Jenks v. Roy

Arthur Byron ("A. B.") Jenks is a ruddy, 6-ft., grey-haired onetime shoe manufacturer and Manchester, N. H. banker who, after retiring from business, devoted himself to his wife's favorite game of golf so assiduously that in 1930 and 1932 he was on a U. S. Senior Golf Association's team that crossed the ocean to play in England. One day last summer, some of Golfer Jenks's cronies at the Manchester Country Club, observing that no one had yet filed for the Republican Congressional primaries in their district, egged on their friend to put in his name. Golfer Jenks, who in the previous 70 years of his career had never given politics a thought, did exactly that. Result of this haphazard gesture has been for Golfer Jenks one of the most tantalizing experiences in the history of U. S. legislation.

Having, to his surprise, won the nomination, Candidate Jenks waged an earnest campaign. When the ballots were counted, 550 more were tallied for him than for his Democratic opponent, Alphonse Roy (TIME, Dec. 7 et seq.). Democrat Roy demanded a recount. The recount showed the first Congressional tie in 110 years--51,679 to 51,679. New Hampshire's Secretary of State Enoch D. Fuller, who had been Candidate Jenks's opponent in the Republican primaries, suggested a recount. This gave the election to Democrat Roy by 17 votes. Next Candidate Jenks demanded a recount of the recount. This showed Jenks to be the winner by a margin of ten. He went to Washington and took his seat. Finally the matter went to the House Election Committee.

The House Election Committee consists of six Democrats arid three Republicans. No surprise, therefore, was the Committee's vote last fortnight. 6-to-3 to unseat Jenks, give his seat to Roy. A surprise followed last week, a House vote rejected the Committee's decision. With 144 Democrats siding with Republicans, the House voted 231-10-130 to send the question back to Committee with unprecedented instructions: to take the individual testimony of 458 voters of the town of Newton, for 30 of the ballots which they cast have been lost, 34 ballots originally tallied for Jenks By actual ballots now available, Roy won the election by 24. By a tally of ballots recorded, Jenks won by ten. Last week Congressman Jenks was determined no only to hold his seat through the next session, but to stand for reelection. Says he "I sure have been in politics."

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