The news & observer., 1897-02-11
BRYAN Received l76 Electoral
Votes; Mckinley 27l.
THE MARCH TO THE HOUSE
STATELY PROCESSION HEADED
BY STEVENSON AND COX.
THE CHERRY BOX WAS GUARDED
A Precedent Set in 1916 in the TiIden-
HAYES Excitement--Seven Sur
vivors of Those Days Pres
ent 1.-The Scene.

GTt TIC SCCISs
Washington, Feb. 10.-The electoral
votes of the 45 States of the Union We're
formally counted at the joint session OF
the House and Senate held to-day for
that purpose and Vice-Pres:dent Steven
son procIaimd the election of Mckinney
and Hobart as President and Vlce-Presl-
dent respectively. Although the sky was
overcast the weather was auSplcous ana
the galleries of the hall of representatives
were thronged. The general pubic be-
e:eged the doors in vain as but small
space was reserved for them. Ladies
were arrayed in gay toilets and gave
touches of color to the brilliant setting
of the scene. Many distinguished per-
sonages witnessed the count, among them
Ambassador paternotre and Chancellor
Bouve, of the French embassy, MIR. Chat
Chung, of the Chinese legation, BaTon
Won Theilman, Secretary Matsu, of the
Japanese legation, Vascount Thyrso, Of
the Portuguese legation and Sir Richard
Cartwright, of the Canadian govern
ment. No member of President Cleve-
lands family was present.
4 Gordon of blue coated, brass buttoned
police hedged about the Senators as they
marched maiestically over to the House
preceded by Vice President Stevenson
and Mr.. Cox, Secretary of the Senate,
with the returns locked IN a cherry color
ed box. This guarding of the returns
was a precaution first taken by acting
Vice-P President Ferry, of Michigan, ~
wears ago during the wild excitement
attending the Tihen-H Hayes contest in
authorization of possible raid. As the
House and Senate sat in joint session
to-day and listened quietly to the count,
those stirring days were recalled. Of
the Is men who sat ON the famous cleo
torai commission which decided flhat con-
test by peaceful means, Senator HoaT, Of
Massachusetts, was the only one present
to-day The others, excepting Justice
Field. have all retired from public life,
or have passed away. The vlclssltudes
of political fortune in two shorts decades
have removed all but IL of those who
then sat at either end of the capitol.
Most of the IL survivors were consp1cu-
Gus to-day in the joint assemblage. Two
of them, Senator Sherman, who is so
soon to be called to the first place IN the
Mckinley cabinet and Senator Morrill,,
of Vermont, author of the war tariff,
entered public life together 40 years ago.
The others were Senators Teller, of Col
orado, Gordon, of Georgia, Allison, of
Iowa, Cockrell, of Missouri, Mitchell, of
Oregon and Senators Hale and Frye,
of Maine, Burrows, of Michigan, Mills,
of Texas, Blackburn, of Kentucky, and
Elkins, Of West Virginia, who were then
in the House. Vice-President Steven
son was also a member of the House at
that time. Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, and
Mr.. Culberson, of Texas, alone sur
vived in the House the mutations of 20
years. although Mr.. Danford, of Ohio,
who was a member of that Congress is
also a member of the present body.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, and Sen
ator Butler, of North Carolina, who man
aged the Democratic and Populistic cam
paigns were present, but did not appear
to take deep interest in the count.
Prominent also in the sea of faces was
white haired Senator Palmer, of Illinois,
who headed the gold Democratic ticket
last fall.
The count itself was of very formal
character. Vice President Stevenson sat
at the side of Speaker Reed and pre-
sided over the joint session. Senators
Lodge and Blackburn, on the part of the
Richardson, on behalf of the House, acted
as tellers. The returns We're opened by
the President and announced by the
tellersl The reading of the certificates,
long in verbiage, was omitted after that
of Alabama had been read. No demon
stration occurred at any point during the
count. but when the Vice-PreSident, at
its conclusion, announced the result, there
was a round of applause, both on the
floor and in the galleries. The totals
were as follows:
For President-M Mckinley, 271 Bryan,
17e For Vice President-Hobart, 271;
SewaH, 149; Watson, q.
The only incident of the proceedings
occurred when Senator Lodge raised a
laugh in announcing the vote of Mis-
sonri. He gave it by mistake to Nc
Kinley. The announcement OF the
state OF the vote to-day is the only
notification the President-elect and Vice
President-elect will receive.
Mr.. Sherman and Mr.. Morrill, had the
posts of honor Immediately in front OF
the presiding officer, while TO the rignI
on uhe Democratic side the BODY OF the
Senate was ranged. The Vlce-President
occupied a seat alongside Speaker Reed
and presided over the proceedings. The
teilerS OF Ufle SENATE anu iiOuSc SN1a H'
the desks usually occupied by the clerks.
Senator Blackburn read the returns, his
strong voice resounding through the
chamber.
Alabama's vote was the first counted,
the announcement being: "Eleven votes
for VIM. Jennings Bryan and eleven
votes for Arthur Sewall."
There was no applause and the reading
of the returns proceeded in silence.
Mr.. Grosyenor made the first an
nOuncement of Mckinley electors, read
ing the vote of California, eight for Nc