When all of the States had been called, the chairman stated, before the announcement of the result, that application had been made to him for recognition by delegates of the defeated candidates to make a certain motion. He thought it the fairest way to recognize them in the order in which the nominations had been made. He then announced that William McKinley had received 661½ votes.
Before the chairman could get any further, the enthusiasm of the Convention broke all bounds. Every man was on his feet, shouting, hurrahing, cheering, swinging hats and canes in the air, waving flags and banners and the pampas plumes of California, while through the Niagara-like rush and roar were caught the notes of “My Country, ’Tis of Thee,” as the band played with might and main in its attempt to gain the mastery of the cyclone. The women, if possible, were more frantic than the men. Parasols, fans, opera-glasses, gloves—anything, everything—were compelled to help in the magnificent burst of enthusiasm which swept over and submerged all alike, until it looked as if order could never again be evolved from the swirling pandemonium.
One fancy caught on with wonderful effect. A young man on the platform waved on the point of the national banner a laced cocked hat, such as appears in most of popular representations of the mighty Napoleon. This symbol of enthusiasm was greeted with rapturous applause, to which the booming of artillery on the outside contributed.
Finally, after a long, long time, the chairman gained a chance to complete the announcement of the vote. It was: Thomas B. Reed, 84½; Senator Quay, 61½; Levi P. Morton, 58; Senator Allison, 35½, and Don Cameron 1.
The vote by States was as follows:
| McKinley. | Morton. | Quay. | Reed. | Allison. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 12 | ||||
| Maryland | 15 | 1 | |||
| Massachusetts | 1 | 29 | |||
| Michigan | 28 | ||||
| Minnesota | 18 | ||||
| Mississippi | 17 | 1 | |||
| Missouri | 34 | ||||
| [[1]]Montana | 1 | ||||
| Nebraska | 16 | ||||
| Nevada | 3 | ||||
| New Hampshire | 8 | ||||
| New Jersey | 19 | 1 | |||
| New York | 17 | 55 | |||
| North Carolina | 19½ | 2½ | |||
| North Dakota | 6 | ||||
| Ohio | 46 | ||||
| Oregon | 8 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | 6 | 58 | |||
| Rhode Island | 8 | ||||
| South Carolina | 18 | ||||
| South Dakota | 8 | ||||
| Tennessee | 24 | ||||
| Texas | 21 | 5 | 3 | ||
| Utah | 3 | 3 | |||
| Vermont | 8 | ||||
| Virginia | 23 | 1 | |||
| Washington | 8 | ||||
| West Virginia | 12 | ||||
| Wisconsin | 24 | ||||
| Wyoming | 6 | ||||
| Arizona | 6 | ||||
| New Mexico | 5 | 1 | |||
| Oklahoma | 4 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Indian Territory | 6 | ||||
| District of Columbia | 1 | 1 | |||
| Alaska | 4 | ||||
| Totals | 661½ | 58 | 61½ | 84½ | 35½ |
| Necessary for choice, 454. Total number of delegates present, 906. | |||||
[1]. Blank, 4, and one vote for Cameron from Montana.
Senator Lodge, rising in his delegation, in a forceful speech moved to make the nomination of Mr. McKinley unanimous. Mr. Hastings, of Pennsylvania, who had nominated Quay, seconded the motion, as did Thomas C. Platt on behalf of New York, Mr. Henderson, of Iowa, and J. Madison Vance, of Louisiana. In answer to loud calls Mr. Depew mounted his chair in the back of the room, where the rays of the sun beamed on his countenance, which itself was beaming with good humor, and delivered a short and characteristically humorous speech.
The chair then put the question, “Shall the nomination be made unanimous?” and by a rising vote it was so ordered, and the chair announced that Mr. William McKinley of Ohio was the candidate of the Republican party for President of the United States.
This great step having been taken, Senator Lodge moved to proceed to the nomination of a candidate for Vice-President; and, although the Convention had been in continuous session for eight and a half hours, the motion was carried, and at twenty minutes past six the roll of the States was called for such nominations.