The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-09
A MEMORABLE SCENE.
WE'LL CALCULATED TO AROUSE
PATRIOTIC PRIDE.
Conservative Proceedings During the Count
OF the Electoral yotes-Hon. j. X.
fuckers Appointment.
TIMEs BUREAU, RAPLEY BUILDING,
WASHINGTON. Feb 8, 1898. J

Only once in every four years does such
a scene occur as was presented in the
hall of the House OF Representatives at
1 o'clock to-day. and no man could wit
ness without pride In his country the
moderation. the calm. deliberate, conser-
vative proceedings. and above all the
absolute good will and loyal fellowship
that settled about the immense gathering
Of the representatives of the great Ameri-
can people.
The official ballots OF the States were to
be counted for the high Office Of Presi-
dent and Vice President. and while the
absolute result was perfectly known
three months ago. this was in obedience
to the Constitution of the country. and
was the sanction Of the Government by
the people Of their will and their act.
AS early as 10 oSlock the avenues to
the Capitol were ttTonged with people,
and long before nooH every inch of space
I'm the galleries was occupied. Gray
haired women trudged along with two
generations beside Them. and scanty.
frosty locks fell aDout the drooDing
shoulders of ancient politicians, who In
trembling tones related the occurrences
Of similar scenes away back in the days
n,
Tyler. All shades of political complexion
were represented, and the multitude or
women attested the fact that interest In
such matters does not belong entirely TO
man.
Promptly at 1 o'clock Vice-President
Morton and the Senate were announced
at the door OF the House, and touch OF
the Speakers gavei brought the House TO
its feet TO receive the visitors. The pro-
IaA frv tttYn nh
and followed by the venerable captain
Rassett. who carried the two cherry boxes
containing the certificates OF the cleo
tion. The Vice-Presldent ascended the
Sneakers desk, and the Senators found
seats to the right of the desk. The hoor
of the House was opened TO the wives OF
the Congressmen. and not a single seat
was unoccupied. The tellers' senators
blackburn and Hale and Messrs. emp
man Nlichigan) and Lodge (Nassachu-
setts) proceeded at once TO announce the
votes of the States in alphabetical order.
Nhan California was reached Judge
Chipman read the vote, and atter an
nouncine eight of the votes for CleVelanu
and Stevenson, said: For the President
Mr. Benjamin Harrison, one vote, ana TOT
Vice President. Mr.. Whit-E-law Reid. one
vote" His peculiar division OF Mr. held
name caused a general smile. Ihen came
Colorado. with its four votes for weaver
an1 Field and all eyes were turned upon
the ruddy face and flowing white Dearu
of Senator Stewart. who flushed with hls
silver victory yesterday. was in the pest
nOssitle humor. Several OF his neighDors
began Joking him. and the House took up
the ripple of laughter. A minute later lhe
sonorous voice of Senator Blackburn an
nounced the vote of Illinois. "twenty-four
votes for Grover CleYeland and Adial
+ Stevenson:" then cbue good round
of applause, which brought Mr.. Morton
TO his feet, and he announced that any
indications Of approval or disapproVai
was contrary to the rules Of both houses
and v as not in keeping with the dignity
Of the occasion. This closed the rapidly
growing tendency TO extract little amuse-
ment out OF the tedious proceedings, ana
the vote was finished in comparative
quiet.
At the final announcement OF the re-
suit by the Nice-President there was
solid two seconds of generous applause
in which the galleries Joined. The Senate
then retired and the House resumed its
routine work. and the great concourse OF
people filed out Of the building
There was during the entire proceedings
an evident spirit of good humOr among
the representatives. on the floor, and no
matter how much OF destruction the result
of this election has brought 10 the politl-
cal life and ambitions Of some OF the
members of Congress, there was nothing
to evince another fact than that they
were discharging with agreeableness ana
pleasure the duty which was theirs.
The Virginia delegation have held con-
sultation and have arrived at the cOnclU
sion that az this time it is not wise Or eN-
pcdient FOR them 10 commit themselves
with regard 10 appointments. They have
been dcluged with letters and petitions
fIom every district. and ii Is matter or
practical impOsslbiiity for them To answer
all of the letters and give the slightest
attention to public business They are
persistcntly refusing TO commit them
selves now. The time has not come for
the distribution Of whatever patronage
there may be, and the importdnate appli-
cant now does not advance his chances
one whit by the embarrassing OF his Con-
gresham with endlcs solicitations
Captain Wise said to-day that he was
receiving petitions from business men and
commercial organizations asking for his
assistance in legislation. and that he was
compelled to give the matter his attention,
and that after Congress adjourned on the
4th Of March he would be glad 70 hear
from all his people who were desirous for
Office. The fact is apparent that the men
who want positions are not as cousldeTate
as they should be about the duties OF
Congressman, in which the whole country
Is vitality Interested. This is not by any
means limited TO our delegation, but
nearly every Congressman is having a
hard matter to attend TO public business
with the unusual demands made upon his
time by personal friends.
The dispatch printed in one OF the New
York papers purporting to come from
Richmond, and claiming that Mr.. Cleve-
land had announced that he would not APP
point Mr.. Tucker as his Attorney-General,
is not credited here. II is well known
that the President-elect has not announced
his determination on this subject, even
IL his mind has been fully made up
on the subject. Personal friends Of Mr..
Tucker have asked both Mr.. Carlisle and
Mr.. w l.. Wilson after their visits TO Mr..
Cleveland about this very matter, and
both of these gentlemen have stated
that he did not announce his intention,
and therefore il is not at all probable
that the distinguished Virginian' was
fully informed on this subject.
A prominent Democratic Congressman or
New England told me this morning that
a. a dinner last evening with Justice Gray,
OF the supreme court, that the Justice
remarked that he was greatly In hopes
that MIR. Cleveland would appoint Mr..
Tucker, as he considered him one OF the
best equipped men in the country for the
position.
Governor-elect McCorkle and Party
Chairman Chiffon, OF West Virginia, will
oil 10