The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-02-18
THE FORMAL COUNT OF THE
ELECTORAL VOTES TOOK
PLACE YESTERDAY.
STIRRING DAYS OF '76 RECALLED
A Number of Those Taking Part in the
Hayes-Tilden Count Were Present
The Final Count Gives Mckinley
271; Bryan, 176.

Washington, FEB. 1O.-Ihe electoral
votes of the forty-fivc states of the Union
we're formally counted at the joint ses-
sion of the house and senate today for
that purpose, and Vice President Stev-
cnson proclaimed the election of McKin-
ley and Hobart as president and vice
president respectively.
Although the sky was overcast, the
weather was propitious, and the CALLER
les of the house were thronged. The
general public besieged the doors in vain,
as but small space was reserved for
them. Ladies were arrayed in gay tot
lettes, and gave touches of color to the
brilliant setting of the scene.
Many distinguished persons witness
ed the ceremonies, among them Ambas-
sador Patenotre and Chancellor Bauve
of the French embassy, Mr. Chat Chung
of the Chinese legation, Baron Won Thiel-
h man, Secretary Matsu of the japanese
q legation, Count Thierse of the Portu-
guesc legation and Sir Richard Cart
wright of the Canadian government.
No member OF President Clevelands
a family was present.
n A Gordon of blue-coated, brass-button-
4 ed policemen hedged about the senators
n AS they marched majestically over to the
n house, preceded by Vice President Stew
n cnson and Mr.. Cox, secretary of the SEN
i ate with the returns locked in n cherry
n colored box. The guarding of the re-
n turns was a precaution first taken by
a Acting Vice President Ferry of Michi-
81 gan, twenty years ago, during the wild
FL excitement attending the Tilden-Hayes
contest, in anticipation of a possible raid
FL AS the house and senate sat in joint
W session today and listened quietly to the
count, those stirring days were recalled.
81 Of the fifteen men who sat on the ia
nous electoral commission, which decid-
ed that contest by peaceful means, Sen
ator Hoar of Massachusetts was the only
ing Justice Field, have all retired from
public life or have passed away. The
8 vcissitudes of public fortune in two short
IA decades have removed all but seventeen
of those who sat then at the other end of
the capitol. Most of the seventeen were
ny conspicuous in today's joint assemblage.
All Two of them-Senator Sherman, who is
soon to be called to the, first place in the
Mckinley cabinet, and Senator Morrill,
N of Vermont, the author of the war tariff
4 entered public life together. The 9th
"a ers were Senator Teller of Colorado, or
\don of Georgia, Allison of Iowa, Cockrell
N pf. Missouri, Mitchell of Oregon, and Sen
ators Hale and Frye of Maine, Burrows
V-6f, Michigan, Mills of Texas, Blackburn
X of Kentucky and Elkins of West Vir-
ginia, who were then in the house. Vice
President Stevenson was also men,
4 Der of the house at that time. Mr..
4 Cannon of Illinois, who lost one term,
f and Mr.. Culberson of Texas alone sur
vive in the house the mutilations of TWEEN
ty years, although Mr.. DanfOrth of Ohio,
who was a member of 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 populist CAM
paigns, we're present, but did not appear
to take a deep interest in the count.
Prominent also in the sea of faces was
white-haired Senator Palmer of Illinois,
r who headed the gold democratic ticket
last fall. The counting was of a very
formal character. Vice President Stew
enson sat at the side of Speaker Reed
and presided over the joint session.
Senators Lodge and blackburn, on the
part of the senate and Messrs. Grosve-
Il nor and Richardson on the part of the
house acted as tellers. The returns were
opened by the vice president and an
nounced by the tellers The reading of
the certificates. long in verbiage. was
omitted after that of Alabama had been
3 read. No demonstration occurred at any
point during the count, but when the
vice president, at the conclusion, an
nounced the result there was a round of
81 applause both on the floor and in the
galleries.
The totals were as follows:
For President-Mckinley 211; Bryan,
176.
For Vice President-Hobart, 271 Sew
all. 149; Watson, 27.
The only incident of the proceedings
announcing the vote of Missouri. He
gave it by mistake to Mckinley.
The announcement of the state of the
vote. today is the only notification the
N president-elect and vice presidentelect
N will receive. No official communication
n is sent to them.
" DETAILS OF THE EXERCISES.
~ Washington. Feb. 10-The first public
. exercises in connection with the incoming
administration occurred at the capitol to-
day when the two houses of congress, in
"a Joint session in the spacious hall of rep
resentatives, counted the electoral vote of
the various states and listened to Vice
u President Stevenson formally promugate
n the election of William Mckinley as
president and Carrot A. Hobart as vice
n president. Although the sky was overcast
n with dull, leaden clouds, the weather was
pleasant and propitious.
AS is usual on state occasions, the pub
lie streamed to the capitol in great crowds
but the galleries of the house, save a
small space capable of seating 100 per-
sons, were strictly reserved for. ticket
holders, so the stairways and elevators
We're besieged in vain by the multitudes.
The tickets had been distributed by sena-
tors and representatives, and the specta-
tors consequently constituted most dis
tinsuished assemblage. Although the
ceremonies were not to begin until L
o'clock, the galleries were thrown open
to the fortunate ticket-hoders at lO
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
gay toilettes were present. The nan
made brilliant setting for the impressive
scene Exactly at II o'clock Speaker
Reed assembled the rostrum, and, with a
sharp rap of his gavel, subdued the count
less babel of voices. Rev. Cowden, the
blind chaplain, seemed impressed with
the spirit of the occasion and delivered
an inspiring prayer. -,
n AIa.N laIIr