Document:LP News Number 21 (July-August 1974)

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Dallas Convention Attended by 300

Well over 300 delegates and interested spectators attended the national Libertarian Party convention in sweltering Dallas, Texas, during June 12-16. The Texas LP sponsored the event which was only the second "official business" convention in the Party's short history. Despite early disputes over the Credentials Committee report, the convention was marked by a remarkably high degree of camaraderie and cooperation between the various factions of the libertarian movement.

An enlarged and improved platform was hammered out by the delegates during long sessions lasting well into night and, on one occasion, early morning. Debate on the platform was often prolonged and always serious but rarely did animosity rise to the surface. As with the founding convention of the Libertarian Party in 1972 delegates seems genuinely interested in each others' comments and argument as they unto the difficult task of applying libertarian principles to contemporary social problems.

Committees Meet

On Wednesday and Thursday, the three convention committees, Credentials, Constitution and Bylaws, and Platform, met to prepare their reports to the general sessions of the convention. The Platform Committee, chaired by California LP Chairman Ed Clark, attracted the most attention with over 100 people sitting in on the proceedings. The Platform Committee set the tone for the entire convention as its members worked around the clock developing planks that were acceptable to all elements of the Party.

Bill Westmiller chaired the Constitution and By-Laws Committee which recommended some major changes in the LP Constitution. Most of these recommendations were approved by the convention with relatively little debate once the Credentials report was accepted. The most significant amendment to the LP Constitution changes the business LP convention from even-numbered years to the fall of odd-numbered years. This was instituted primarily to allow for the nomination of Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates early enough for the LP to qualify for the ballot in those states where a later convention would have prevented us from doing so.

One offshoot of the new odd-year business convention is that this years' Party officers will have a one-year term rather than two-year term of office. The alternative of a three-year term was debated and narrowly defeated with many delegates option for the one-year term simply because it will provide a check by the Party on how the national officers are carrying out their responsibilities.

Business Meetings To Be On Odd Years

Other changes in the Constitution call for a doubling in the size of the National Executive Committee and an increase in the number of delegates to the regular convention to approximately 400. Also, alternate delegates to the conventions may number as many as the respective states choose.

Platform Debate

Numerous changes were made in the LP Platform (the LP is the only major political party to adopt a new platform every two years rather than once every four years). The debate on the taxation plank was the longest and most heated of the convention. The text of this plank was ultimately unanimously adopted and it reflects the spirit of cooperation among the delegates in Dallas:

"Since we believe that all persons are entitled to keep the fruits of their labor, we are opposed to all government activity which consists of the forcible collection of money or goods from individuals in violation of their individual rights. Specifically, we support:

a) those who challenge the payment of taxes on legal and constitutional grounds; and b) the eventual repeal of all taxation.

"We oppose as involuntary servitude any legal requirements forcing employers or business owners to serve as tax collectors for federal, state, or local tax agencies."

The convention adopted strong planks favoring emphasis on reparations in criminal cases (as opposed to emphasis on punishment) and in opposition to involuntary commitment to mental institutions. Two proposed amendments to the United State Constitution, the Liberty Amendment, was also endorsed.

Officers Elected

The race for national Chairman of the LP was a spirited one and continued on an informal but active basis from the beginning of the convention on Wednesday through to the election on Saturday afternoon. The two candidates, Ed Crane of California and Scott Royce of Virginia, along with their supporters campaigned continuously, meeting with state delegations and individuals in an attempt to win support. A major debate in the campaign centered around the proposed location of the national headquarters of the LP.

Crane eventually won the Chairmanship, garnering over 80% of the vote. In other elections Andrea Millen, former Chairwoman of the FLP in New York, won an unopposed term as Vice-Chairwoman. Bill Westmiller of California defeated Abby Goldsmith of Florida for Secretary, and John Draft ran unopposed for Treasurer.

Although 14 individuals ran for the 7 at-large posts on the national Executive Committee only one ballot was necessary. Top vote getter was Ed Clark. Others elected were Fran Youngstein of New York (FLP mayoral candidate in '73), Karl Bray of Utah (noted tax rebel and LP Congressional candidate), Scott Royce of Virginia (author of the Royce Report on Congress), Dave Nolan of Colorado (co-founder of the LP), Frank Robinson of Oklahoma, and Bob Meier of Illinois.

Regional Executive Committee members were chosen at regional caucuses. They are: Region 1 (West) – Pat Artz, Washington, Lynn Kinsky, California, Bill Susel, California; Region 2 (West Central) - Eric Westling, Colorado; Region 3 (Southwest) – Porter Davis, Oklahoma, Bill Howell, Texas; Region 4 (Central) – Winston Duke, Illinois; Region 5 (East Central) Martin Jahn; Region 6 (Southeast) – Brian Donerly, Florida; Region 7 (Mid-Atlantic) – Phil Manger, Maryland, Jane Rehmke, New Jersey; and Region 8 (Northeast) - Dave Long, Massachusetts, Lee Schubert, New York.

Tuccille Show

Unquestionably, the social highlights of the convention were provided by the delegation from New York. Two slide shows produced by Ad lib Communications, one featuring Fran Youngstein's mayor campaign and the other a pictorial history of the libertarian movement, were enthusiastically received by the delegates. On Friday night a major fundraising show for Jerry Tuccille was presented by Adlib and John Doswell.

Speakers at the convention included Tuccille, Roger MacBride, Willis Stone, John Hospers, Woods Jenkins and Sandy Cohen. MacBride, the Virginia elector who cast his vote for LP candidate Hospers instead of Nixon, delivered a rousing keynote address that was frequently interrupted by applause.

Describing at the conclusion of his speech how he viewed the future of the Libertarian Party, MacBride said, "I have no reluctance in telling you that this great political enterprise of ours-this new baby giant of a party-must inevitably influences and alter the course of human events, but if and only if Libertarians show "by every work and deed" that they are adhering to our principles.

Stone, author of the Liberty Amendment, spoke at some length of the achievements of his Committee and the renewed interest and support his proposed Amendment has been receiving. He credited the Libertarian Party with partial responsibility for that development. 1972 Presidential candidate Hospers delivered a stirring, emotional address at the Saturday night banquet. He cited numerous examples of the tyranny of big government and the human suffering that has resulted from the arbitrary actions of bureaucrats at all levels of government.

Cohen, the publicity-generating Congressional candidate from Poughkeepsie, talked of his success in getting media coverage and the favorable impact his candidacy already has had on the voting record of Republican incumbent Hamilton Fish (R.R. 23%).

Jenkins, though a Democrat, is one of the few libertarians actually holding office in a state legislature. He discussed his influence at the recent state Constitutional Convention in Louisiana and the pro-liberty clauses that were adopted at the convention. Jenkins later informally discussed campaign tactics with delegates.

Two special sessions were held during the convention. One on campaign techniques was held by Fran Youngstein and Gary Greenberg and featured Youngstein's television commercials. The other session was on the problems and opportunities existent in our tax laws and included discussions by Karl Bray, Hank Hohenstein and Ken Kalcheim.

Hospers Runs For Calif. Governor

John Hospers, 1972 LP candidate for President, is on the campaign trail once more, this time as the California Libertarian Party's candidate for Governor. "Actually, John is running two campaigns," said Jack Willis, Hospers' campaign manager. "One is an educational campaign, and the other is a ballot campaign."

Willis explained that the election strategy developed for Hospers centers upon an attempt to expose libertarianism to businessmen, professionals, and special interest groups. "We are essentially after opinion-makers, said Willis, "people who are looked up to by their peer groups. If we can plant the seed of libertarianism in the minds of these leaders we will have gone a long way toward achieving the goal of the education campaign.”

Hospers spoke recently before the Los Angeles County Medical Association and has a meeting scheduled for August 29 with a dozen prominent San Francisco businessmen.

Mass Mailings

The Hospers campaign seeks to raise enough money from the contacts made in the early part of the race to finance one or two mass mailings just prior to the November election. These mailings will be sent primarily to conservatives who Hospers' campaign staff feel have been disenfranchised by the nominations of Jerry Brown and Houston Flournoy by the Democrats and Republicans. Both men are anti-philosophical, "Mr. Clean" candidates who believe in big government and "restoring America's faith in politicians."

While the California LP is unquestionably one of the most active and well-organized of the state parties, they face the most onerous election laws in the country and thus have not been able to achieve ballot status. "That's where the ballot campaign comes in," Willis continued. "If we can get 120,000 write-in votes for Hospers we'll have achieved a permanent spot on the California ballot."

The odds against getting such a large number of write-in votes might appear overwhelming, but the California LP thinks it is at least worth the effort.

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