The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1922-08-14
NORTHCLIFFE is
DEAD AT LONDON

givs him the rank In the social world
OF London.
Northcliffe mover cared for society
and class criticisms did not bother
him. Ills mind was too active 10
dwell for any time In reyerics. He
had an astonishing supply OF nervous
energy and his death at premature
age IN due primarily TO the fact that
he burned himself up. He played
ceascless part In the production OF
his papers. Promotion was rapid
under him and his generosity never
failed when ha cspied merit. lie paid
higher wages than any other Lon.
don publisher. But, he would not
tolerate inefficiency. This led TO u
saying In Fleet street that he made
his fortune by squeezing lemons and
throwing away the skins. The critic.
ism was misplaced. for Northcliffe
made the fortunes OF more subordl.
mates probably than all other Fleet
street proprietors combined.
NorthclIffe's political power was
international. His newspapers have
had n wide influence on foreign rela'
tions. People discussed Northcliffe's
policies as II he were prime min.
ister Northcliife was independent
and moderately progressive in his
views. Before the, war. he bitterly
attacked Lloyd Georges radicalism.
but once the conflict began North
clIffe realized Lloyd George was best
fitted 10 become war premier. The
weight OF Northcliffe's influence un.
doubtedly had much to do with
Lloyd Georges selection. During the
progress Of the war, Lloyd George
and Northcliffe worked together
without friction. despite their TEN.
peramental differences.
But. when the German break came
and the crisis was over. relations be-
tween them ceased To be amicable.
The cause OF their break probably
was the impossibllty OF two such In
dependent and active personalities
working together except under the
stimulus of national self.preservation.
Northcliffe attributed their differ
ences to Lloyd Georges refusal TO
recognize his ministry in the interest
OF greater national efficiency. Lloyd
Georges version is that the split was
due to Northcllffe's effort to dictate
to the prime minister the names OF
a peace cabinet.
After the quarrel, Northcliffe be-
gan to show the effects Of the strain
under which he had been laboring
during the war. Several times he
was ordered by his physicians to
rest, but he disregarded their advice.
Eventually he was persuaded to take
a trip around the world. The doctors
thought this would enforce quiet upon
him. Instead, Northciffe turned
special correspondent and searched
ceaselessly for news at all the stop
ping places. He broke down under
the strain and had to curtail his tour
On his return to Europe the doctors
took him in charge again. But he
refused once more to listen to them.
He became very erratic. He went
into Germany, disguised, to study
conditions there. He severely criti-
cized in public the action of his
subordinates on the Daily Mail in
agreeing with other publishers to re-
duce wages. Two of the members of
the board Of directors of the Daily
Mail started libel suits against him.
His condition alarmed his relatives
and he was finally persuaded to give
up all work and submit to medical
treatment But, he retired too late.
His heart became affected, and the
end soon. He died practically as he
had lived, at his desk.
Northcliffe, survived by his wife,
to whom he was married in 1888. He
had no children. His principal heir
is expected to be his nephew, Hon.
Esmond Harmsworth, son of Lord |
Rothermere.