Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-15
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Memories Of the critical Happenings
OF 1877, when the Hayes-Tilden presi-
fr1:4 Dental contest re-
cumming the suited in Q pros
Electoral Vote. t nT.,t Is struggle
the electoral vote, caused an unusual
degree OF interest TO attach to the cere-
mony four years later, when the cleo
toFal votes cast for Garfield and Arthur
Of the Republican ticket and Hancock
and English OF the Democratic ticket
were canvaSsed. The Star of February
8, 1881, thus tells of the very orderly
proceedings in the House of Representa-
tiVes on that same day:
The count of the presidential vote
took place in the House of Representa-
tives today. The galleries were crowded
to overlooking, and so great was the
rush that ladies who held tickets were
admitted on the floor of the House.
There was quite gathering of notables.
In the diplomatic gallery were the jap
anese Minister, several attaches of the
legation and their ladies. Up to noon
neither the President nor any member
OF his family We're in the seats reserved
Tor them, neither was any member of
the cabinet. Mrs. Secretary Sherman
ehaperoned quite a number of young
ladies', including some of the lady guests
1T was 5 minutes after IL o'clock
precisely when the Senate, preceded by
Sergeant at Arms Bright, was an
nounced. Vice President Wheeler and
Secretary Birch were locked arm in
arm, followed by Senators Thurman and
Hamlin, the Senate telIers. The ma
hogany boxes We're carried by the ven
cradle Isaac Bassett and contained the
votes OF the electoral college. These
r<al hNTf nrar al
Neither Senators Blaine nor Conkling
hled in with the Senate, and the alb
Senee OF the former especially created a
good deal Of comment
After the Senate had been seated in
the front rows of seats reserved for
them, Vice President Wheeler called the
Joint convention to order Speaker
Randall sat at his left The telIers.
Messrs. HamAn and Thurman, and
MeSSrs' House and Crowley, took seats
THE flrst vote counted was that re-
turned by the electoral college of Ala
baraa. Senator Hamlin read the certifi.
cate, while Senator Thurman and the
other tellers We're ready with their tally
sheets to record It, The reading was
dreadfully slow and painfully monoto-
nous. At 20 minutes after IL, while the
vote OF the State of Arkansas was being
$3.50 OhoSOA OctAAIAliS appeared at the
main entrance OF the hall. For a few
minutes he stood there as if awaiting
some one TO escort him to a seat. All
IN the front row had been taken. A red
morocco chair from the retiring room
was brought in and he sat within the
area, with Senators Bayard and Saun-
derS thanking him on the right.
To read all of the papers recorded
with the votes of the States occupied
about Is minutes for each State in the
case OF Arkansas and Alabama. When
California was about to be read the con-
Yenton, upon motion made by Mr..
Reagan OF Texas, dispensed with the
reading Of all informal papers. and read
only the certificates of the Governor
and Secretary of State of each state.
This saved time very materially.
When the list of States had been
gone through with, Senator Thurman
announced to the joint assembly that
the whole number OF votes cast was 369.
OF which l85 was a majority: that
James A. Garfield, had received 21I
votes, being majority of the whole:
that II the votes of Georgia were count
ed Hancock would have l55 votes; If
not counted, l44 votes, but that In
either event Garfield would have a ma
JoFlty. The same announcement was
MADE In regard TO Vice President,
Whereppon Vice President Wheeler de-
cIared that Garfield and Arthur had
been duly elected President and Vice
PRESIDENT. This was greeted with ap-
plause, and at f:35 the joint session
was dissolved and the Senate withdrew"