The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-10
M EN w o M FEN
 A ND T H IN G s

When Is an invitation an invita- eion' or who can tell when he is persona grata in these days if he happens to be a newspaper publisher and runs paper which criticizes a government?
 In the old days kings were im- mune from criticism on the part of editors who did not care to lanEuish in prison or sit in pillories. and even when the press got strong enough to rise above such persecution, yet patronage was withdrawn by tho government.
 It seems just the least bit of q reversion in this twentieth century for member of the English govern ment' even with the prestige of Lord Curzon, to try and discipline the edi- tor of the Times because he dared to differ with the foreign secretary on question of policy in Ireland by putting a social ban upon him which extended even into free America. It might have been consistent for him to have used his influence to close doors in the face of Lord North cliffe in London, but to reach out the long hand of aristocratic privilege across the Atlantic and bar him ont of the English embassy at Washing ton, even though 1t might be in dio- lomatie circles, reckoned as part of the British empire, yet 1t was certainly not in keeping with the spirit of this great republic.
 Knowing the responsibility of con- scientious journalists, am sure that Lord Northcliffe was not guilty of using the language attributed to him, and even If he did after the perform ance of the late Kaiser Wilhelm. who used the doctrine of lese mafeste to silence German newspaper men, 1t seems little out of keeping with English royalty to permit even a prime minister to drag the Kings name into a denial for political ef- feet.
 I like the manly statement made by Lord Northcliffe for saying that for some reason unknown to him, the invitations to himself and staff to stop at the embassy in Washington were withdrawn; but knowing the methods in India of Lord Curzon, the British foreign secretary, he was pretty certain that Lord Curzon had adopted methods at Washington of which he made use while viceroy in India of cutting off new supplies of newspapers that criticised him and placed a social embargo on their writers.
 Then came the significant state ment: "On the present occasion, Lord NortAcliffe says, Lord Curzon is not dealing with Indian natives or own CTS of small Indian newspapers Spoken like a true Englishman and for the honor and glory of the press throughout the world and in keeping Times, which for moro than 100 years has been an independent organ of public opinion and not merely al mouthpiece for government, 8 na tional and not a party organ.
 During the war when Lord North cliffe, fresh from the field of bat tie, where Englishmen had been slaughtered for lack of proper equip
 l.. I, ,o those in military authority first tried to deny and then silence him, but he held on his way and made changes in the face of even Kitchener, al though it was reported that there were some who wished that te might be tried and shot as traitor. Time has vindicated his fearless stand.
 No one believes that he said the things which were credited to him, and his denial ought to be sufficient in itself, and yet he will have at hisl heels in England every yelping hire ling of the government to bark and bite, and no doubt, the smart set. which hoyers around royalty, will send him to coventry but he'll fight on for the right of newspapers to criticize the acts of governments and in the end will win. Kings liveI and die, governments rise and fall. but an institution like the Times keeps on it's serene way, and l Tor one, glory in the grit and spunk Of it's fearless owner and editor, Lord ..,li