The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-09
THE ELECTORAL VOTE COUNTED
FORMAL DECLARATION MADE or
ROOSEVELT,S ELECTION,
And OF the Election OF Fairbanks as Vice
Observation-Disclosures and HandcIappins
When the Vote OF Missouri Was
AnnOunced--Mr Roosevelt Joined.

constitutional necessity of counting the
electoral vote for President and vioe-Presi-
dent and confirming the action of the cleo
tors Of the several States was carried out
by the two houses OF Congress in joint ses-
sion to-day. 1t was a somewhat tedious
proceeding, but interesting for all that,
particularly to the crowds in the galleries,
who showed an intense eagerness to observe
and hear everything that was done and
said This ceremony marked the con-
Guiding formality in the election OF Theodore
Roosevelt and Charles Warren Fairbanks
One o'clock was the time set for the joint
assembling of the two houses. Long be-
fore that hour the galleries of the House
we're filed with spectators. and hundreds
OF latecomers stood in the gallery oorri-
doris, hoping against hope that by some
chance they might be admitted. Wives,
daughters and women friends of many
public men we're there in force and showed
by their gay attire that they regarded the
ceremony as a function of Importance and
fashion. Mrs. Roosevelt, the wife of the
President, was there, and 30 we're Mrs.
William Sheffield Cowles, the Presidents
sister: Miss Alice Roosevelt and Theodore
Roosevelt. Jr. They rat in the front row
chairs known as the Presidents pew This
is in the executive gallery. on the left hand,
or Republican side. OF the House. Mrs.
Fairbanks. the wife OF the vice-President-
elect, was present also
just before o'clock Speaker Cannon
directed the suspension of the legislative
session OF the House and announced that
the hour had arrived for canvassing the
electoral vote. Almost Immediately there
after the d0orkaapar Of tho H0uae nm
nounced the Senate. and in marched the
Senator'S. headed by President pro tenn
pore Frye and the Senate officers Two
clerks carried big mahogany boxes con-
tanning certificates OF the votes cast by the
State electoral colleges. In the throng Of
Senators. marching In double file. many
looked for the tall form of Charles W Fair
banks, but it was not there. Mr.. Fairbanks
modestly absented himself from a cere-
mony in which he would have been con-
spiouous.
All the Representatives remained stand
ing while the Senators we're entering.
President FRYE mounted the Speakers
rostrum and relieved Speaker Cannon OF
the gavel, Then, when the Senators had
been seated in chairs placed to the right
of tho rostr1im, President Frye raped for
order and announced that the Joint as
SeTnDy WOulu COIlle 10 OrueT III HCCOTuanCb
with the terms Of the statute providing for
canvassing the electoral vote.
Mr.. Frye proceeded to get down to busi-
ness in short order. He said If there was
no objection the reading OF the formal
portions of credentials would be omitted,
Everybody who had seen this quadrennial
scene enacted before breathed a sigh of
relief and of course nobody thought of
insisting that the long winded manuscripts
in the mahogany boxes which lay in front
OF Mr. Frye should be read in the fulness
OF their legal verbosity
IF there Is no objection said the Presi-
dent pro tempore, as he unlocked one OF
the big boxes, the Chair will now open
the credentials from the State of Alabama
and the telers will count and make list
of the votes from that State"
Senator'S Burrows OF Michigan and Bailey
of Texas, and Representatives Gaines OF
West Virginia and Russell Of Texas were the
tellera, and Mr.. Frye told them 70 come
forward.
Senator Burrows looked over the formid-
able document handed to him by a clerk
and said a few words in a low voice. The
audience thought 1t was missing some
thing worth hearing and set up cry of
louder" What Mr.. Burrows said was that
the credentials of the State OF Alabama
appeared TO be regular and duly certified
and that its electoral vote was cast for
Parker and Davis. MIR, Burrows gave the
name Of the former Chief Judge of the
New York Court Of Appeals az Allen Is.
Parker. but nobody sought to correct him.
1t was Senator Bailey's turn next,
Guided by his Republican colleagues ex-
perience. he spoke out loud and sonor
ously, and the crowds on the floor and in
the galleries had no difficulty in learning
that Arkansas cast her electoral vote for
the late candidates of the Democracy
Somebody applauded and a few others
joined in, but that was all
Down through the list OF States the tellers
plodded their way until Maryland was
reached President Frye said that il there
was no objection he would open the cred
entails of that State. Then he paused.
There were many people in the House
who remembered that Representative
Pearre had once said that when Marylnnd's
vote was presented he would challe nge 1t.
Those among them who had forgotten
or had never heard That Mr.. Pearre had
changed his mind expected sensation.
They held their breath. during the pause
that followed the President pro TENS an
nouncement, But Mr.. Pearre said nothing
and the teller whose turn it then was, called
out that Maryland cast one vote for Roose-
welt and Fairbanks and seven for Parker
and Davis That one vote got good round
Of applause, but the seven that went to the
Democratic candidates were greeted vo-
oifArously.
Then cane Missouri. Handoapping was
vigorous when the announcement was
made that the electoral vote of this former
rookbound stronghold of Democracy was
given - the Republican standard bearers.
Floor and gallery joined in the formal
welcome Of Missouri into the Republican
column Up in the Presidents pew"
Mrs Roosevelt smiingly turned to Mrs.
Cowles and said something. Mrs. Cowles
nodded her head, and she and the Presi-
dents wife brought their gloved hands
sInartly together and kept il up. Miss
Roosevelt and her brother joined in. Every
body about them was applauding likewise,
and from the Republican side of the floor
the olatter continued at great rate. The
Republican Senators, who, with their party
opponents, were sitting on the Democratic
side looked rather amazed at the pro-
oeeding. Some OF the House members
banged the tops Of their desks. The most
strenuous OF these was Mr.. I,oudenslager
Of New jersey j. Adam Bede OF Mime
sofa was so happy in his enthusiasm that
he shouted with laughter.
1t took foTty-five minutes to finish the
canvass, Then the President pro tempore
told the tellers to make final ascertain
ment Of the result This required five
minutes Senator Burrows reported that
OF the 40 electoral votes cast Roosevelt
and Fairbanks had received 1856 and Parker
aud Davis lao, After some handclapping
had subsidized President Frye repeated
the report OF the tellers and added
The announcement by the President
the Senate shall be deemed n sufficient
e - Il .s...I D.-rHt