Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-02-11
GETS 1T FROM THE PAPERS.
Only Way a President-elect Knows
That He is Elected.

only way 1TeSluenI-eiSCl hHO"o
That He is Elected.
Mr. Mckinley will have to learn from
the newspapers that he has received
majority of the electoral votes and has
been duly and formally c ccted presi-
dent of the United States. When
5000 government clerKship is filled the
appOintpe receives a notice from the
civil service commission. A member
elect of congress is given a certificate
| by the secretary of the state in which
he lives. A postmaster, after being
confirmed by the senate, is given
commission But the citizen who is
elected to the highest office in the gift
Of the American people receives no
notice, no certificate, no commission.
Several years ago. after the uncom-
Portable experience in 1876, congress
passed an electoral law, setting forth
in much detail the procedure for the
reception and canvass of ballots cast
by the electors. These electors meet
at the state capitols and prepare the re-
turns. Three sets of returns are for
warded from each state to Washington.
They are guarded with great care. On
the appointed day the senator's march
over to the house, and in joint session,
/ with much formaity, every step in
which is directed by law, the returns
are canvassed. Then the vice presi-
dent announces the names of those
chosen for president and vice president
for the term beginning on the 4th of
March With that the formalities end.
There is no provision for any notice
to the two men found to be elected.
When George T.. Edmun's was in the
senate he had a good deal to do with
the drafting Of the elaborate law under
which the electoral votes are now can
vassod He WAS asked one day how
a man elected to the presidency was
gon% to tlnn it out.
by red'ing the newspapers" was
the reply.
AS Inauguration day draws near,
committee of senators and representa-
lives is appointed to have in charge the
arrangements. This committee '~ual-
IL has some correspondence with the
president elect to learn his personal
wishes regarding the programme
Nothing, however, in he form of m
official statement of the canvass of the
returns is sent to the prcsident-elect
When the proper time comes Mr.. Nc
Nnlcy, having read in the newspapers
chat he has Teen elected, will go to
Washington. He will call upon Presi-
dent Cleveland. An hour later Presi-
dent Cleveland will call upon Mr.. Me
Kinney. These calls VIII take place 2
day or two before the ih of March
On the morning Of the 4th President
Cleveland will come to The hotel aguin,
take Mr.. Mckinley back in an open
haIouche behind four black horses. and
ride with him to the senate wing OF
the capitol. There. in the presidents
room, the committee of arraugeme
will meet the president-elect and the
president to escort them to the senate
chamber. That will be the first officia!
information Mr., Mckinley will receive
that he is to become President of the
United States. All of the information
that he has had to guide him mp to
that moment will have been derived
from the newspapers. Ten minutes
later Mr.. Mckinley will put his hand
on the open Bible and be sworn by
Chief Justice Fuller. Tat act will
make him president of the United
States. Without a scrap of paper to
show his authority he will enter upon
his duties as president
The act of President Giles e,and in
calling for Mr.. Mckinley and escoring
him to the senate is one of courtesy
only. President Cleveland will learn
that Mr. Mckinley is to be the sue
cessor in the same way that Mr.. Nc
kinley wll-through the newspapers
Il is within the memory Of many now
living that a president declined to per-
form this act of courtesy and that
president-elect made his way alone to
the capitol 20 be received by the senate
and sworn. Persident Andrew John
son refused 10 go with General Grant.
Y seems singular that with ali of the
elaborate electoral programme there
should be no provision for an official
notification Of his election to the presi-
dent-elect, and that with all of the
ceremony of inauguration there SHOULD
be issued no commission, no proclama
ton. u give Official information of
change of administration St. Louis
Globe Democrat