The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-02-18
tators We're in no wise interested, were
transacted to kill time.

| tdIOio WeTc Ill uO WISE interested. were
transacted to kill time.
| The event of the day was due.
At lL:50 p. m. the house took recess
for hye minutes.
| In the meantime every seat in the gal
leries, save those reserved for the execu-
tive and diplomatic corps, was taken
No member of the presidents household
was IN the gallery reserved for him, but
the family of Vice President Stevenson
occupied one of the plush-covered benches.
| The diplomatic gallery was almost
empty, only half dozen foreign repre-
sentatives being present They included
Viscount SantO Theriso, the Portuguese
minister; Y Tsu, the secretary of the Chi
| nese legation, and the secretary of the
japanese legation. The dearth of diplo-
many of them were at Charleston, 5. c.,
witnessing the manouvres of the Atlantic
blockade squadron.
Shortly before 1 o'clock the members
of the senate left their chamber ut the
north side of the capitol and walked
across to the house. passing through the
vast rOtunda and the old hall of repre-
sentatives, now statuary hall, where the
civic and martial heroes of the states
looked down upon them. Their approach
was heralded by the entrance of Col.
Richard j. Bright, the sergeant-at-arms
of the senate. who announced: "The
senate(of the United States" Then in
solemn procession they filed in, preceded
by Mr.. Cox, clerk of the senate, and Vice
President Stevenson, and then took their
seats in the first four rows to the right
of the speakers desk, which had been
vacated for that purpose during the re-
cess. The members of the house arose
and remained standing while the sena-
tors took their places. The assistant of
Mr.. Cox carried the red cherry, steel
clasped box in which the returns of forty
five states reposed.
Vice President Stevenson, who by law
presided over the joint session, took his
place 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
speakers table and prepared to count
the vote.
Vice President Stevenson assumed the
gavel and announced the purpose of the
joint session He then unlocked the
| cherry box and broke the seal of the re-
turns of each state as it was reached.
The formal certificate of Alabama was
read in full by Mr.. Blackburn, after
which the reading of the long certifi-
| Gates was dispensed with on motion of
Senator Sherman, the tellers simply an
nouncing the vote after ascertaining by
| inspection that they were in due form.
| The tellers made the notations in rota-
| ton.
1t fell to Mr.. Blackburn to announce
| the first eleven votes. those of Alabama,
| for Bryan and Sewall.
Mr. Lodges first announcement was
the eight votes of Arkansas for Bryan
and five for Sewall and three for Watson.
MIR. GroSyenor announced California S
vote, but 1t was not an unadulterated
| pleasure, as one of the nine votes went to
| Bryan.
Mr.. Richardson's first announcement
was the four votes of Colorado for Bryan
| and Sewall.
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 30 the vice president stated that
| the count had been closed and directed
| the tellers to announce the result.
mere was nasty computation by the
tellers, and then, in strong voice, Mr..
| Lodge announced: "The state of the
vote for president and vice president of
the United States. as found by the tel
| lers, is:
Whole number of electors. AT. of
| which majority is 224. William Nc
kinley of Ohio has received 271 votes
for president of the United States and
William J. Bryan of Nebraska has re-
ceived 176 votes. The vote as to the
vice president is: Carrot A, Hobart
! received 271 electoral votes, Arthur Sew
all 149 votes, and Thomas f. Watson
y votes"
Mr. Lodge handed the result to the
vice president. Mr.. Stevenson rose and
reported the detailed vote, adding the
constitutional announcement that Will
lam Mckinley and arret A. Hobart
| were elected president and vice president
respectively for the term beginning on
| March 4. This closed the proceedings.
which lasted just fifty minutes, nd had
| been devoid of incident or applause. The
senator's marched back to their chamber
! and the house adjourned.
The following is the vote us it was an
nounced in detail: