| AdminHistory | In 1900 the Welsh politician and later British Prime Minister David Lloyd George appealed to George Cadbury to assist him in obtaining control of the 'Daily News' to give a public voice to Liberal anti-imperial views. Influenced by the pacifist views of Quakerism, Cadbury himself opposed the Boer War and contributed £20,000 towards the purchase of the newspaper. Crosfield describes the 'change in the policy' of the newspaper which followed this purchase, and which 'created a profound effect on the country'. Crosfield suggests that 'the spirit of Liberalism revived' through the 'Daily News' which 'gave a powerful influence to the cause of peace'. However, the newspaper also faced much public opposition from people who supported the Boer War. This led to a boycott by advertisers and a significant financial loss for the newspaper. Amidst these difficulties Mr. Thomasson of Bolton who, like George Cadbury, had contributed £20,000 to purchase the paper, withdrew his share. Following Thomasson's withdrawal George Cadbury contributed a further £20,000 and assumed control of the newspaper. Cadbury's biographer A. G. Gardiner served as editor of the 'Daily News' for a number of years and his son Henry Tylor Cadbury and future son-in-law Bertram Crosfield were also involved in its management. Beyond promoting anti-war views, the 'Daily News' supported social improvement schemes, initiated charitable funds to relieve poverty in the London docks, promoted Old Age Pensions and publically opposed sweated labour. In 1906 George Cadbury funded an Exhibition of the Sweated Industries in Bournville through the 'Daily News' in order to increase public awareness about the inhumanities of sweated labour. |