The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-12-11
GETS 1T FROM THE PAPERS.


In No Other Way Does a President Elect
Know That He Is Elected.
Mr. Mckinley will have to learn
from the newspapers that he has re-
ceived a majority Of the electoral votes
and has been duly and formally elected
president of the United States. When
q 5000 government clerkship is filled,
the appointee receives notice from the
civil service commission. member
elect of congress is given certificate by
the secretary of the state in which he
lives. A postmaster, after being con-
firmed by the senate, is given commits
sion. But the citizen who is elected to
the highest office in the gift OF the
American people receives no notice, no
certificate, no commission.
Several years ago, after the uncom-
Portable experience in 1875, congress
passed an electoral law, setting forth in
much detail the procedure for the recep-
ton and canvass of ballots cast by the
electors. These electors meet at the
state capitols and prepare the returns.
Three sets of returns are forwarded
from each state to Washington. They
are guarded with great care On the ap-
pointed day the senators march over to
the house, and, in joint session, with
much formality, every step in which is
directed by law, the returns are can
vassed Then the vice president an
nounces the names of those chosen for
president and vice president for the term
beginning on the 4th Of March. With
that the formalities end. There is no
provision for any notice to the two men
found to be elected
When Mr. George T. Edmunds was
in the senate. he had good deal to do
with the drafting Of the elaborate law
under which the electoral votes are now
canvassed He was asked one day how
man elected to the presidency was 60
ing to find it out.
"By reading the newspapers, " was
the reply.
AS inauguration day draws near
committee of senators and representa-
tives is appointed to have In charge the
arrangements. This committee usually
has some correspondence with the presi-
dent elect to learn his personal wishes
regarding the programme. Nothing,
however, in the form of an official state
ment of the canvass of the returns is
sent to the president elect.
When the proper time comes, Mr..
Mckinley, having read in the newspa-
pers that he has been elected, will 60 to
Washington. He will call upon Presi-
cent Cleveland. An hour later Presi-
Unit Cleveland will call upon Mr.. Nc
Kinley. These calls will take place
day or two before the 4th of March. On
the morning of the 4th President Cleve-
land will come to the hotel again, take
Mr.. Mckinley in an open barouche be-
hind four black horses and ride with
him to the senate wing of the capitol.
There, in the presidents room, the COM
mittee of arrangements will meet the
president elect and the president to es
cort them to the senate chamber That
will be the first official information Mr..
Mckinley will receive that be is to be-
come president of the United States.
All of the information that he has had
to guide him up to that moment Will
have been derived from the newspapers.
Ten minutes later Mr.. Mckinley Will
put his hand on the open Bible and be
sworn by Chief Justice Fuller. That act
will make him president of the United
States. Without scrap of paper to show
his authority he will enter upon his du'
ties as president.
The act of President Cleveland in call
ing for Mr.. Mckinley and escorting him
to the senate is one of courtesy only.
President Cleveland will learn that Mr..
Mckinley is to be his successor in the
same way that Mr.. Mckinley will
through the newspapers. 1t is within
the memory of many now living that
president declined to perform this act OF
courtesy and that president elect made
his way alone to the capitol to be re
ceived by the senate and sworn. Presl-
dent Andrew johnson refused to go with
General Grant.
1t seems singular that with all OF the
elaborate electoral programme there
should be no provision for an official
notification of his election to the presi-
dent elect and that with all Of the cere-
mony of Inauguration there should be
issued no commission, no proclamation,
to give official information of change
of administration. st. Louis Globe
Democrat.