The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-02-19

Electoral Vote and How 1t Is
Off cially Declared.

Ceremony AN Interesting One Boston TO
Rec i've a Benefit rom River AND
Harbor iii'I-SOme Fi.ur"s.
Fr IN Our CorreS1 II lent.
WASHINGTON Las two especially i'm
posing ceremonies every four years-one
in the month of February and one in the
month of March. The second one de-
ponds on the first. The first is the cleo
ton of the President of the United States,
and his second one is his Inauguration
by virtue of that election.
And so it was that this month William
MCKINLEY of Ohio and G. A. Hobart OF
New Jersey were formally eelected presl-
dent and vice president of the United
States, respectively, and next month
will be duly inaugurated and installed
to their official functions.
The proceedings of the declaration of
the result of the electoral count was the
elimination of series of events extend
ing over a speace of a year, all having
for their end the object accomplished
this week when Mr.. Mckinley and Mr.
Hobart were declared, in accordance
with law, duly elected president and vice
president
The first of this series Of events Oc-
CURED about 10 months ago, or less, when
in small communities throughout the
land, consisting of wards and voting
precincts in cities and of townships and
other divisions in the country, Republi-
cans began to gather in public assem-
bly, They discussed the choice of can
didates for president and vice pres-
dent.
They selected men to attend the con-
ventions, to be held later, to express
their choice. Another set of delegates
subsequently went into state conven-
lions and named men to represent their
constituents at a national convention,
which was to finally make the nomina-
lions.
This proceeding was varied in some
states by holding district conventions
and the selection only of delegates-at-
large by the state conventions.
Months were required to accomplish
all this, and it was June before the will
of the Republicans at large announced
at their primary meetings found express
sion in the nomination of Mckinley and
Hobart at st. Louis.
Then commenced another series of
events. In each state set of officials
had been nominated, called presidential
electors. In order to accomplish the
election of Mr.. Mckinley and Mr.. Ho-
bart, according to the constitution, it
was necessary to elect these presidential
electors. This was done upon a fixed
day last November.
Then, upon specified date. all of the
presidential electors met in their re-
spective states and cast their votes for
president and vice presi 7ent. This action
was certified to the president of the
United States senate in sealed commu-
niCations.
This week these communica lions were
opened in Washington in the presence
OF congress. and the votes counted. Only
this week, therefore, has it become OFF, /
cially known who were elected president
and vice president last November
The counting of the electoral vote, as
the final act in this drama is called, nat
uraIly attracts a fasge number of people
to the Capitol building. 1t is impossible
to provide seats in the galleries of the
house, in which chamber the counting
is done, for all those who desire to wit /
ness the ceremony, and two tickets of
admission were issued to each senator
and representative. The holders of these, |
together with 300 persons admitted to
the public gallery, comprised the spec
tators of the act of counting the votes.
The hall made a brilliant setting for
the impressive scene. Above, through
stained glass, which'filed the interstices
of the high fretted ceiling, shone the
escutcheons of the various states, while
the decorations. of gray and gold rel
lieved the dark spaces above the densely
crowded galleries.
The crowds in the galleries were in the .
best of humor as they waited for the
ceremonies to begin, while on the floor
the members good-naturedly exchanged
salutations. The Democrats, who four
years ago laughed at the expense of their
political adversaries, had the tables
turned upon them.
Exactly at l o'clock, Speaker Reed .
clad in long, black frock coat, which he
seldom wears, except on august occa-
sions, assembled to the rostrum, and, .
standing in front of the bright American
flag, which draped the wall in his rear,
with one sharp rap of his gavel subdued
the countless babel of voices.
Rev. H. n. Couden, the blind chaplain,
seemed impressed with the spirit of the
occasion, and delivered an inspiring
prayer, during which many of the spec
tators rose and stood with bowed heads.
The time from ~ to l was taken up
with transacting ordinary routine bust
ness of the house.
Shortly before 1 o'clock the members
of the senate left their chamber. at the
north side of the Capitol, and walked
across to the house, passing through the
vast rotunda and the old hall of repre-
sentatives, now statuary hail. where the
civic and martial heroes of the states
looked down upon the august process
sion.
Their approach was heralded by the
entrance of Colonel r. j. Bright, the
sergeant at-arms of the senate, who an
nounced, THE Senate of the United
States" Then in solemn procession they
filed in, preceded by Mr.. Cox, clerk of the
senate, and Vice President Stevenson,
and took their seats in the first four
rows of seats on the Democratic side of
the house, at the right of the speaker.
The members of the house rose and re-
NAMED standing while the senators took
their places. The assistant of Mr.. Cox
carried the red cherry, steel-clasped box
in which the returns of the As states re-