The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-30

Shocked into the consciousness of a
revelation. awed by 8, tremendous array
F, of fact and logic, which is graphically,
fearlessly, relentlessly spread before
him. the reader fairly gasps for breath.
struggles for time in which to regain
his normal peace of mind. Who has
said such things? What does the man
mean? Where did he get such facts?
On what does he build such conclus-
ions?
1t is thus Lincoln Steffens is stirring,
shocking, yet fairly hypnotizing his
readers in his uncovering of political
corruption in this country. These bold
statements, these striking conclusions
are not the theoriZing of the dOctrin-
aire, not the effusions of crank, but
cold, hard facts. and sound, unanswer-
able logic. Nor is their powerful, vivid
presentation in any sense accidental 1t
is evolution, born of education and ex-
perience, a combined power of obServa-
ton and expression.
Mr.. Steffens is Californian, grad
uate of the university of that state,
with the breadth of view and sympathy
which this environment inspires. An
eager student, with large assimilative
powers. he found his thirst for know
ledge unsatisf1ed and continued his
studies in Europe at the universities of
Berlin, Heidelberg, >~eipzig and France,
and later at the British Museum. His
interests were broad. Philosophy, eth
les, history, politics, political economy
and sociology all attracted his attention
and study, all with one definite end in
view.
Returning to the United States Mr..
Steffens tried literary work. He wrote
a short story and it was accepted by
Harper's, but his hope for returns from
this field were soon dashed to earth. 1t
was two years before he had another
story or article accepted by a maya
zine. He sought employment among
the New York newspapers and at last
secured a position on the Evening Post
on space. He made good.
There was suddenly precipitated a
panic in Wall street and, in the alb
Mr.. Steffens was assigned to cover it.
The Post scored many beats during
Mr.. Steffens' stay in the street, while
the young reporter acquired much val
liable inside knowledge of business.
TIL next important step in Mr.. Stef-
fens' schooling came in 1898, when DR..
Parkhurst set out upon the trail OF
vice and corruption in New York, and
he was detailed to police headquarters
1T was there I got in to political and
police Methods he says. particularly
those of corruption. I had studied
books; there 1 studied realities and
conditions" Here Mr.. Steffens did
most effective newspaper work. Pub
licity was his motto. Nothing escap-
ed him. All through the stirring days
of the Lexow investigation. Tammany's
overflow, and President Roosevelts
administration as police commissioner,
Mr.. Steffens was gathering news for
present, and impressions for future
use.
Promotion to the assistant city editor
ship of the Post soon followed, and with it
came the publication of interesting stories
of New York's east side and also of labor
news, faithful reporting of strikes, telling
the whole truth without bias. These
Steffens stories in the Post attracted wide
attention. and two articles by him in
Scrtbners Magazine on Great Business
Enterprises" were of striking quality.
Several stories. laid in his particular field,
concerning police and politics, and some
nction, were also published in McC1ure's
Magazine about that time. This was tho
trend.
When Henry ]. Wright became editor of
the Commercial Advertiser he made Mr.
Steffens city editor and he here also sue
ceeded.
In the fall of 1901 Mr.. Steffens accepted
position managing editor of Nc
Clure s Mas azine. In the spring of 1903,
when Mr.. S. S. Mcclure returned from
abroad. he urged Mr.. Steffens to get out
and see the country Travel and OBJ
serve people. conditions and thugs and
learn how to edit a magazine was Mr..
McClure's Injunction, and out into the
country Mr.. Steffens started. He visited
many cities and towns and talked with
politicians. editors and business men, look
Ing for ideas and impressions. In vari-