Entry Into Journalism -- The "Westliche Post" -- Election to the
Missouri Legislature -- The Independent Republican Move-
ment -- Reforming the Missouri Constitution.

THE Westliche Post needed a reporter. Carl
Schurz, Dr. Preetorius and Louis Willich, the
city editor, took counsel together about filling the
vacancy. Mr. Pulitzer's various activities in German
circles and his more or less unattached station in life
caused his name to be brought up in the conference
without his knowledge, together with that of one
Ahrenberg, a man of experience. Both Schurz and
Preetorius were inclined to give the place to the man
with a training; but Willich, fearing a rival in Ahren-
berg, pleaded for Pulitzer, and as a result he was
accepted. When Willich sent for him and revealed
his good fortune the recipient was amazed.

"I could not believe it," he once said. "I, the
unknown, the luckless, almost a boy of the streets,
selected for such a responsibility. It all seemed like
a dream."

There was not much dreaming after he set to work.

Willich was both wrong and right in his point of
view. He was in no danger from the newcomer, so
far as his position went, for the young reporter did not
pause much between the bottom and the top. Besides

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