The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1921-02-09
congress Formally De-
elares Harding And
Coolidge Elected
canvass THE
| ELECTORAL VOTE
Dccasion Is Marked By
| Solemnity And Much
Dignity.
Associated Press

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9--Warren
,.maliel Harding, of Ohio, and Calvin
[oolidge, of Massachusetts,, were for
osIy declared today by Congress to
|, elected President and Vice-Presi-
lsut Of the United States for four
ears beginning next March a.
Thus was written the final chapter
I the history of the 1920 Presidential
factions, The scene was laid in the
hsmber of the House of Representa-
tiyes with the Democratic Vice-Pres-
|dent Marshall presiding. The occa-
ion was the canvassing of the elect
bnl votes cast by the electors chosen
h November 2-404 for the republi-
Ian candidates and l27 for the demo-
kstic candidates, former Governor
lanes NJ. Cox, of Ohio, and Frank
In D, Roosevelt, of Hyde Park, New
York.
\ The recording of the votes was at
#ended by all the formality and sol
emnity prescribed by the Constitu-
&ion and there not only were present
lbe members of the Senate and the
House, but many relatives and friends
N the successful candidates.
d Two highly polished mahogany box
rs, inlaid with rosewood and holly
wood, were dumb actors in this dra-
|na Of democratic government. Rest
Eing on the Vice Presidents desk, they
contained the official ballots of the
Electors Of the forty-eight states. In
order, beginning with Ala
zbama's vote the returns, in large en-
rslOpes blazing with seals, were open
#ed by the Vice President, handed to
'the Senate and House tellers-one
republican and one democrat repre-
Zsenting each body--and read to the
assemblage and recorded.
At the conclusion of the announce
|nents and tally, Vice President Mar
shall declared formally that Mr.. Hard
Eing had been chosen President and Mr..
Coolidge, Vice President-in official
language that the announcement
should "be deemed a sufficient declar-
alton Of the persons elected President
and Vice President of the United
|StateS, each for term beginning on
March 4. 1921"
The joint session today was order
led by resolution of both Senate and
House. At o'clock, led by two SEN
ate pages carrying the ballot boxes,
the Senate, following the Vice Pres
ident and escorted by its sergeant
alarms, secretary and other officials
proceeded to the House Chamber,
where they were announced with cere-
|mony, the House membership rising
|as the Senatorial party entered. AS
prescribed by law, the Vice President
took charge Of session, with Speak
|ef Glllett seated at his left and the
Senators at the right of the cham
ber.
In opening the ceremonies Mr..
Marshall gave the usual warning de-
monstrations by the spectators, a
warning which always has been hon
ored in the breach until the galleries
iost their enthusiasm under the YER
bal procession of formal announce
nents by the four tellers.
The votes canvassed were cast last
January 10 by the electors meeting in
Their respective states and have since
oeen arriving almost daily at the Vice
akesiuehts Office. Duplicate returns
also have been sent by mail and the
|1W requires that third set be filed
with the federal district court of each
STATE. Among the personal messen.
gers who brought the ballots to Wash
ington were women serving as sucf
iof the first time in the nations his.
tory.
a custom Of procedure followed to
aay as usual in the joint congress
'cnal session was an opportunity fol-
objections to the recording of thu
votes. After each states vote was an
nounced, the Vice President asked i
,nere were any objections. These, b.
.a~ are required to be in writing and
~ event of filing, to be voted on b!
'ne Senate and House separately.