British Provincial Press

Leading Provincial Newspapers.

The leading English pro vincial daily papers in 1929 were: The Manchester Guardian, price 2d., founded in 1821 as a weekly Whig organ and for the last fifty years the chief exponent of Liberalism outside London. During the greater part of this period it was edited by C. P. Scott, and maintained a standard of excellence in all its branches that gave it a world-wide reputa tion. Apart from its vigorous politics it enjoys an unrivalled liter ary prestige, and a dignity of expression and presentation, unsullied by recourse to the methods of self-advertisement which seem necessary to those more popular newspapers that seek huge cir culations. It became a penny paper in 1857, two years after it had been turned into a daily journal. Prominent names associated with it have been C. E. Montague (who died in 1928),C. P. Scott's son-in-law, L. T. Hobhouse, Andrew Lang, Richard Jefferies, Richard Whiteing (who died in June 1928), Sir Claude Phillips, George Saintsbury, Laurence Housman, G. W. E. Russell, and Spenser Wilkinson. In its book reviewing, its dramatic criticism, and its foreign correspondence alone the Manchester Guardian exercises an unparalleled influence in provincial journalism, and is usually regarded as a national organ.

The Yorkshire Post, price 2d., started in 1866 as a Conservative paper and now ranks as the principal Conservative newspaper out side London, enjoying a national prestige extending far beyond the borders of Yorkshire. In its early years it devoted especial attention to racing, which was neglected by most local papers in the county in those days, and under the control of the Beckett family it rapidly attained a solid prosperity which it still main tains. It has had talented editors in H. J. Palmer, J. S. R. Phil lips, and Arthur H. Mann (its present-1929--editor).

The Birmingham Daily Post, price id., founded in 1857 by J. F. Feeney and John Jaffray (afterwards made a baronet) and now controlled by Sir Charles Hyde, Bart. It holds a position in the

midlands analogous to that of the Yorkshire Post in the north, and is edited by G. W. Hubbard.

The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury, price id., founded in 1853 as a Liberal paper, and for many years possessing as its editor the outstanding personality of Sir Edward Russell. In it absorbed the Liverpool Mercury (founded in 1811), and it holds a pre-eminent place in the life of the great seaport.

Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

In Scotland the leading news papers are the Scotsman and the Glasgow Herald, each 2d. The former was started as a biweekly in 1817 and became a daily in 1855. It was Liberal until the Home Rule split in 1886 when it adopted the Unionist cause. Alexander Russell was its most famous editor in the i9th century (1848-1876) and for many years it has been the only Edinburgh morning newspaper.

The Glasgow Herald dates from 1783, when it first came out with the extra name "and Advertiser" tacked on. It has a great literary reputation, well maintained under Sir Robert Bruce's present editorship. He follows an illustrious line of editors, in cluding Samuel Hunter, George Outram, Dr. Russell, and Dr. Wallace. The Glasgow Herald has a high reputation as a com mercial organ and is credited with having a larger sale than any newspaper published at 2d. outside London.

The daily newspapers of Scotland, which for the latter part of the i9th century were predominantly Liberal, are now Conserva tive, except the Edinburgh Evening News.

The chief newspaper in Wales is the Western Mail, Cardiff, which has recently absorbed the South Wales Daily News, and thus becomes the only morning paper in the Principality.

The only important newspaper town in Northern Ireland is Belfast, which has two historic newspapers : the Belfast News Letter, which has been in existence about 200 years, and the Northern Whig, which celebrated its centenary some years ago.