premier for the action of his government toward certain mill
tary leaders, it was purchased by a syndicate for something
like $55000O, and a political director was chosen to repre-
sent LLOYD George.
These great newspapers will receive benefits directly and
indirectly from the government which they support and sus-
tain, in return for their loyalty and service, but the outlook
for a free press is not ~auspcious, One thing is certain, while
the power Of the press is great if it is misused, it will destroy
itself. Misuse Of power is always fatally destructive. En-
pires have always been destroyed by emperors who have mis-
used power, Just as republics have been destroyed by the peo-
pie who misused or abused the power whict, was theirs,
To the onlookcr among the allies it will appear that the
great list Of leading English newspapers made no mistake in
supporting Lloyd George and his government.
To have done anything else at this critical time would
have been unpattiotc, il not something deserving a harder
name. He lifted the empire out Of chaos and gave it order
and conference. 1t is believed that no other one man could have
done so and now that victory has been won it should not be
discounted or minimized by repudiating the man who brought
it about. Nevertheless such an access of power is as danger
Gus and as difficult to direct as one of the Huns 75-mile guns,
and any mistake or wilful error will surely be rebuked by the
people. A newspaper that abuses the confidence OF the peo-
pie loses it, and public confidence is the breath to its nostrils.
The English are a wise people, but wise people when con-
troled by politicians may be driven to the commission of un-
wise acts. Politicians will sacrifice everything else to serve
their ends, and every general election means that the news
papers are on trial just as well as the particular party they
support.
The Lloyd George newspapers have won a great victory,
but campaigns can be lost as we'll as won.