The Dickinson press., 1888-05-26
GREELEY'S DISCOVERY.
HOW THE TRIBUNE PHILOSOPHER
FOUND AMOS J. CUMMINGS.
The Typesetter's First Interview with
the Famous Editor-Somethins The
Tribune Had to Take Back-Reading
Dann'S Choice Obituaries.

Tribune Had to Take Back-Neadins
Dann's Choice Obituaries.
The clcVcrt.st newspaper men, when pushed
into the walks Of craftsmanship, have rarely
fulfilled the promises of their journalistic ca
rters. But | look for different result in
Amos j. Cummings case. He has al abuntl-
a,r'e of that laIn mental commodity known
as horse sense. There is nothing of the the
oriSt about him He is eminently practical,
earnest, energetic, courageous and honest. [
know of II" young man who ever entered
congress with brighter prospects He was
offered $1,000 a year-as much rs his con-
gressional salaiy-to write over his own sig
nature one letter week for II newspaper
about the doings Of the house.
Cummings name brings to my mind his i'll
direct connection with the newspaper killing
of II number of American statesmen for
whom the last trump had not been blown--or
played, whichever you prefer. When Horace
Greeley, one of the best and prota'wst nf
men, was editor of The Tribune, Amo, Gum
mings entered the employ of that newspaper
as n typescttcr He then lived in Newark
One afternoon The Evening Telegram pub
liShed q report of tho death of William
Wright United States senator from New
Jersey. 1t was an event i'm the political
world, and Greeley wrote an editorial upon
it. 1t fell to Cummings lot to place n pnr-
tion of the article in type. Having Just come
from bis New Jersey home. he knew that the
report of Senator Wrghts death was ,,ll-
true, and so informed ths foreman of the
composing room, who told him that he should
so down stairs and tell the old man.
INTERVIEWING; HIS CHIEF
Cummings, with his sleeves rolled UP, and
still wearing his ink smeared apron, walked
into the slnctum of the Sage of Chnpm,-
qua, and in his blunt way said: "Sepator
Billy Wright is not dead"
Looking up, Greeley, in his peculiar fal-
setto voice, eXclaimed: "Who in - are
you.'
81 work upstairs i'll the composing roonl,''
was the quiet answer.
Young man., squeaked out Greeley,
you're - fool. Go read The Telegram. IS
The young printer said not another word,
but walked upstairs and finished putting in
type the editorial sermon over the living sen-
ator's body. Two days afterward The Trib-
unc was obliged to correct its false state
'ment Of Wright's DEATH
1t did not take Greeley long to find that
Very long before the typescttcr was city
editor of the great journal. At that time
there were two New York congressman bear
ing the name of James NJ. Humphreys. One
was from Buffalo, and Democrat: the other
was from Brooklyn, and Republican, and
was at one time postmaster Of that city. The
news editor, Otterson, i'll recording in the
columns of The Tribune their votes on i'm
portant public measures almost invariably
mixed them up in one way or another and
led Mr.. Greeley into mistaken criticism that
filled him with agony.
GLAD TO HEAR IT.
One night the dear old man walked into
the editorial room and asked is there any
news on which he could rake editorial com
ment. Congressman Humphreys is dead. ''
answered Cummings
SIS he;" sqlcaked Greeley. "I'm - glad
to hear it. Now The Tribune can he right
about his vote. What have You got about
him.' he continued, turning to Otterson.
The news editor promptly reeled off what
lie had before him about the BROOKLYN Re.
publican Greeley went down stairs and wrote
Il strong editorial on the subject The mex,
morning all the other newspapers contained
particulars of the death of the Buffalo Demo
crat. The Brooklyn Congressman was still
alive. When Greeley discovered the erro,
lie had been led into, the azure hue i'll whct
distance robes the mountain is pale, indeed
beside tho sapphire atmosphere of The Tri
bune office. After he had become value.
attache Of The Sun and one of its stockhnll
crs, Cummings had the privilege of reading
editorial obituaries of Daniel Manning AM
Henry Wattersoll. written by the nervous
forceful pen of Charles \. Dana. They wer,
put in type-at various times, of coursc-bu
were not published because the ontstretche,
wings of the angel Of death were again close.
in each instance and the shadow passed away
But Cummings thought it Il monstrous sham,
that men in memory Of whom Charles \
Dana had poured forth his choicest utter
ances should not hear them while. favorc,
above all others. they were alive to cnio,
them. Accordingly he had proofs of botl
articles struck and actually read to Manuin.
and Watterson what The Sun had PROPOSED
saying over their biers. \ man who coult
do that will he able to hold his own, think
even in the American congress-Cor Phila
rla1nhio proSc