The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-11
And the Election Of william McKin-
claimed by the Joint Convention.
AN INTERESTING CEREMONY
THAT WAS WITNESSED BY MANY
DISTINGUISHED PERsONAGEs,
And Participated I'm by Most of the
Survivors OF the Famous Hayes
Tilden Count of 20 Years Ago.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10. - The electoral
votes of the forty-ive States of the Union
were formally counted at the joint session
of the House and Senate held to-day for
that purpose. and Vice President Steven
son proclaimed the election of Mckinley
and Hobart as President and Vice Presi-
dent respectively. The vote for President.
as announced, was: Mckinley, 271: Bryan.
116 For Vice President: Hobart. 271 Sew
ALL l49; Watson, ~ The announcement OF
the state of the vote is the only notification
the President-elect and Vice President
elect will receive No official communica-
tion is sent TO them.
Although the sky was overcast, the
weather was auspicious and the galleries
of the Hall Of Representatives were
thronged. The general public besieged the
doors in vain, as but small space was re-
served for them. Many distinguished per-
sonages witnessed the count among them
ambassador Patenotre ard Chancellor
Bouve of the French embassy Mr. Chung
Of the Chinese delegation. Baron Won Theil-
man, Secretary Matsu of the japanese ie-
cation. Viscount Thyrso OF the Portuguese
legation, and Sir Richard Cartwright OF the
Canadian government. No member OF
President Cleveland's family was present.
n tOfuOlt Ol DlQS-COdlSQ, Dr1SS-DQIlOnGQ
police hedged about the senator's as they
marched majestically over to the House.
preceded by Vice President Stevenson and
Mr.. Cox, secretary Of the Senate. with the
returns locked in a cherry-colored box.
This guarding of the returns was precau-
ton first taken by acting Vice President
Ferry, OF Michigan, twenty years ago, dur
ing the wild excitement attending the Til
den-Hayes contest in anticipation of a pos
A in.
joint session to-day and listened quietly To
the count those stirring days were recalled.
OF nfteen men who sat on the famous eiec-
toral commission which decided that con-
test by peaceful means Senator Hoar. OF
Massachusetts, was the only one present
to-day. The others, excepting Justice Field
have all retired from public life or have
passed away.
ONLY SEVENTEEN LEFT.
The vicissitudes of political fortune In two
short decades have removed all but seven
teen of those who then sat at either end
of the Capitol. Most OF the seventeen sur
vivors were conspicuous to-day in the Joint
assemblage. Two OF them. Senator Sher-
man, 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 for
ty years ago. The others were Senators
| son OF Iowa. Cockrell of Missouri, Mitchell
or oregon, and Senator's Hale and Frye OF
Texas. Blackburn of Kentucky and Elkins
| of West Virginia, who were then in the
House, Vice President Stevenson was also
member OF the House at that time. Mr..
Cannon of Illinois, who lost one term, and
Mr.. Culberson. Of Texas. alone survived IN
the House the mutations OF twenty 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 Senator
roll inn nh
the Democratic and Populistic campaigns
were present but did not appear 10 take
| also in the sea OF faces was white-haired
| Senator Palmer. OF 1hinois, who headed the
gold Democratic ticket last fall
The count itself was OF a very formal
character. Vice President Stevenson sat ar
the side Of Speaker Reed and presided over
the joint session. Senator's Lodge and
| Messrs. Grosvenor and Richardson on he
half OF the House acted as tellers. The re-
turns were opened by the Vice President
and announced by the tellers. The reading
| of the certificates. long I'm verbiage was
| omitted after that of Alabama had been
| read. No demonstration occurred at any
| point during the count, but when the Vice
| President at its conclusion announced the
result there was round OF applause both
on the hoor and In the galleries. Senator
Lodge raised a laugh in announcing the
vote of Missouri. He gave IL by mistake TO
mckinley On the announcement of the
| vote of Connecticut there was some con-
| fusion in the gallery opposite the speaker's
chair caused by the fainting of a lady She
was promptly carried into the corridor.
BEFORE THE COURT.
Although the ceremonies were not to be-
| gin until O'Clock the galleries were thrown
| open TO the fortunate possessors of tickets
| at 10 o'clock and within half an hour all
the galleries except those reserved for the
diplomatic corps and the President were
| packed to the doors and many ladies in
| foilatS TRn han
| 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
| densely crowded galleries. The crowds I'm
| the galleries were I'm the best or humor
| they waited for the ceremonies to begin.
| while on the floor the members good-natur-
| edly exchanged salutations. The Democrats,
who four years ago laughed at the expense
| of their political adversaTies, to-day had the
| tables turned upon them.
Exactly at II O'Clock Speaker Reed. clad
in long black frock coat. ascended the
! rostrum and. standing in front OF the
bright American flag which draped the wall
in his rear. with one sharp rap of his gavei
| subdued the countless babel of voices. Rev.
| Couden, the blind chaplain. seemed i'm
| pressed with the spirit Of the occasion and
delivered an inspiring prayer. Many of the
| spectators rose and stood with bowed
| heads. AS soon as the reading OF the Jour
| nal was begun the babel broke forth again
| only TO be interrupted with sharp round
| Of applause from the Republicans as Mr.
| Dingley. chairman OF the committee on
| ways and means and the floor leader OF
| the House. walked down the aisle TO his
| seat. When the reading was concluded some
| routine matters in which the spectators
! were in no wise interested was transacted
| 10 kill time until the event OF the day was
4 due.
| Shortly before I o'clock the members Of
| the Senate left their chamber at the north
! side or the Capitol and walked across TO
| the House, passing through the vast rOtun-
| da and old Hall OF Representatives now
! Statuary Hall. where the civic and martial
heroes of the States looked down upon
| them. Their approach was heralded by the
entrance OF Colonel Richard j. Bright. the
| sergeant-at-arms OF the Senate. who am
, nounced The Senate of the United States"
| Then the solemn procession filed in. pre-
ceded by Mr.. Cox. clerk OF the Senate and
| Vice President Stevenson. and took their
| seats I'm the first four rows 20 the right of
! the speakers desk. which had been vacated
/ for that purpose during the recess. The
members or the House rose and remained
| standing while the senators took their
places. The assistant OF Mr.. Cox carried
| the red cherry steel-claspci box in which
| the returns OF the forty-nve States reposed-
THE FOUR TELLERS.
Vice President Stevenson. who, by law.
presided the joint session. took his
| place by the side of Speaker Reed The
tellers. Senator Lodge. OF Massachusetts.