The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-11
ELECTORAL VOTE IS DULY COUNTED Taft and Sherman Announced
 as the Winners CEREMONY VERY DIGNIFIED Senators Hold Joint Session With Rep resentatives In the House and the
 Electoral Vote Is PolIed
 and Result Given.
CEREMONY VERY DIGNIFIED

Washington, February 10.--With simple, but impressive ceremonies, the counting of the electoral vote for President and Vice President took place today at joint ses- sion of the Senate and House, held in the chamber of the lower body.
 William H. Taft of Ohio and James S. Sherman of New York were officially de- clared to be the chioce of the people for the term of four years, beginning March 4, next. The count consumed exactly 40 minutes time.
 At the very outset Vice President air. banks who presided, was called upon to admonish the senators and members that applause would not be permitted. This admonition followed democratic manifes- tatons over the mention of the name of William J. Bryan in connection with the vote of Alabama, the first state called. The Taft adherents. nevertheless, dis regarded the admonition and liberally ap- plauded the first mention of his name when the California vote was announced.
 Vice Presdent-eect Sherman, in his ca pacity as representative from New York occupied his accustomed place on the floor and took great interest in the proceedings.
 Hall Is Crowded.
 A few minutes before the arrival of the senators the House members occupying the first four rows on the democratic side, in cluding the so-called Cherokee strip, where the overflow republicans are located, gave up their seats in order to accommodate the members of the upper body. Chairs were provided for those who temporarily had vacated their places.
 Promptly at 1 o'clock Doorkeeper Lyon of the House of Representative an nounced the arrival of the "Vice Pres ident and the Senate of the United States The procession moved slowly down the center aisle and the seats as signed were at once occupied, the Vice President mounting the rostrum and talk ing position to the right of the speaker.
 The entire joint body. stood until Vice President Fairbanks brought his gave1 down. In a clear voice he then an- nounced that the two houses were as- sembled, pursuant to the requirements of the constitution and the law of the United States Senators Burrows of Michigan and Bailey of Texas and Representatives Gaines of West Virginia and Fucker of Missiouri acted as tellers.
 Alabama's Vote.
 When Senator Burrows announced that Alabama had cast her full vote of Il for William J. Bryan and John w. Kern ap- plause broke out on the democratic side.
 Instantly Vice President Fairbanks arose and admonished the house.
 A ripple of laughter swept over the chamber, and there was no applause when the names of Bryan and Kern were again mentioned as having received the vote of Arkansas.
 Despite the admontion of the vice pres ident however, the announcement that California had cast her vote for William H. Taft and James S. Sherman, thus men, tionlng for the first time the names of the successful candidates caused some ap pause on the republican side.
 The republicans again broke into ap- pause when Mir Fucker, one of the tell CTS, himself a democrat and from Mis- souri, announced that Missouri had cast her IS votes for Taft and Sherman.
 Wisconsin Muddled.
 When MT. Bailey of Texas, one of the tellers, called attention to the fact that the certificates of Wisconsin read that the vote of that state was for William H. Taft of New York and James s. Sher- man of New York" MT. Bailey said that of course, under the constitution, 1t is not permissible for a state to vote for a candidate for President and vice presi- dent from the same state but your tell CTS perfectly understand that this is a clerical error.' He asked that the tell CTS be authorized to report the vote of Wisconsin as having been cast for Will liam H. Taft of Ohio.
 There was no objection and the vice president directed that the vote be record ed for William H. Taft of Ohio.
 The tellers then reported that William H. Taft and James S. Sherman had re- ceived 321 votes and that William J. Bryan and John w. Kern had received 162 votes. Only 242 votes were necessary to elect The vice president announced that Messrs Taft and Sherman had received more than the requisite majority and that this announcement of the states of the vote by the president of the Senate shall be deemed sufficint declaration of the persons elected President and vice president of the United States. each for the term beginning March 4. 1909 and shall be entered, together with list of the votes on the journals of the Senate and House of Representatives.
 Business Completed.
 The vice president then declared that the business which brought the two houses together had been completed The senators filed out of the chamber, and as they did so, they shook hands with MT. Sherman.
 The members of the House fell into line and also extended their congratula- tions
 So great was the confusion that mo- tion by MT. Loudensager of New Jersey that the House take recess for five min utes was carried with a vim He then proposed three cheers for the vice presi- dent elect. which were given with will by republicans and democrats alike
 Some one started singing, He's Jolly Good Fellow and the refrain was taken up all over the house. When MT. Sher- man had concluded shaking hands the business of the House was resumed
 After the return of the Senate to it's own chamber the telers announced the result of the count
 The vice president then made a formal announcement of the result similar to the announcement made in the House, and thus concluded the final ceremony con- nected with the election of Messrs. Taft and Sharman-