The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-12-07
OUT OF NEWSPAPERS.
HOW A PRESIDENT ELECT KNOWS ne
is ELECTED.

formation Of His Elevation to tho High
st once In tho Git OF the American
Peopie-How He Enters Into His Duties
Mr.. Mckinley will have 10 learn from
the newspapers that he has received a
majority of the electoral votes ana mas
been duly and formally elected presi-
dent Of the United States. When $500
government clerkship is filled, the ap.
pointee receives a notice from the civil
service commission A member elect or
congress is given certificate by the Sec
retary of the state in which he lives. A
postmaster. after being confirmed by the
senate, is given a commission. 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 re-
ception 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 APP
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 canvass
ed Then the vice president announces
the names of those chosen for president
and vice president for the term begin
ming Oh the 4th of March. With that
the formalities end. There is no pro-
vision for any notice to the 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 are now
canvassed. He was asked one day how
a man elected to the presidency was 60
ing to find it out.
"By reading the newspapers" was
the reply.
AS Inauguration day draws near a
committee of senators and representa-
tives is appointed to have in charge the
arrangements This committee usually
has some correspondence with the pres
ident 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.. Nc
Kinley, having read in the newspapers
haf ha ole xrill 70 !
Washington. He will call upon Presi.
dent Cleveland. An hour later Presi-
dent Cleveland will call upon Mr.. Nc
Kinley. These calls will take place a
day or two before the 4th of March. On
the morning Of the 4th President Cleve-
land will 60 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 PRESIDENT room, the COM
mittee Of arrangements will meet the
president elect aud the president to es.
cort them 10 the senate chamber. That
will be the first official information Mr..
will receive that he. is to be-
come president Of the United States.
All Of the information that he has had
10 guide him up TO that moment will
have been derived from the newspapers.
Ten minutes later Mr. Mckinley will
put bis 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
how his authority he will enter upon
lis duties as president.
The act of President Cleveland in
falling for Mr.. Mckinley and escorting
Tim to the senate is one Of courtesy only.
resident Cleveland will learn that Mr..
Mckinley is to be his successor in the
anne way that Mr.. Mckinley will
through the newspapers. 1t is within
he memory of many now living that q
declined to perform this act
# courtesy and that a president elect
made his way alone to the capitol 60 DO
eceived by the senate and sworn. Pres
dent Andrew johnson refused to go
With General Grant
1t seems singular that with all Of the
Elaborate electoral programme there
hould be no provision for an official
otification Of his election to the presi.
ent elect and that with all Of the cere-
nony of inauguration there should be
ssued no commission, no proclamation,
o give official information of change
administration Louis Globe
Democrat.