Extraordinary energy and executive ability and a Napoleonic faculty of perceiving and utilizing the talents of others, are the qualities upon which the journalist and publisher, Joseph Pulitzer, has built his reputation and his fortune. He was born in Buda-Pesth, Hungary, April 10, 1847, and, after receiving a classical education in his native city, came to the United States at the age of sixteen. For two years he served as a private soldier in the Federal Army, and, afterward, failing to gain a foothold in New York city, he went to St. Louis, where he became a reporter on the Westliche Post, a German newspaper then edited by Carl Schurz. Studying law, he was next admitted to the bar of Missouri. Then he was made managing editor of the Post, and in 1869 was sent to the Missouri legislature. In 1878 he bought the St. Louis Dispatch, uniting it with the Evening Post as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which is now one of the most successful publications of the west. In 1883 Mr. Pulitzer purchased the New York World, which, thanks to his journalistic genius, is now one of the most widely read newspapers published in New York city. He was elected to congress in New York for the term of 1885 to 1887. In 1890 he erected in Park Row one of the most striking and costly newspaper buildings in the United States. In 1896 he was a strong advocate of the National (gold standard) Democratic party. Mr. Pulitzer has always been distinguished by his generous and courteous treatment of his subordinates.
John Brisben Walker.
Among the leading magazine editors of to-day is John Brisben Walker, the author and publisher of the Cosmopolitan Magazine, who is also the founder of Cosmopolitan university. He was born in western Pennsylvania, September 10, 1847, and is the son of John and Anna (Krepps) Walker, and his early education was received at Gonzaga Classical School, Washington, D. C. In 1863, he entered Georgetown university, remaining there until he received appointment to the United States military academy at West Point, in 1865. In 1868, however, he entered the Chinese military service, in which he remained for two years. Returning to America, he was married, in 1870, to Emily, daughter of General David Hunter Strother. For the next three years he was engaged in manufacturing in western Pennsylvania. In 1872 he was a candidate for congress on the Republican ticket, but was defeated. During the panic of 1873 his entire fortune was swept away. But, in spite of political and financial failure, Mr. Walker rapidly forged to the front again. He next entered in journalism, and for three years was managing editor of the Washington (D. C.) Chronicle. Then he moved to Colorado, and for about nine years was a successful alfalfa farmer in that State. In 1889 he located in New York, and bought the Cosmopolitan Magazine, of which he is still the editor. The entire plant was moved to Irvington-on-Hudson in 1895. While Mr. Walker has achieved notable success in the magazine business, the most notable work of his life was the founding of the Cosmopolitan university in 1896.
ORATORS.
Albert J. Beveridge.
When the Indiana legislature elected Albert J. Beveridge to the United States senate in 1898, he was but thirty-six years of age, and with one exception was the youngest member of the distinguished body in question. Mr. Beveridge was born October 6, 1862, in a log cabin of Highland county, Ohio, his father being a small farmer. When the war broke out the year preceding his birth, his father and his four half-brothers entered the army, while his mother volunteered as a nurse. Moving to Illinois, they settled near Sullivan, renting a small farm there. At the age of ten the future senator was a full-fledged farm hand. At fourteen he was a railroad laborer and at sixteen joined a logging camp. Whenever he could find no work he attended school. At the age of seventeen young Beveridge heard that the district cadetship for West Point was to be filled by competitive examination. He was one of the competitors, and, although practically self-educated, took second place on a list of twenty-five. In 1881 he managed to enter De Paw university, his capital consisting of $50. By wheat-cutting in the summer, serving as a steward in the college club, and winning money prizes offered to students, he managed to pay his way. Graduating from college with high honors, he went direct to Indianapolis, called on General Benjamin Harrison and asked permission to study law with him. Failing in this, he obtained employment with Messrs. McDonald, Butler & Mason, well-known lawyers at the Indiana capital, and soon became a third partner in the firm. In 1889 he opened an office of his own, and his first fee was from Governor Hovey. His initial political speech was in 1884, and, as someone has put it, he turned out to be “a revelation, a dream of oratory and a trip-hammer of argument.” His fame as a speaker being established, he was in demand in all directions. His subsequent career is well-known to the public at large. In 1887 he married Miss Catherine Maud Langsdale, daughter of George J. Langsdale, the editor of a well-known paper in Indiana.
Champ Clark.
Through the medium of a highly successful career, Champ Clark, who has a national reputation as stump speaker and forensic orator, furnishes yet another illustration of the possibilities that lie before the young American who determines to “get there.” Mr. Clark was born in Anderson county, Kentucky, March 7, 1850. First educated in the local schools, he later studied at the Kentucky university, Bethany college and the Cincinnati law school. In order to support himself while acquiring his education, he worked as a farm hand, a clerk in a country store, an editor of a country newspaper, and finally as a lawyer. Not long after he had begun to practice law for a livelihood he commenced to take an active interest in political affairs and was at length elected city attorney of Louisiana, Mo., and later for Bowling Green, Mo. He has served as prosecuting attorney of Pike county, and since 1893, has been a member of congress from the Ninth Missouri district. Mr. Clark’s eloquence, apart from his other notable qualities, makes him a prominent figure in congressional affairs.