The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-02
THE LAST ELECTORAL COUNT.

keeper Of the House of Representatives
will enter that great chamber by the
center aisle, and will formally announce
to Speaker Clark the arrival of the Sen
ate. Ninety-six members will then
vacate the seats in the front rows of the
Democratic side of the House 10 make
room for the Senate the displaced Rep
resentatives finding other seats at the
rear
These Democrats will be Unseated
because the Democratic side OF the
House, on the Speakers right. is the
honor side" of that chamber. and Ell
ouette demands that the Senate-the
higher body-be seated there when the
two houses are in joint session.
The House will rise and remain
standing during the entrance OF the pro-
cession of the Senate. Speaker Clark
will also be on his feet to receive Presi-
dent Pro Tempore Bacon as the latter
mounts the dais beneath the large silken
flag. The Speaker viii yield his chair
and gavel 10 Senator Bacon and take
another seat 10 his left.
Congress many years ago specified
that the President of the Senate should
preside over its joint sessions. and TINS
honor would have fallen to Vice-Pres-
ident Sherman had he lived. AS Is wei
known the president pro tempore takes
the Vice-Presidents place wnen there
is a vacancy. 1t might be added that
in the opinion of some legislative au-
thorities this Assem- blage of Congress
for the official count OF the electoral
vote is not a joint session IN the true
sense but meeting OF the Two oonies
separately, in the same hail. each MAIN
! tanning its own organization, TOT the
purpose of witnessing the count.
Merriment at Cleveland Count.
The two cases containing the ballots
will be placed upon the desk before SEN
ator Bacon and Speaker Clark. the keys
being placed before the former, VINO
will open the ceremony by unlocking
the boxes At this stage of the cere-
mony of counting the electoral vote for
Cleveland and Stevenson the absent
minde of Vice-President Morton
nrecipitated no little Inerriment. He
extended his hand to take up the keys,
hut was surprised to find that they were
not in their place beside the boxes
He raised the papers on his desk ana
peered beneath them. but valnly, ana
while the proceedings Jagged he grew
er Crisp. seated beside him. joined IN
the search. looking under various arti-
Giles including the inkstand- The clerk
and his assistants then took hdnc. anu
soon they were Joined by other attaches
searching on. about and under the desk.
the Vice President becoming more ana
more confused and embarrassed
The boxes were tried. but their lids
refused to yield, and it began to look as
though Grover Cleveland could get into
office only by aid of a jimmy. ne 80
and more legislators upon the moor APP
preciating the humOr of the diinculty,
commenced 10 laugh when the Vice
President began to fun BILE in his pockets.
impatiently searching first those OF ms
trousers. then those OF his coat. even 60
ing down into the very depths OF the
cavernous rccesses of hls coattalls
Finally. when he ran his fingers into MS
waistcoat pocket and, with a sign OF
relief brought forth the missing Keys
senators and representatives alike burst
forth in a hearty round of applause.
Senator Bacon will produce from
within the boxes fOrty-six large brown
envelopes. each having the name of
seperate State. After laying these upon
his desk. he will rise. qavel in hand, and
address the assernbiage in these words
This being the day and the hour ap-
pointed for opening the certificates and
counting the votes of electors for Presi-
dent and Vice President. the Senate and
House Of Representatives have met to-
oefher. pursuant to the Constitution
and laws of the United States
He will then take up the packages IN
their alphabetical order. He will first
break the seal on the envelope from
Alabama and hand the certificate within
TO four teilers seated at the desk below
him. two OF vhom-a Democrat and
Republican-wiil have been previously
selected by each house The teilers
will examine and announce the votes
of each State. and the President pro
temporc will ask II there are any OBJ
iections to the statements given
Cunchingthe Victory.
The votes OF all the states having
been added by the teIlers. the President
pro tenpore will formally announce the
result. There being no contest. Mr..
Bacon will make the formal declaration
Of the election Of Wilson and Marshall
IN these words. which will clinch the
victory for the Democrats.
This announcement OF the state Of
.be vote By the President OF the Senate
y BY law sufficient declaration that
woodrow Wilson Of the State Of New
Jersey is elected President Of the
frrffcd states and that Thomas x
Marshal OF the state or Indiana b.
elected Vice President OF the United
states. each for the term bcginninf
March g. 1879. and will be entered. TO
gcther with iist OF tho votes. on che
journals Of the Senate and OF the House
Of Representatives.
The President pro temporc will then
accenfuatc the announcement by q
wbark Of hts gavcl. the galleries viii
appfaud and the Senate will march
bach 20 It's chamber. Five minutes
later each House viii have settled
dosrn again 90 its routine, Of business.
Inc entire ceremony having consumed
about an hour and twenty minutes
Mr. Bacon viii receive the two hand
some mahogany boxes a. souvenirs
OF the ceremony. and n recent pre-