The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-12
Special to the New York World.

X@ ASHINGTON.--Ever attendant
 kVV of the Arlington hotel lined up
 w along the hallway leading to Vermont avenue at 10:SO o'clock this morning when Thomas Collier Platt, retir- ing senator from New York, was helped to the carriage that waited to take him to the railway station. As matter of fact. the old-time political boss was carried. His unsteady feet trailed the marble fioor but he was supported on each side by an attendant. In response to the Goodbye senator" that every clerk and bellboy called after him, MT Platt smiled feeble acknowledgment. Bundled into the car riage he sank back in tke seat and was whirled away to the station. He was helped Into a parlor car, accompanied by his secretary and one personal attendant.
 Few of the men who witnessed his de- parture expect him to return in any ca pacity To personal friends Mir Platt
 said that he would devote himself to his express company. When asked to re-
 view his 12 years career as a senator, he shook his head and said slowly:
 "What's the use? I have done that al-
 
 after my health and take things easy. I have earned a rest Don't you think so?"
 The old-time boss had few callers dur ing his last days in Washington. Not
 more than half a dozen of the thousands of New York republicans who came to the inauguration called to cheer up the
 boss who a few years ago welded such immense political power. Yet goodly number owed to his favor the positions in the government service that they hold today. If MT. Platt experienced any resentment because of the slight he did
 not say anything.
 The last view that Thomas Collier
 Platt had of Theodore Roosevelt, the l man he placed in line for the Presidency l by compelling his nomination for gover-
 nor Il years ago. was somewhat pictur- esque. On the morning of the inaugura- | tion MT Platt braved the storm raging
 in the Capital City to witness the retire ment of MT. Roosevelt from the presi- | dency and the swearing in of his sue 1 cessor. He remained in the Senate cham I Der only long enough to see Mr. Taft | take the oath of office.
 Then he was helped to the room of l
 the committee on printing, of which he 1 was for years the chairman. This room 1 is on the first floor of the Senate wing l of the Capitol. It's windows command
 views to north and east. The old-time | boss, who had witnessed the swearing in l of Elihu Root as his successor, before he l quilted the Senate chamber was assisted
 to a comfortable, deep leather chair This | was wheeled to one of the windows. A | big beaver overcoat was draped about his
 frail shoulders. His silk hat rested on | his head.
 1 For nearly half an hour the aged poll l tician sat looking out over the plaza TWO | inches deep in slush and snow Fffty rect | from the window began the double line or 1 800 New York county republicans al the | head of whom was Herbert Parsons,
 chairman of the county committee In | that day. not so remote, when MT. Platt
 er,pped the republican organization poll 1 tics of the metropolis, MT. Parsons was an infant in the game of which he is now A boss by favor of MT. Roosevelt.
 The boss emeritus viewed with unusual | interest the activities of Mir. Parsons
 marshalling his forces to escort MT.
 Roosevelt from the Capitol to the train which was to take him to private life after seven busy years in which MT. Platt had had no part. Presently MT.