Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-02-12
FINAL ACT TO
ELECT WILSON
Congress Net Today in Joint
Session for Ceremony.
Special By United Press Wire.

was performed mere today at a 1Olnt
session of the Senate and House.
Officially Wilson and Marshall hadn't
been elected until after today's ses-
sion. The meeting was a highly
dignifed affair, as befitted a cere-
monial prescribed by the Constitu-
ton. The president pro temp0re of
the Senate, Senator Bacon, sternly
announced that there must be no
applause from the floor or galleries,
but occasionally some enthusiastic
individual had the temerity to ignore
the order.
The joint session held that Wilson
received 435 votes in the electoral
college, Roosevelt SO, and Taft s.
Rigorous procedure, prescribed by
the Constitution and supplementary
statutes, was strictly followed in to-
days canvass of the votes. 1t vas
the supreme and final act of law
really making Wilson and Mar
shall the nations executives for the
next year. The Inauguration to fol-
low is but the formal attestation by
oath of the new executives promis-
ing obedience to the Constitution
and laws OF the country and faithful
Oh their TRUSTS, anu luSlE
ceremonial induction into office.
One o'clock was the hour set by
law today for the formal apvas OF
the votes. Long before, in fact early
this morning eager crowds OF spec
tators bombarded the doors of the
House gallery to occur entrance.
Admission was limited TO those bear
ing members cards.
The ceremonies today were entire
ly in the House chamber, as pre-
scribed by law in 1887. Before loon
every available seat in the public
galleries, stairways and outer corri-
doris were filed with struggling,
seething humanity. Hundreds stood
outside, able only to hear the muffled
droning of the formal counting of
votes.
The Senate end of the Capitol was
deserted. Long before one O'Clock
q sprinkling of senators we're on the
House floor. Promptly at l
o'clock, Senator Bacon of Georgia.
acting president pro tempore Of the
Senate, and named by law to preside
over the joint session, mounted the
marble speakers rostrum. The
gavel was turned over to him by
Speaker Clark. Bacon then formally
announced the purpose of the joint
sssgion-to canvass the votes cast
in the electoral college" Jan. 13
and ascertain If a President and
Vice-President had been elected last
November.
Speaker Clark took a seat at
Bacon's left. The senator's were
-1.{nl % .ho -;nht 80 ~, .1-+,x,
and the representatives at the left.
Four tellers-two each from the
Senate and House-oecupied seats
at the deck OF the Clerk OF the
House. With them were seated
Clerk Bennett of the Senate and
Clerk Trimble of the House. Other
officers Of the Senate and House,
marshalled by the respective SER
geant-at-arms, were assembled on
either side of the platform.
On the speakers green baize desk
was a high stack Of papers and
sealed envelopes. These contained
the official certificates of the cleo
toral votes, sen by mail and mes
senger to the president OF the Senate.
"The canvass of the votes will now
begin" Senator Bacon announced,
hushing the loud hum OF conversa-
ton which swept from floor to
galleries.
A clerk began opening the envel-
opes at Bacon's elbow. These were
arranged in the alphabetical order
of the 4S states. They were read
by Bacon and passed to the ~tellers
at the clerks desk, who recorded
and tailed the votes.
Alabama casts ~ votes for
Woodrow Wilson and IL for Thomas
r. Marshall" was the announcement
which started a ripple of applause
Immediately being husbed by Ba-
cons gavel. This the home state
of majority leader Oscar Underwood
Of the House, who wasa candidate
at Baltimore against Governor VIII
son. ives the signal for the first out
burst of pent up Democratic ecstasy.
Bull Moose" partisans got their
first chance TO cheer for Colonel
Roosevelt when the California vote
was announced. The "Progressives"
from that state applauded despite
pounding of the gavel. President
Taft's p~crtisans were forced to wait
well down the list of states for their
demonstration
Nicholas Murray Butler was the
vice-presidential candidate named by
electors for Utah and Vermont as
President Taft's running mate. Vice
President Sherman died after the
nominations and It was necessary
that some candidate be selected to
fll his place on the official state
ments certified by the states.
Upon the completion OF the call
of states Senator Bacon formally an
nounced the vote and declared the
elections of Wilson and Marshall.
The joint session was then adjourned
sine die.
Under the law Bacon's announce
ment is decided to be "a sufficient
declaration of election"
Today's proceedings were insti-
tuted in April 6, 1889. when the first
joint canvass was held.
George Washington Is the only
President who has had the unani-
nous vote of the electoral college.
James Monroe received all but one
vote in 1920, when former Governor
and former Senator Plummer of New
Hampshire, east the sole dissenting
vote.
The vote officially given Wilson
today, however. is the largest plu-
rality any President has received in
years. President Taft got only 321
votes, Roosevelt 336 and Mckinley
292.