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'The People Have Spoken, the Fools'

The View From The Bottom Of The Ballot

Richard H. Englefield, write-in challenger on the Republican side of things in New Hampshire, called The Crimson yesterday from a telephone booth in Boston to make sure that Crimson reporters, who picked up some of his campaign literature Tuesday in Manchester, had their facts straight. This wasn't out of character, since one of the promises the 38-year-old liquor salesman and former reporter from Springfield, Illinois, has made in his campaign runs thus:

"I'd propose a constitutional amendment saying that no press should fail to print an allegation of unlawful incarceration. Every time someone claims he's been arrested illegally, the newspapers would have to print it. Otherwise, the lawyers and doctors could be paid, and people could get put away (nervous laugh)."

Englefield has proposed, he says, four other constitutional amendments. "One to end busing. Another to declare the supremacy of a father's rights in domestic affairs. Under this one, no court shall interfere without probable cause of dereliction of duty." Englefield couldn't remember the other two, but promised to call back when he remembered what they were.

The returns on his write-in votes are not in yet, Englefield said, adding, "We were looking for 15,000 to 20,000 votes. Our polls--I've studied political science--showed 80 per cent disenchantment among New Hampshire Republicans and independents. It looks like clear concealment of my votes."

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Also under concealment of some sort in New Hampshire Tuesday were three other candidates in the absurdist category: Carmen C. Chimento (votes not counted), Bernard B. Schechter (145 votes) and Rick Loewenherz (31 votes). Despite attempts by Crimson reporters to locate them, they remained out of sight and apparently out of the minds of the voters. They should, however, be in town this weekend in preparation for Tuesday's Massachusetts primary. You may see them before we do, but if you do, don't call.

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