The age-herald., 1902-05-18
As a Man, Journalist and Congressman
Amos J Cummings


1 but developed his own talent. In less than a week he had collected one of the most brilliant staffs in the city. They l did things which no other staff had 1 thought of and which made the town ''sit up" in admiration. Some of Cum mings' raw recruits are now leading | newspaper men of the country. Cum mings could tell a newspaper man by looking at him.
 What Is News?
 One of the young chaps whom Mir, Cummings had taken on probation rush. ed into the office one day greatly ex- cited. He told Cummings he had col umn story What is it?' asked Cum mings. Some boys have tied a tin can to dogs tail and the canine has caused tremendous excitement on Park row.
 Tt Is worth three lines if well told. said Cummings; but 1 will tell you how it would have been worth a column. Ii the dog had not been frightened (as all dogs, are under the circum stances), but had bitten the string which attached the can to its tail, it would have prov ed remarkably bright animal and the incident would have been we'll worth a column. It Is the unusual that we. call ncWs.
 His Feud With John R. Young.
 One of the most bitter feuds between two mon, and which finally turned into q warm friendship, was that of Cum mings and John Russell Young Mr. Young discharged Cummings from the Tribune and Amos afterwards forced Young to leave the same paper. At the time of his dismissal Cummings was the political editor of the paper. Although l seated well within conversational dis | tance Young dictated an order to Cum . I l I4-To A. J. Cummings, political edi- tor: Hereafter you are to have all your copy In the composing-room by 10 o'clock | p. m This was signed by Young as | managing editor. The stenographer read | the order to Cummings Then he dictat- | ed: General Order No. 75-To J. R. Young managing editor: You are aware | l make up the last batch of copy from the Albany Journal. which does not reach here until 10 o'clock D. m., so | that you might as well order me to stand on the window-siii and jump to the roof" This was signed as political edi- tor. The stenographer returned and read | Order No. 75 to Young, who colored, but 1 said nothing. The following Saturday, when Cummings drew his pay envelope, | he found inclosed a note of discharge | from Young. Cummings was furious. He | started upstairs, intending to call Young
 
 encountered Horace .Greely. Mir. Greeley | tried to pour oil upon the troubled wa tcrs, He said that he alone could dis charge and told Cummings to wait until the following Monday and he would fix | matters.
 The Revenge.
 l But In the meantime, Mir Dana heard of the trouble and offered Cummings the | managing editorship of the Sun, which was accepted. It was not long until Cum mings discovered that Young was vio- latlng the rules of the Associated Press | and the Sun printed double-lead story ] regarding the matter. The leading head lines were "At Lastl At Last! John R. Young Trapped" The publication caus- .d sensation and Youngs retirement | from the Tribune followed.
 The Reconciliation. Years after. when Mir. Young returned home. having distinguished himself as minister to China. he spoke to me about Cummings, by whom ! was then em- ployed. l was ignoranl of the feud. mentioned the matter to Cummings, who told me tho story of their trouble, and added. that all bitterness upon his part had entirely died. I met Mir. Young at Long Branch a few months later and