More popular than Jesus in all of us." Adamant that he was not comparing himself with Christ, he tried to explain the decline of Christianity in the UK. Pressed for an apology by a reporter, he said: "if you want me to apologise, if that will make you happy, then OK, I'm sorry." Journalists gave a sympathetic response, and told Lennon that the Bible Belt were "quite notorious for their Christian attitude". When the tour began, it was marred by protests and disturbances. Telephone threats were received, and concerts were picketed by the Ku Klux Klan. "Daily Express" writer Robert Pitman, responding to the
Evening Standard evening edition eclipsed its morning counterpart. Both "The Standard" and the "Evening Standard" were acquired by C. Arthur Pearson in 1904. In May 1915, Edward Hulton purchased the "Evening Standard" from Davison Dalziel. Dalziel had purchased both papers in 1910, and closed "The Standard", the morning paper, in 1916. Hulton introduced the gossip column "Londoner's Diary", originally billed as "a column written by gentlemen for gentlemen". In 1923, Lord Beaverbrook, owner of the "Daily Express", bought Hulton's newspapers, although he sold them shortly thereafter to the "Daily Mail"s owner Lord Rothermere, with the exception of the "Standard". It became a