Document:LP News 1972 May Issue 6

The sixth issue of the LP News publication gives an update on the growth of the party. It breaks down accomplishments by state. There is an article that talks about the Democratic Presidential Nomination.

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MEMBERSHIP PASSES 600; TWELVE STATES ORGANIZING; LP NOW SECOND-LARGEST ORGANIZATION IN “MOVEMENT”

In only 5 1/2 months, the Libertarian Party has grown from less than 50 members to over 600. This growth rate is virtually unprecedented in the history of the “libertarian movement”; we are now tied with NRC for the number-two spot, in terms of membership, despite having been in existence less than half as long, and are surpassed only by SIL, which waS founded 3 1/2 years ago, as SRI.

In the last 30 days, our growth slowed to 30% p?er month, but we are nonetheless confident that we will be well past the 1,000 mark by June 15th, for two reasons.

First, we have a large display ad (slightly over 1/4 page) appearing in the May 30 issue of Human Events — which, we are confident, will bring in over 200 new members. And second, we have a mailing going out to 20,000 people this week, thanks to Ed Butler (former editor of Square magazine), and this should bring in at least another 200. Added to the members which will be generated by our ads in the May issues of Individualist, Reason, Win, and Unbound, and those joining as the result of recruiting efforts by present members, these two large influxes should result in an increase in membership of more than 100% by the time of next month’s Conference.

LP groups are now organizing in twelve states; of particular interest are the efforts in the following states…

California: The California LP now has over 100 dues-paying members, and a mailing list of nearly 300 people who have shown interest in the Party. Under the leadership of John Taylor, California Libertarians have set up a series of organizing meetings; John Hospers, tutor of the widely-acclaimed book Libertarianism, is scheduled to address the Party’s Southern California Conference on May 20th. Plans are underway to charter a bus to bring an estimated 50 people to the First National Conference in June.

New York: Membership in the Empire State is now 60, and growing rapidly; a mailing has been sent to 1,000 NYC Libertarians, urging them to attend a meeting on May 21. Other meetings have been set up for May 14th (Brooklyn) and May 17th (Manhattan). Speakers at these meetings will include Gary Greenberg, David Friedman, and NY State Chairman Ed Clark. The NYLP has formally endorsed Party member Guy Riggs of Poughkeepsie in his campaign for election to the State Assembly, and also plans to run someone for Congress in the 17th Congressional District (John Lindsay’s old stamping ground).

Texas: The Texas LP is off to a flying start, with approximately 30 members. Their first organizing meeting was held April 9th, and local representatives were chosen to get things going in the major cities throughout the state. Keith Jones was chosen to continue as Temporary Chairman until the Party’s first state convention, set for July 1st. Just published b y the TLP is the first issue of an exceptionally professional-looking newsletter, Renaissance News; typography was contributed by Party members Mary and Scott Tips, of Houston. another TLP, Linda Kenner, has donated some attractive posters, featuring the America Flag, and the slogan, “Capitalism, The American Ideal,” for fundraising purposes. $1 from Linda c/o WAC Co., USAG, Fort Hood TX 76544.

Colorado: State Chairman Luke Zell held an organizing meeting in Colorado Springs on April 26th, and about 20 people showed up, despite a blizzard (yes, a blizzard — we have funny weather out here). Colorado membership is now about 30, altogether. Tentative plans are being laid to run National LP Vice-Chairman Pipp Boyls for Congress.

Oklahoma: Another fast-growing group is the Oklahoma LP. With about 30 members to date, the Oklahoma crew is engaged in a membership drive, and is working on raising funds to pay for a billboard promoting the LP during the coming campaign. Oklahoma LP Chairman Frank Robinson, Tim Barrus, and Ron Harris came up to National HQ on April 29th for a day-long planning session, and left with a lot of ideas and material.

Illinois: Running a bit behind the “big five,” but coming on strong, is the Illinois LP. They’ve had two organizing meetings, and have 20 members so far — a number which they expect to double winning the month. Malians are being sent to over 500 Illinois libertarians, and further meetings are scheduled for May 21 and June 4 at the home of State LP Chairman Alan Neumann. In addition to laying plans for organizational efforts, Illinois LP members are working on suggested platform changes, to be presented at the National Conference; Winston Duke is leading the discussions.

Massachusetts: After a slow start, the Mass LP h as gotten off the ground, under the leadership of Paul Siegler; a press conference announcing their plans, and a state convention are planned for the next few weeks. The Massachusetts LP intends to support two candidates for office this year — Avi Nelson, and Objectivist-oriented Republican, running for Congress in the 4th District, and George Sommaripa, an anti-war Friedmanite Democrat who has joined the LP, and is seeking the Democratic Senatorial nomination to run against super-statist Republican Edward Brooke. Nelson’s campaign HQ is at 215 Newbury Street, Boston, and Sommaripa’s is at 8a Austin Street, Cambridge. ExecComm member Mark Frazier has produced an excellent brochure for the party, and will make copies for other state LP groups; send 25 cents for a sample.

Georgia: Just organized this month, the Georgia LP already has about 20 members, and will be presenting a workshop at the Southern SIL Conference in Atlanta on May 13th and 14th. Like Massachusetts and Colorado, the Georgia LP has printed up its own brochures, and is working on bumperstickers; for a sample, send 25 cents to Georgia Chairman Pasquale Giordano.

Michigan: Currently numbering about 20, the Michigan LP is expected to grow rapidly in the next two weeks; Pete McAlpine is holding an “open house” for Michigan libertarians on May 20th, which has been widely publicized via mailings, and notices in Reason and A is A.

New Jersey: Another brand-new organization, the New Jersey LP is still in its embryonic stages, with about 12 members. New Jersey has its state elections in 1973, and the NJ Party plans to concentrate its efforts on preparing for next year, according to NJLP spokesman, Fred Stein.

Utah: State Chairman and National ExecComm member Karl Bray has scheduled meetings with two libertarian groups in Utah this month, and expects to have 20 members by the time this Newsletter is published. Karl has also been promoting the LP on his radio show.

Connecticut: State Chairman Charles Curley, of Committee to Legalize Gold fame, is working with a dozen Nutmeg State libertarians to get things going; a press conference is planned for July, and the Connecticut LP expects to be working closely with that state’s Conservative Party.

Everybody’s Talkin’

… about the LP. The April issue of Outlook, the sprightly new journal of the Abolitionist Association, features a pair of editorials, pro and con, on the Libertarian Party. Taking the affirmative are Ralph Fucetola and Jerry Tuccille, with John Brotschol on the attack. Both editorials are well-written, although we wish our opponents would stop quoting our December membership figures as if it were current. If you haven’t glommed onto a copy of Outlook yet, send $1 for a three-issue trial subscription; their address is Box 1027, Newark, NJ 07101.

The May issue of Reason features an outstanding article by LP ExecComm member Mike Holmes, entitled “The Idea of A Libertarian Party”; for a copy of the issue, send 75 cents to Reason, Box 6151, Santa Barbara CA 93111. Mike’s article also appears in the just-issued “Libertarian Handbook,” which is an incredible bargain at $2, from Avenue Victor Hugo, PO Box 322, Manchester VT 05254. This 104-page guide to the “movement” tells you everything you always wanted to know about libertarianism… and maybe even some things you didn’t want to know.

We’ve also gotten write-ups in The Stars and Stripes, National Review, and even the JBS Bulletin, (not all favorable, but you can’t win ‘em all). Robert LeFevre, the “movement’s” leading advocate of copping out, has attacked us. SIL News and a is A have both carried several items. Even the New Banner, South Carolina’s answer to the Match. recently ran a big front-page story on our reply to Murray Rothbard’s comments in the Libertarian Forum.

So, whatever else you can say about us, you can’t say we’re being ignored. And this is just the beginning!

Formual for success: “a member a month”

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There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, k than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. - Niccolo Machiavelli, “The Prince.”  Chapter 6.

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DIRECTORY UPDATE

Add

REGION 7 (EAST) Eric Scott Royce, 1122-H John Street, Charlottesville, VA 22903

GEORGIA Pasquale M. Giordano, Apt 13, 578 Ansley Forest Drive, NE, Atlanta 30324

MASSACHUSETTS Paul L. Siegler, Gallatin E42, Harvard Business School, Boston 02163

NEW JERSEY Fred Stein, 26 Essex Street, Irvington 07111

Delete

WYOMING Bruce Jones

New Address

Region 1 (WEST) John H. Taylor, 1233 Pepper Tree Lane, Fallbrook, CA 92028

CONNECTICUT Charles R. Culey, LP of Connecticut, Box 1575, SMS Fairfield, 06430

TEXAS Keith Jones, 1017 Speight, Waco, 76703

POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES

IV. THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON

Whatever else you can say about this year’s political situation-comedy, you can’t say its been dull. Big Ed Muskie, all but anointed this winner in the Donkey Derby before it even began, has taken a bigger pratfall than any politician since Harold Stassen. Hubert Humbug, bucking the predictions of virtually every pundit save Yours Truly, has arisen from the political grave. And two gong-shots named George have managed to corral delegates in quantities nobody would have believed possible only a few months ago, despite (or perhaps because of) breaking almost every rule in the book.

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