LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
LORD NORTHCLIFFE AND THE " TIMES?'
• [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—In the review in the Spectator of March 14th of
" Moberley Bell and his Times," by F. Harcourt Kitchin, the reviewer, in the course of his reference to Mr. Moberley Bell's association with the Times, states :-
" Northcliffo himself, after ho had beggared the prestige of the paper and made it pay, as we know, died also, and now the public has seen the ' rescue ' and delights in ' the great recovery.' For the Times is its former self again with new claims to our respect."
When Lord Northcliffe acquired the Times, it had a small and declining circulation of something like forty thousand copies, and a declining advertisement revenue. He left it with a circulation of close upon two hundred thousand copies per day net, and a magnificent advertisement revenue, of which any paper would be proud. The writer of the article chooses to speak of this stroke of genius in the above terms. If this is to be " beggared,". I can conceive some other papers desiring a similar affliction.
I venture to suggest that but for the intervention of Lord Northcliffe, the Times would have shared the fate of the late Standard, and other newspapers. Papers cannot live on traditions alone.
Lord Northcliffe's one ambition was to preserve the tra- ditions of the Tinier, and increase its prosperity, and as news- paper records prove, it was something which only a genius could do.
As for the statements, quoted from Mr. Kitchin's book, that Lord Northcliffe, " though he was capable of great gener- osities, could torture those who served him without giving a thought to the pain they suffered," and that, " He was to me like a boy pulling the legs off flies," I was associated with him for thirty-five years, and know that this suggestion is as unjust as it is untrue. I have always thought it was gen- erally admitted that the material improvement in the status of journalists in Fleet Street was largely brought about by Lord Northeliffe's policy in paying high rates and salaries.
Major Astor deserves full credit for his handling of the Times and his courageous net in purchasing it. This can be accorded, and from my knowledge of Major Astor I am. quite certain that he would admit that it can be accorded, without reflecting upon the man who, quite undeniably, saved the paper from disaster.
That the influence of the Times in the collection of sub- scriptions was in no way impaired during Lord Northcliffe's proprietorship, was shown by the success of its efforts for the Red Cross during the War, and the Westminster Abbey Fund—achievements only to be matched by its recent won- derful success of the St. Paul's Restoration Fund.
I hope, in fairness to the memory of Lord Northcliffe, you will give this letter the same prominence you gave the Review. —I am, Sir, &c.,
GEORGE A. SUTTON.
The Fleetway House, Farringdon Street, E.G. 4.
[We gladly acknowledge that Lord Northcliffe rescued the Times from its financial difficulties at the time to which Sir George Sutton refers. We also acknowledge that journalism has to thank him for having notably raised its status in all its financial aspects. We do not forget, either, that it was he who first appointed the present Editor of the Times.—ED. Spectator.]
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