Next week's Republican primary in the 19th Congressional District is a reminder that there was a time when Congressional primaries were a regular event in Sullivan County, regardless of which district it was part of.

For example, every election year from 1942 through 1948 featured a primary to choose a Republican candidate to represent Sullivan County in Congress, even when there was an incumbent on the line. And often such contests furnished heated campaigns as well as sometimes surprising results.

In 1942, sitting Congressman Hamilton Fish was challenged for the GOP nomination by Augustus Bennett of Newburgh. Fish beat Bennett in that primary, and bested him again two years later. That year, however, Bennett chose to run as an independent despite his failed challenge to gain the Republican line, and won the seat in the general election. Two years later, Bennett lost the Republican primary to Katharine St. George of Tuxedo Park, who went on to win the seat.

When St. George sought her second term in 1948, she faced not one, but two challengers for the Republican line, and had to best both Walter G. Brown, former Goshen mayor and Orange County Republican Chairman, and Walter A. Felton of Newburgh to gain the nod.

Perhaps the most similar primary to this year's, however, was 1968, and not just because that primary was also held in June. That year, there was a four-way contest to find a GOP challenger to take on the incumbent, Democrat John G. Dow in the 27th Congressional district.

One of those seeking the Republican line was Frederick Rowland of Rockland County, who had already received the endorsement of the Conservative party and would appear on the November ballot regardless of the outcome of the GOP primary. Rowland had also run as a Conservative two years before and did surprisingly well.

Other candidates were Edwin C. Lally of Delaware County, Joseph J. Eley of Rockland County, and Martin B. McKneally of Newburgh.

The Sullivan County Republican Committee decided against endorsing any of the four candidates, agreeing to wait until the results of the primary.

“Unanimously, the committee voted to take no position in the congressional primary fight now being waged by three principal contenders, Joseph Eley of Rockland County, Martin McKneally of Orange, and Frederick Rowland, also the Conservative party nominee, of Rockland,” the Liberty Register reported in its May 2, 1968 edition. “There is also a fourth declared candidate from Delaware, Edwin Lally.”

Eley was endorsed in the primary by the Register, which cited Eley's experience as a Congressional candidate two years before, and said in its June 13, 1968 edition that he would represent Republicans “putting their best foot forward.”

McKneally won the primary, and went on to beat Dow in the general election. But it was not to be a happy ending for the Newburgh attorney.

McKneally had impeccable credentials. He was a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and Fordham University Law School, a World War II veteran, and one-time National Commander of the American Legion. He had served as president of the Newburgh School Board, as counsel to the New York World's Fair, and was special counsel to Lieutenant Governor Malcolm Wilson from 1960 to 1968.

Following his victory over Dow, McKneally took office in January of 1969 and served until January 3, 1971. He ran for re-election in November of 1970, again facing Dow, and in the last month of the campaign it was revealed that he had not paid any Federal income tax for several years. He claimed the IRS had regularly withheld too much tax, but voters rejected the argument and he lost.

McKneally was later found guilty of tax evasion, and sentenced to probation and fined. He died in 1992.

John Conway is the Sullivan County Historian. Email him at jconway52@hotmail.com.