Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-02-09

OF ELECTION
BY CONGRESS
Harding and Coolidge For.
mally Declared Elected
This Afternoon.

Washington. Feb. s.-waren Gam
aliel Harding Of Ohio and Calvin Cool
idge of Massachusetts, were formally
elected president and vice president
of the United States for four years,
beginning next March 4.
Thus was written the final chapter
i n the history Of the 1899 presidential
elections. The scene was laid in the
chamber of the house of representa-
tives with the Democratic Vice Presi-
dent Marshall presiding. The oc-
casion was the ~canvassing Of the cleo
toral votes IA by the electors chosen
on November 2-404 for the Repubh-
cratic candidates, former Governor
James NJ. Cox of Ohio, and Franklin
D. Roosevelt of Hyde Park. New York.
The recording of the votes was at
tended by all the Formally and SOL
emnity prescribed by the constitution
and there not only were present the
members of the senate and house. but
many relatives INC friends of the sue
cessful candidates.
Two highly polished mahogany
boxes. fnlaid with rosewood and holly
wood, were dumb actors in this drama
OK eAocratic government. Resting
on the vice presidents desk, they con
tanned the Official ballots Of the cleo
tors OF the forty-eight states. In
alphabetical order. beginning with
Alabama's vote, the returns, in large
envelopes blazing with seals, were
opened by the vice president handed
y the senate and house rellers-one
Republican and n Democrat repre-
senting each body-and read to the
aNemblage and recorded.
.a A. &h4 49, ----.---
ments and tally, Vice President Mar
shall declared formally that Mr..
Harding had been chosen president
and Mr.. Coolidge, vice president-in
official language hat the announce
ment should 'be deemed a SUFFICIENT
declaration Of the persons elected
president and vice president OF the
United States. each for a term begin
ming March 4. 1921"
The joint session today was or
dered by resolution of both senate and
house. At l, o'clock, led by two SEN
ate pages carrying the ballot boxes,
the senate, following. the vice presi-
dent apd escorted by it's sergeant-at-
arms. secretary and other officials,
proceeded tt the house chamber,
| where they were announced with cere-
mony, he house membership rising
as the senatorial party entered. AS
prescribed by law, the vice president
took charge of the session, with
Speaker Gillett seated at his left and
the senator's at the right of the
chamber. r
In opening the ceremonies Mr.
Marshall gave the usual warnint
against demonstrations. by the. spec.
tators. q warning which always ha.
been -honored in the breach until til.
galleries lost their enthusiasm undel
the verbal. procession Of formal an
n~ouncements by the. four tellers.
The votes canvassed today wer,
cast last January 10 by the elector
meeting in their respective states an,
have since been arriving almost dali,
at the vice presidents office, Dupli
cate returns also have, been sent b
mail and the law requires that a thir,
set be flied with the federal distric
court of each state. Among the Der
fsonal messengers who brought tn
ballots to Washington were wome
serving a 3 such for the first time i
the nations history.
A custom Of procedure followed ia
day as usual in the joint congressions
session was an opportunity for objec
tions to the recording of the vote,
After each states vote was an
nounced the vice president asked
there were, any objections. These. b
law, are required to be in, writing an
in event OF fling, to be voted on by tn
senate and. house separately.