The New York herald., 1922-10-26
The London Times" Returns.

1t is a coincidence that the acces-
sion OF a native of Canada to the
Premiership OF Great Britain should
be followed Immediately by the pur-
chase of England's greatest newspa-
per with American wealth. Major
JOHN JACOB AsToR is grandson Of
grandson of the first JOHN JACOB
AsToE. JOHN WAITER, whom he joins
in the purchase of the London Times
from the Northcliffe estate, is a
grandson of grandson of the JOHN
WALTER who founded the Times. The
fortune and the journal founded by
two enterprising men five generations
ago have endured and at last they
have come together.
The return OF the Times to Wal
ter with ain Astor as an associate is
perhaps the fate that Lord NORTH
cLIFFE would have wished for it. He
was proud of the Times. The contro.
of it was one of the inspiring dreams
OF his early struggles. When it
passed into his hands he poured into
it lavishly brains and money. But
it was not his own child as the Daily
Mail was. The most enterprising
journalist Of his age had adopted not
only great newspaper but great
tradition. He made the paper big
ger, more newsy and far more daring
than it had been in the preceding
generation. But the tradition re-
NAMED intact. The Times was still
more the Times than it was North
cliffe paper.
1t was Lord NoRrHcLrFFE's belief
and wish that the Times should be
kept as a great institution and en-
dowed. This evidently will come true,
considering the announcement OF
Mr.. WALTER and Major AsToR that 1t
is their intention and object to main
tain the highest traditions of the
Times and insure its continuance as
a national institution, solely in the
best interests of the nation and en-
pire.' This prospectus fits fairly we'll
with the report that the Times will
support the Governments foreign
policy. whether the Government be
Conservative or Liberal. but will be
independent in domestic affairs.
The return of the Times to the sup
port OF the Government-which has
been foreshadowed in its editorial
articles for several weeks--does not
necessarily mean a loss OF the cour-
age and aggressiveness which the
Times displayed under Lord NORTH
cLrFFE. The Walter tradition is a
brave one. The founder of the Times
went to prison for criticizlng Duke.
His son. the greatest of the Walters,
accepted the loss of the Government
advertising rather than support PfTT.
II il had not been for the spirit OF the
early Walters the Times would never
have reached the pinnacle of English
journalism. never would have led the
political thought of an empire for so
many years.
The Times OF to-day has no man
like the second JOHN WALTER or
like Lord NoRrHcLIFTE. II is doubt
full whether Major AsToR, who has
never taken politics or public service
quite a. seriously as mis- brother, Vis-
count AsToR. will attempt to guide
the paper. That, rs has happened In
the history OF the Times, is likely TO
be the task of its editor. II has had
editors--like DELANE-who were in
their day the very soul of the paper.
There could be no Delane under a
magnificent autocrat like NORTH
cLrFFE. Perhaps under the less
feyerish ownership Of WALTER and
AsToR we shall see the old editorial
flower blossom in the sunshine OF
tradition and gold.