Much more important than this clearly applicable test of vocabulary is
the more general and less measurable test of programmes and news. The
programme of National Guilds, for instance--"Guild Socialism" as "The
New Age," its advocate in this country, has called it--is followed
everywhere, and is everywhere considered. Journalists employed by
Harmsworth, for instance, use the idea for all it is worth, and they
use it more and more, although it is as much as their place is worth
to mention "The New Age" in connection with it--as yet. And it is the
same, I think, with all the efforts the Free Press has made in the
past. The propaganda of Socialism (which, as an idea, was so
enormously successful until a few years ago) was, on its journalistic
side, almost entirely conducted by Free Papers, most of them of small
circulation, and all of them boycotted, even as to their names, by the
Official Press. The same is true of my own effort and Mr. Chesterton's
on the "New Witness." The paper was rigidly boycotted and never
quoted. But every one to-day talks, as I have just said, of "The
Servile State," of the "Professional Politician," of the "Secret Party
Funds," of the Aliases under which men hide, of the Purchase of
Honours, Policies and places in the Government, etc., etc.
More than this: one gets to hear of significant manoeuvres, conducted
secretly, of course, but showing vividly the weight and effect of the
Free Press. One hears of orders given by a politician which prove his
fear of the Free Press: of approaches made by this or that Capitalist
to obtain control of a free journal: sometimes of a policy initiated,
an official document drawn up, a memorandum filed, which proceeded
directly from the advice, suggestion, or argument of a Free Paper
which no one but its own readers is allowed to hear of, and of whose
very existence the suburbs would be sceptical.
Latterly I have noticed something still more significant. The action
of the Free Press takes effect sometimes _at once_. It was obvious in
the case of the Spanish Jew Vigo, the German agent. On account of his
financial connections all the Official Press had orders to call him
French under a false name. One paragraph in the "New Witness" broke
down that lie before the week was out.