ABSTRACT
Lincoln Steffens, born in California in 1866, was permitted by his wise and considerate father to follow pretty much his own bent. Because he early came to understand the reasons for the failure of political reform, he did not, like so many of his fellow muckrakers, either resort to the fleshpots of the status quo or take flight into the obscurity of inaction. The forced return to England of The Evening Post’s regular financial reporter sent Steffens to Wall Street during the 1893 depression. Late in 1893 Steffens became the first regular reporter to be assigned by the Post to police headquarters. Contact with business and political bosses taught Steffens a basic lesson in social organization. By the time the Lexow Police Investigation began to uncover the scandalous corruption of the police, Steffens had already established himself as a fearless and formidable journalist and a pillar of strength to the reformers.
