The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-07-05
NORTHCLIFFE'S CAREER.

No more interesting figure dominates EngllSh
public life today than that of Lord Northcliffe
| In America Lord Northcliffe is known chiefly as
successful journalist and publisher, who came
| to the United States when the war was at its
height to serve for a time as head of the British
war mission in Washington
/ At home however, he is recognized as man
whose influence in public affairs is second to
that of no other man in the United Kingdom,
dominating figure in British politics and mas
ter of international politics well. No better
evidence of his influence could be cited that the
fact that Northcliffe generally credited with
having made" the Lloyd George coalition gov
eminent.
Throughout the war Lord Northciffe filled
the position of an outspoken critic of everything
which did not please him, but it should be said
his criticisms all directed to securing eff
\ cheney in the prosecution of the war. He spared
neither friend nor foe. In the early months of
the war his criticisms were fiercely resented by
the large body of Londoners who were yet allied
with the old traditions of British political life.
AS an intimate friend and admirer of Lloyd
George the great journalist vigorously insisted
that the little Welshman should be called to the
helm of British affairs if the to be ter
minated successfully. In June, 1917 Lord North
cliffe, at the request of the cabinet, accepted
the position of head of the British war mission
in the United States in succession to Arthur J.
Balfour. The full story of what Northcliffe ac-
complshed during his brief stay in Washington
in the way of co-ordinatng the efforts of the al
lies and speeding up the war work in the United
States has never been made public, but in the
highest circles both sides of the Atlantic it
has been intimated that the Northcliffe influence
played no inconsiderable part in bringing the
great conflict to a successful conclusion.
Lord Northcliffe, formerly Sir Alfred Harms
worth, born July Is, 1865, near Dublin, Ire
land, and was the eldest son of the late Alfred |
Harmsworth, barrister. Harmsworth, the youth, |
was as determined Harmsworth the million
aire. He refused to enter Cambridge and read
for the bar but youngster took up free lance
journalism instead, and lived for a time on
modest income sharing apartments in Batter
sea, with Herbert Ward, who later gained fame
as an African explorer.
At seventeen young Harmsworth was installed
as editor of one of Sir William Migrants journals
In the office of the Illustrated London News At
twenty-three he started his first paper, Answers
penny journal of popular information, and the
foundation OF his enormous fortune. The pub
LEGATION office was small room and the four dol
lars week he paid in rent quite item.
The first number sold $4,000 copies; within
year it rose to $4,000, and four months later, by
puzzles schemes, guessing contests, prizes and
clever and daring methods of winning publicity
unknown to the conservative British press the
circulation to nearly three-quarters of a
million.
Then followed long string of minor publica-
tons, until, in 1896, he bought the Evening News
a paper with an unsullied record for failure and
by the Midas touch of Harmsworth it was on a
paying basis in few weeks. The next year he
started the Mail, which soon was selling five
times many copies any other paper in Lon
don and was paying it's editor salary of $685.
900 year. In 1908 he startled England by his
purchase of the London Times. Later he acquired
or started the Mirror, Sunday Pictorial and
Weekly Dispatch, and before his fiftieth year
found himself the owner of forty-five publica-
tions, including dailies in the leading cities
of England Six of his brothers were actively
associated with him in his journalistic ventures
Lord Northcliffe does everything on a large
scale. He owns half dozen country houses be-
sides his magnificent home in London, and more
than twenty automobiles. In Newfoundland he
bought tract of forest land half the size Of Yer
mont from which to make all his paper TO be car
ried to England in his ships. His liberality
to his employees is proverbial.
AT the age of twenty-one he met and married