The Press. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1908. "KING DAVID OF MELBOURNE."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13289, 5 December 1908, Page 8

The Press. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1908. "KING DAVID OF MELBOURNE."

The biography of Mr David Syme, late proprietor of "The Age," and justly described as the Father of Protection in Australia, is an interesting study of a remarkable man. Born in 1827 at North Berwick, in the Scottish Lothians, where his father was parish schoolmaster, "passing rich with forty pounds a year," Mr Syme had an unhappy boyhood, owing to tho "dourness" of his father, a very worthy man, but imbued with ultra-Calvinistic severity. After a brief experience as reader on a Glasgow paper, Mr Syme went to tho Californian goldfields in 1851, but did not remain there verylong, and in 1853 he landed in Melbourne. He worked hard as a miner on tho Ballarat field, but had very little Juck. In 1556 he and his brother Ebenezer bousht the "Age" newspaper for £2000. It was a hard struggle at first, and finding there was not a living for both, David Syme left tho paper for a time and took up contracting, and was just beginning to see his way to success when his brother died. Ho then took over the "Age," and from this time onward the life history of David Syme is the story of his newspaper. For a time it was a case of "Athanasius contra mundum." Mr

Symo was pre-eminently a strong man, and a determined man. Hβ never floated with the tide; he marked out his course for himself, and put his back into the struggle. Not onco, but many times, ho was on the verge of ruin. When he first advocated protection he knew of no one in Australia who believed in protection but liimself, and, needless to say, every English economist was against him. It was not a mere academic warfare which ho had to i wage, but he had to fight for his life J against classes whose vested interests [were attacked, and who brought against

him tho boycott and every weapon they could find to crush him. Iβ tho end "ho conquered, and the position, tho power, and influence which ho ultimately, acquired through tho medium of his paper is probably unparalleled in the history of journalism. Delano of "Tho Times" exerted his influence in a ivider sphere, but ho never attained the position of personal autocracy which was ultimately achieved by David Syme. Tho present writer was in Melbourne during the timo of the Royal visit in 1901. In the great festivities which took place—tho receptions at Government House and so forth—there was one figure who seemed to rival even. Royalty itself in the court fhat was paid to him. This was the proprietor of "Tho Age" around whose tall, erect figure clustered Cabinet Ministers and high officials of every degree, anxious for a word with, the man who for years was the real ruler of Victoria, and had much to do with moulding the destinies of the ConrmonTvealth as a whole.

That this is not overstating the case will be admitted at onco by thoso who read Mr Pratt's biography of tho great journalist. From the time that David Syme and "The Age" put Graham Berry into power it may be said that no important stop was taken and no Minister appointed unless Syme was first consulted and approved. At the time of the great Constitutional crisis in 1878, when Graham Berry- on "Black Wednesday" dismissed every public officer because the- Council had laid asido tho Appropriation Bill and there was no money to pay them, a. still more remarkable illustration of Syme's influence was given. Berry got a resolution passed by tl.o Assembly to the effect that all votes passed in committee- of eupply should become legally available for expenditure immediately the resolutions were agreed to by tho Assembly and then proceeded to draw money from the Treasury in uefianco of the Audit Act. The Governor who was Constitutionally bound to follow tho advice of his Ministers, but who doubted the legality of their proposals, sent for Syme to aek him what ho should do. Syme declined to meet tho Governor in person, but sent Mr Windsor, his editor, to Government House as his representative. Mr Windsor advised the Governor to take legal advico before signing tho warrants, Sir Georce Bowen followed his counsel. It was owing to David Syme that Mr Deakin entered politics. A vacancy having occurred for Bacchus Marsh, one of Mr Berry's Ministers went to Symo and submitted tho names of candidates considered suitable. Syme shook his head. "No," said ho; "there's a young fellow in my office I " want to stand for Bacchus Marsh," and that settled it. There is no doubt that Federation would not have been carried in Australia if "The Ago" had not advocated it. '

One thing must be said in conclusion for David Syme, and that is he never used his power for his own advantage. Ho refused a title, and kept 'himself constantly in the background. ' It is said that many of his own reporters did not know him by sight. When crowds hold an ovation outside the "'Age" office on the occasion of some great popular victory and called for Byrne he made some member of his efcaff go to th© •window and the populace cheered, again an<l again, most of them none the wiser. He sunlc his own individuality in that of his paper. Perhaps th-e greatest crisis in his journalistio life was -when Mr Speight, tho Chief Commissioner of Railways, brought an action against him for libel, on account of the criticisms in the "Age" of the railway (idministration. The most powerful opponents of Sj-mo supported Speight and were -within an aoo of crushing Syme, as they hoped, to do. Tho litigation lasted three yeai-s, and Svmo's ooste had run up to £50,000.

A friend of Speight then approached Syme and suggested c compromise. The <r Age" was to make neither apology nor withdrawal, but was simply to refraini from hostile criticism if Speight was given a subordinate position, in. the Railway Department. Syin© asked Mr Deakin, who tells the story, if such a settlement might not affect the reputation of the paper, and' Mr Deakin had to admit that it irouM. "Then, •'nodding assent, he flung down, the " paper knif© he was holding as if it " were a gago of battle, saying fierce- " ly and forcibly that he would' saeri- " fico all he possessed rather than leave " the reputation of the 'Age* to the " gibe of his enemies." Ho ultimately won the case, but his opponent was bankrupt and he had to pay his own costs, amounting to £50,000. He pursued a political opponent remorseloss'ly and, to our judgment, often unscrupulously. But he never harboured any personal bitterness. After the action ! referred to ho sent for Mr Zox, i a great friend of Mr Speight, and' said ho haaru the latter was being pressed by his creditors. "It is true, sir," Zox reluctantly admitted, adding, with som« bitterness, "Tho knowledge will doubtless give you satisfaction." Syme's still, grey face lost nothing of its habitual imperturbability. "I asked for facts," he aenswerod, "not opinaons. "Are his friends assisting him?" Being ar.swered in the affirmative, Syme wrote at his desk a moment and. handed! «. paper to Z->x. "Kindly present tibis with my respectful compliments to Mr Speight,"-he saad. It was a cheque for £100. In his latter years Mr Syme prospered exceedingly, and' Victoria owes to him many howdsome benefactions. Hia biography shows that with all has outword sternness be had. a kindly heart.