The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-04-28
HISTORY BUILDERS.
The Senator Who Did Not Profit BY
Being Frugal.
Written Expressly for The Herald.
BY DIR. Il. }. EDWARDS.

Written Expressly for The Herald.
| BY DIR. T.. }. EDWARDS.
Shortly after the late Thomas Collier
Platt retired permanently from the
United States Senate. he spoke reminis-
Gently. and not boastingly. OF some Of
the features of his strange and truly
sensational political career. He had
served in the Lower House Of Congress
and he had been three times elected to
the United States Senate for New York
and had served two full terms His
dramatic resignation Of his seat in the
Upper House six weeks after he first en-
tered the Senate chamber as Senator has
become one OF the traditions Of Ameri-
can political life.
For two years after his resignation
from the Senate he was regarded as a
political outcast. Five years afterward,
he regained his ascendency in the party
Organization Of his State and he returned
10 the United States Senate fifteen years
after his resignation. He closed a briaf
speech Of his political career by asking:
After all. what was IL all WORTH"
There seemed to be a hint Of sadness
in his tones as there certainly was an
expression OF regret in his eyes as he
made this singular comment
Senator Plat was presumed to have
accumulated comfortable fortune,
chiefly by frugality. He received for
some thirty years a salary of $4,000 a
year for his services as president Of the
United States Express COMPANY. a COR
pofaton which recently decided to Iiuut-
date. He had for twelve years a salary
as Senator? He received dividends upon
stock which he had gradually accumu-
lated. but his entire annual income was
estimated To be not in excess Of S3o.no
Senator Plat never speculated. He was
never engaged with those VIC practi ed
the art of high finance He was very
frugal. In his personal tastes he was
simplicity itself He eschewed alcoholic
drinks Of all kinds. and rarely tasted a
glass Of wine. only going through the
motions OF doing so when he was a guest
at some dinner. He was member OF no
club. He did not care for sports He was
fond Of music, and at one time possessed
an agreeable voice He cultivated with
great skill the science Of saving his per-
nfes. He permitted himself no other cx-
travagance than the Indulgence Of a cum
Gus fondness for neckwear.
Yet shortly after Senator Platt's death.
in 1910. IL was discovered that he left
practically no estate. At one time he
was able to estimate his Accommodations
al about SOc,eh Presumably the greater
part OF his estate was absorbed in IN
happy litigation. which marred the latter
part ~ his life Possibly il was the cnn-
sc'ousnNss that in spite Of his frugahty
all that he had accumulated was gone,
which led him to ask: After ALL what Is
il all WORTH
And when few NJ the frieQds Of Sena-
tor Platt had confidential knowledge THAT
he died poor man they were impeited
To consider the difference between his
estate in that respect and that Of his cuI-
league. Senator ConklinE. For after tie
death OF Senator COnklinE. which was
OccasiOned by exposure in the blizzard OF
March. lS>S. il was learned that his estate
was appraised al about sScy60, and he,
too was frugal man.
rCoTyTisht. :sIi. by n- 2 J. Eduards. All nights
resaTvsd.l
Tomorrow DR. Edwards will tell Of
Thomas c. Platts Recipe for Political
Success"