Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-03
Man of, Varied Career.

Representative Amos j. Cummings was a
statesman, a soldier.=a politician, a news
paper man, printer in all of which he
was pre-emfnent. AZ a happy student Of
the optimistic side of Human nature he per-
haps reached his fullest stature. He was
loved by host of personal friends. His
word was invidlabfe. his Information ex-
haustive. While representing the acme of
machine politics in the nation he was him
self the acme Of Individual attractiveness
and simplicity. t>u-e ~ -.
He first saw the light of day IN the town
Is, 1871. His father and grandfather were
clergymen of the Christian Church. Young
Cummings got a common school education
in his native town, and at the age of
twelve, when his father was editor of the
Christian Palladium and the Christian Mes
senger. he entered the printing Office as an
apprentice in the composing room. He
quickly learned the business, and then came
a period of four years during which he
left home and hoed his own row as COM
positor in over half of the states of the
Union, spending most of this period in the
west and south.
Joined the Walker Expedition.
In 1857, when sixteen years old, he found
himself at Mobile Ala and Joined the ia
nous Walker expedition, which wound up
with his capture. with several hundred 9TH
ers, by the United States sloop-of-war St.
Mary's.
AS soon as he was released he went to
New York and made the start m Inc field
of metropolitan Journalism by obtaining
position in the composing room of the New
York Tribune. He remained there until the
outbreak of the civil war, when he at once
Joined the Goth New Jersey Regiment of In
fantry, I'd Brigade, I'd Division, 9Th Corps
Army of the Potomac. He was sergeant
major of his regiment and was in many
battles. He was officially commended for
gallantry at Fredericksburg and ultimately
received the congressional medal of honor.
He returned from the war to New York
just in time to participate in the defense of
the Tribune Office when it was mobbed in
the riot Of 1868.
Went Back to His Trade.
Mr.. Cummings went to work again at his
trade, being one of the four compositors
who remained in the Office. Soon after this
he Joined in strike for higher wages and
lost his position. whereupon he secured
work setting type for the Yonkers States
man. In little while he received the Of
fer of an editorial position on the Tribune
staff, and in 1864 he was placed in charge
of the weekly edition. He served later as
night editor, city editor and political editor
of the Tribune, under Horace Greeley, and
he had charge of the political department
of the paper during the first Grant cam
paign.
In 1859 he became managing editor of the
New York Evening Sun, then insignificant
both in circulation and influence. Mr.. Cum
mings inspired 1t with new life. For four
years he labored with almost unequaled
zeal and acquired for himself a reputation
as journalist second to none in the coun-
His health broke down under the strain
and in 1872 he took an extended trip to
rest. He travelled all through the south
t ana Mss and a seEs to the Sun S
tention. HIS Florida letters were sneciaIlv
noteworthy. t"iabi
In the spring Of 1875 he returned to New
York and took tharge Of the New York
Evening ExpresP which position he held
until the nomination. of Mr.. Tilden for
In 1884 Mr. Cummings was elected presf-
dent Of the New York Press Club He ac-
cepted reelection, but declined third
nomination. In the, fall of 1886 he was
elected for the first time to Congress, and
on March II Of the i1ext year he became
remained until the opening Of Congress In
December. f&S
Failed of denomination.
In 1888, when tn rxt congressional cam
paign arrived. he& turned down for re-
of his friendship YoE Col Michael C.. MUIR
ply, one Of the leaders Of the county de-
mocracy
On the death of Samuel S. Cox which oc-
Cured in 1889. Mr. Cummings was norni-
mated by Tammany Hall from the ninth
congressional district, which Mr. Cox had
represented for so many years, and was
elected by large majority.
He served during the Fffty-first, Fifty
second and Fifty-third Congresses from
that district, but when the nominal lions for
the Fifty-fourth Congress were made on
account of his weli-known popularity, he
was sent to the thirteenth district. which
had been represented by John De Witt
q nj 6eIt
he was carried down by the wave Of re-
form which swept over New York city in
1894, and was defeated by 40 votes
Andrew j. Creasen, who had defeated
Gen. Daniel Sickles In the tenth congress
sional district. died the following spring
and Mr. Cummings was nominated at q