Mr. Benny has for many years taken a prominent part in the polities of hi., adopted county and State, and is one of the acknowledged leaders of the Democratic party. He served as a member of the Board of Councilmen of Bayonne from 1892 to 1894, representing the First Ward, and in that capacity displayed abilities which have since brought him into prominence. At the expiration of his term as Councilman in April, 1894, he became a candidate on the Democratic ticket for re-election against the late William J. O'Brien, a former President of the Bayonne Common Council, and Wilson J. Haver, Republican. The election returns gave Mr. Haver 114 votes, Mr. O'Brien 260 votes, Allan Benny 259 votes, and " Benny " one vote. Mr. Benny claimed that the vote cast for "Benny" should be counted for him and contested the election before Judge Lippincott in the Hudson County Circuit Court. Judge Lippincott decided that he should have the "Benny" vote, but it appeared in the case that his father was a Scotchman and not naturalized here at the time of the birth of his son Allan, and the Judge decided therefore that Mr. Benny was not a citizen of the United States and declared Mr. O'Brien elected. Upon an appeal to the Supreme Court of the State Judge Lippincott's decision was reversed. Mr. Benny was not only declared to be a citizen of the United States by virtue of his birth in this country, but the election was declared a tie (29 Vroom, 36). Mr. O'Brien, who had taken the seat in the Board of Councilmen because of Judge Lippincott's decision, was forced to vacate, and it remained vacant during the remainder of the term.