Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1896-12-12
GETS 1T FROM THE PAPERS.
In No Other Way Does a President Elect
Know That EIc Is Elected.

In No other Way Does President Elect
Know That He Is Elected.
Mr.. Mckinley will have to learn
from tho newspapers that he has re-
ceived majority of the electoral votes
and has been duly and formally elected
president of the United States. When
a 5000 government clerkship is filled,
the appointee receives notice from the
civil service commission. 4 member
elect of congress is given certificate by
the secretary of the state in which he
lives A postmaster, after being con-
frmed 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 1876, 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, i'll joint session, with
much formality. every step III which IS
directed by law, the returns are can
yassed. 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 tho two men
found to be elected.
When Mr.. George f. Edmunds was
in the senate. he had good deal to do
with the drafting Of the elaborate law
under which the electoral votes arc now
canvassed He was asked one day how
a man elected TO the presidency was go
ing to find it out.
"By reading tho newspapers, was
the reply.
AS Inauguration day draws near a
committee of senators and representa-
tives is appointed II have il charge the
arrangements. tbs committed usually
has some corrosncu,lcncc With tbs preei-
dent elect to learn his personal wishes
regarding tie programme Nothing
however, il the to-::: vi ~ oiiic:..l state
ment OF the c;.ll,;.>s Of tho 1ctnrns is
sent TO the president cl>ct.
When the proper tho comes, Mr.
Mckinley, having real il the newspa-
pers that he has been elected, Will go TO
Washington. lie will call upon Presi-
dent Cleveland. An hour later Presi-
dent Cleveland will call upon Mr.. Nc
Kinley. These calls will take place II
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, i'll the presidents room, the COM
mittee of arrangements will meet the
president elect and the president to cs'
cort them to the senate chamber. That
will be the first official information Mr.
Mckinley will receive that no 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 rs 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 a
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 al 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 q change
&c administration, 81 TOnis GlOhe-
Democrat.