Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-02-15

| - - ...,ssia.ss mr.,
vICE-PREsIDENT STEVENSON.
were besieged in vain by the eager null
titudes The tickets had been distrib-
uted by the senators and representatives
and spectators consequently there was a
very distinguished assemblage.
Although the ceremonies were not to
| begin until 1eo'clock the galleries we're
thrown open to the fortunate possessors
of tickets at 10 O'clock and within half
an hour all the galleries. except those re-
served for the diplomatic corps and the
President were packed TO the doors,
many ladies in gay toilets being present
The hall made q brilliant setting for
the impressive scene. Above, through
stained glass, which filled the interstices
of the high fretted ceiling, shone the
escutcheons of the various states, while
the decorations of gray and gold relieved
the dark spaces above the denscly
crowded galleries.
The crowds in the galleries were in
the best of humor as they waited for the
ceremonies to begin, while Oh the floor
the members good-naturedly exchanged
salutations. The Democrats who four
years ago laughed at the expense of their
political adversaries today had the tables
turned upon them.
Exactly at II o'clock, Speaker Reed.
clad in long black frock coat, assembled
the rostrum and, standing in front of the
bright American flag. which draped the
wall in the rear, with one sharp rap of
his gavel subdued the countless babel Of
voices.
Rev. Couden, the blind chaplain,
seemed impressed with the spirit of the
occasion and delivered an inspiring
prayer. Many of the spectators arose
and stood with bowed heads. AS soon
as the reading of the journal was begun
the babel broke forth again, only to be
interrupted with sharp round of ap
plause from the, Republicans as Mr..
Dingley, chairman of the committee OH
ways and means. walked down the aisle
to his seat When the reading was
the spectators were in no wise interested
was transacted to kill time until the
event Of the day was due.
At 1880 p. m. the House took a re-
cess for five minutes. In the meantime
every seat in the galleries save those re-
matte corps was taken. No member of
the Presidents household was in the gal
lery reserved for him, but the family
of President Stevenson occupied one
of the plush-covered benches.
The diplomats gallery was almost
resentatives being present. They in
cluded Viscount Santo-Thyrso, the Portu-
guese minister; Y. II. Su, the secretary
of the Chinese legation, and the secre
tary of the Japanese legation. The
dearth Of diplomats was accounted for
by the fact that many of them were at
Charleston. S. c., witnessing the maneu-
yering of the Atlantic blockade squadron.
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
"a do nd fhn old hO11 nf
sentatives, now Statuary hall, where the
civic and martial heroes of the states
looked down upon them.
Their approach was heralded by the en-
trance of Richard ]. Bright, the ser
geant-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 Sen
ate and Vice-President Stevenson, and
took their seats in the first four rows to
the right of the speakers desk, which
had been vacated for that purpose during
the recess. The members of the House
remained standing while the senators took
their places. The assistant of Mr.. Cox
carried the red cherry, steelclasped box
in which the returns Of the forty-hve
states reposed.
Vice-President Stevenson Presides.
Vice-President Stevenson who by law
presided over the joint session took his
nlace by the side of Speaker Reed. The
tellers. Senator Lodge of Massachusetts
and Senator Blackburn of Kentucky on
behalf of the Senate. and Mr.. Grosvenor
of Ohio and Mr.. Richardson Of Tennes-
see on behalf of the House. assembled to
The clerks desk Immediately below the
sDca ker's table and prepared to count the
vote.
A strange coincidence was that both
Mr., Blackburn and Mr.. Lodge then
member Of the House) acted as tellers
on the occasion of the counting of the
vote four years ago when Cleveland and
Stevenson were elected President and
vice-president respectively.
Vice-President Stevenson assumed the
gavel and announced the purpose OF the
Joint session. He then unlocked the cher
/ ry box and broke the seal Of the returns
of each state as it was reached. The
formal certificate of Alabama was read
by Mr.. Blackburn. after which the read
ing of the long certificates was dispensed
with on the motion Of Senator Sherman,
the tellers simply announcing the results
after ascertaining by inspection that they
were in due form.
South Carolina Makes No Protest.
South Cardinals vote was counted
without interruption. Representative
Murray, who had talked of challenging
the vote. had left the Republican side and
was in the rear row Of the Democratic
side. He made no attempt to interrupt
the vote. which was recorded for Bryan
in accordance with the returns.
At 40 p. m. the Vice-President stat
ed that the count had closed and directed