Election

"The Vice President of the United States and members of the Senate," cried Doorkeeper Joseph J. Sinnott of the House of Representatives shortly after noon one day last week. The House rose. Through the door, down the centre aisle strode Charles Curtis, erect and grim, accompanied by the Senate's Secretary Edwin Pope Thayer. Behind them marched two small page boys bearing two large boxes of highly-polished mahogany. Behind boys & boxes came 90 members of the Senate, advancing to the three front rows of Chamber seats.

Vice President Curtis stepped smartly up on the high rostrum. Speaker Garner handed over his gavel, sat down at the Vice President's left. The Congress of the United States, thus in joint session assembled, shuffled and murmured. The Vice President of the United States rapped, called for order. "Mr. Speaker and gentlemen of the Congress . . ." he began huskily. To the desk below the rostrum advanced at his command Senators King of Utah and Glenn of Illinois in morning coats, Representatives Gifford of Massachusetts and Jeffers of Alabama in business suits.

Mr. Curtis fumbled a moment with some keys, opened the mahogany boxes. Drawing out an envelope, he ripped it open, handed the contents to Representative Jeffers. Mr. Jeffers cleared his throat, read solemnly: "Mr. President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the State of Alabama seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears therefrom that Franklin Delano Roosevelt, of the State of New York, received 11 votes for President, and John Nance Garner, of the State of Texas, received 11 votes for Vice President." The sound of the Curtis gavel was lost in a storm of Democratic applause and laughter.

The counting continued. Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado all "appeared" to have cast their votes for Roosevelt & Garner. Then came Connecticut: ". . . and Charles Curtis of the State of Kansas, received 8 votes for Vice President." The Congress leaped to its feet, clapping and howling thn biggest ovation of the day. Chairman Curtis grinned, went on with the counting.

When Wyoming's three votes had been announced, the Vice President of the United States declared that 266 votes were necessary for a majority, that the Democratic candidates had received 472.

Thus last week by means of a solemn Constitutional anachronism were Franklin Delano ("Frank") Roosevelt and John Nance ("Jack") Garner finally and officially elected President and Vice President of the U.S.

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