It is usually supposed, and rightly so, that a young man who inherits
much wealth is not very likely to make his mark in the world. The
career of William Randolph Hearst furnishes an exception to the
general rule, however, for, in spite of being handicapped by a
comfortable fortune, he has achieved no small reputation as a newspaper
editor and publisher. Mr. Hearst was born in San Francisco, California,
and is the son of the late United States Senator George F. Hearst.
He is the owner of the San Francisco Examiner and other well-known
newspapers. In 1895 he bought the New York Journal, later purchasing
the Advertiser and consolidating it with the Journal to secure a
franchise. In 1900 he founded the Chicago American, which paper has
the largest morning circulation in the city in which it is published.
At present Mr. Hearst is publishing altogether five large newspapers:
two in New York, two in Chicago and one in San Francisco. He is a firm
believer in the theory of so-called “yellow journalism,” claiming that
with its help he reaches the masses. His papers are noted chiefly for
their brilliant editorials. Mr. Hearst advocates the cause of the
laboring classes, is a member of congress, has been mentioned as a
possible candidate for the Presidential nomination on the Democratic
ticket in 1904.