The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-05

will tell you that although President Enot is old and weary, he intends to hang on until the end of Roosevelt's term and keep the presidential chair warm for him. But although d scholar by instinct and devoted to the welfare of his alma mater Colonel Roosevelt does not feel fitted Tor such a position. It does not suit his taste He wants more active life, and likes politics better than any other occupa- ton.
 There is one thing certain, and that H he does not intend to be placed on the shen. When his term as President expires ne will be a few months past 5l years old; just at the prime of manhood, and the pc riod of highest usefulness. Two-thirds or our Presidents were older than that whSfL they were inaugurated. He has not tie slightest idea of a third term; he knows that such a thing is impossible and Tn violation of the traditions of the country and not only has authorized no one to suggest such a thing, but the talk is very offensive to him. He makes no secret or his ambition to come to the Senate rom the state of New York He talks about 1t freely, and anyone who has doubts on the subject has only to call at the White House and introduce that topic Of con yersation The President will tell him frankly that he intends to hunt and travel for a year or so and then resume ms active interest in politics and make the Senate if possible. He declares frankly that his ambition lies there, and that he hopes to realize it. He cannot help pelhs a leader. He is built that way
 The term for which Senator Platt was elected expires simultaneously With that of President Roosevelt, March 5, l9O9. sen ator Platt will be 76 years old and Sen ator Depew will be 7S on those dates ana 1t is not likely that either of them Will care to serve any longer. AL any rate' one of those two seats will no douot pc available by the time the President IS ready to move out of the White House and the signs in the sky do not re- ouire an astrologer to determine Whether he Is preparing for such a contingency. He was always against the machine uhtii he came to the White House, but wnile President he has recognized it as entitled to consideration. His first prominence III politics was gained as mutlneer al the presidential convention of 1884 and ne bas never been in entire harmony Wllh the bosses He believes in organizauoh' however. and you may be sure tnat rom this time on he will have hand Tn What ever happens in the politics Of New Aorh'
 Ex-Presidents ought to go to the oeh- ate as representatives of the country at large There ought to be a constitutlonai amendment requiring them to pass rom the White House to the Capitol lmheui- ately upon the inauguration or thelr suc- cessors and to remain there for iffe; hrst because their experience ana kho"leuse would be of the greatest benent to the country; second, they would be free rom nartisan and personal motives, and, third, they would be placed upon pedestal where their regulations could not De damaged or dignity soiled. If General Grant had gone to the Senate he might have been preserved from the conspirators of whom he was victim in Wall street, and President Cleveland would not now be sitting as an umpire Of insurance squabbles.
 There are two precedents for Colonel Roosevelt to follow. John Quincy Adams was 62 years old when he left the Whlte House and two years later accepted an election to the Twenty-second Congress, where he served eighteen years, and Congress profited by his wisdom and dis interested advice. Andrew Johnson came hack to the Senate in 1875 for a vindica- tion He made one speech. in which he submitted a statement showing the rate of the members of that body who voted in favor of his impeachment, and gloated over their misfortune. Then he went back to Tennessee and died.
 George Washington was made com mander in chief of the army after the eX- plration of his second term; Thomas Jeff ferson retired to Monticello, built the University of Virginia and devoted him self to letter writing and science, but kept his hand upon the throttle of the democratic party. Andrew Jackson be- came a political dictator and was a recognized leader of the democracy until his death Van Buren succeeded him and elected Polk and defeated Cass for the presidency President Roosevelt can find plenty of other examples among his pred ecessorS.
 nified for a man who has been President to enter the Senate as a right and an inheritance instead of being elected after a political contest. Soniepody ought to introduce an amendment to the consttu- ton. The subject has been discussed freouently Everybody Is in favor of it, just as everybody is in favor of postpon- ing inauguration day to pleasant weather, but. somehow or other, the charges Is not made
 On the last day of the year 1900 Gen eral Harrison made a speech at the Co., lumbia club of Indianapolis in which he referred to that frequently discussed top ic, What Shall be Done With Ex-Presi- dents?' and he said in a semi-jocular way:
 "The decapitation of the ex-President, when the oath of office mas been admins