The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1909-02-12
ELECTORAL VOTE
CAST WEDNESDAY
Ratification of Election of
Taft and Sherman.
Impressive Ceremonies In Rep
reSentatives' Chamber---Vice
o. President Presides.

The formal ratification of the cleo
ton of William Howard Taft, of Ohio
and James Schoolcraft Sherman, of
New York to be President and Vice
President of the United Slate respec-
lively that was he'd in the hall of
the House of Representatives Wednes-
day, was one of the most ceremonial
events attending the political life of
America
Simplicity and dignity marked every
feature of this function, which was
witnessed by the two Houses of Con-
gress by members of the diplomatic
corps by leading officials of the Gov
eminent and by brilliant assemblage
consisting of members of the fami-
lies of Senators Representatives and
officials of the Government.
The Senate and House assembled at
noon as usual. After being called to
order by their respective presiding
officers and listening to the usual
prayer by their chaplains, the Senate
proceeded to the hall of the House
where a joint meeting was held TO
count formally the electrical votes.
The ceremony began at l O'Clock.
Shortly before that time Vice Presi-
dent Fairbanks left his chair as pre-
siding officer OF the Senate and pro-
ceeded TO the east door, preparatory
to leading the procession of Senators
to the south wing of the Capitol. He
was accompanied by the secretary of
the Senate and a squad of Capitol
police were in waiting as an escort.
Col Daniel NJ. Ransdell sergeant-at-
arms of the Senate, Immediately pre-
coded the Vice President, Senators
falling in line two by two. The pro-
cession then moved along the marbel
corridor to the House of Representa-
tives. The assistant doorkeepers of
the Senate, carrying two boxes con-
tanning the ELECTORAL votes previously
received by Mr.. Fairbanks from special
messengers from the several States,
closely followed the Vice President.
The procession moved slowly through
the Capitol building past the old Sem
ate chamber now occupied by the Su-
preme Court of the United States,
across the rotunda with its towering
expanse of dome and through statuary
hall, where marble effigies of men
the several States have honored stand
as sentinels for all time.
Speaker Common was informed of tn
coming of the Senate, and Representa-
tives occupying seats on his right
had vacated them in order to make
room for the ninety-two Senators.
The Vice President took seat pro-
vided for him at the right of the
Speaker and was presented with the
gavel. Mr.. Fairbanks then unlocked
the wooden boxes, and announcing the
purpose of the gathering, opened the
packages in alphabetical order, handing
the certificates to the four tellers, Sen
ators Burrows, of Michigan and Bal
ley, of Texas, having been appointed
on the part of the Senate and Rep
resentatives Gaines, of West Virginia
and Russell of Texas on the part of
the House.
When the counting was concluded
showing that Taft and Sherman re-
ceived 321 votes and Bryan and Kern
1862, the Vice President inquired wheth'
er anyone desired to file a protest
against the result as announced and
in the absence of such protest he
declared the successful candidates duly
elected.
AS soon as this simple function was
performed the Senate returned 10 its
chamber and both bodies resumed the
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