Document:LP News 1973 July-August Issue 15
'73 Convention draws 175
The Second Annual LP Convention, held in Strongsville, Ohio, June 8-10, attracted over 175 libertarians from all over the country, including representatives from most of the other major libertarian organizations in the United States, and a number of Canadians.
The convention began with a session on the use of issues to gain public support, held Friday afternoon. This session was moderated by LP NEWS Editor David F. Nolan, and featured Willis Stone of the Liberty Amendment Committee, Karl Bray of the Tax Rebellion Committee, Gary Greenberg of New York, and Steven Brown of Oklahoma. Howard Katz of the National Committee to Restore the Gold Standard was also invited to be a panelist, but could not be located. The session gener ated an enthusiastic response from the floor, with Karl Bray in particular drawing applause.
Friday evening, over 150 people "packed the hall" to participate in a Speakersr Banquet arranged by the Ohio LP. This event, which was the highlight of the Convention for many, featured nearly 20 speakers who held the audience rapt until nearly 1:00 am, with only a brief break to allow people to catch the 11:00 News on television, which included an interview with LP spokeswomen Kay Harroff, Susan Nolan, and Fran Youngstein.
Featured speakers at the Friday evening dinner were Tonie Nathan and Roger MacBride; MacBride received a lengthy standing ovation, with several "MacBride in '76" banners appearing around the room. Other speakers included Dave and Sue Nolan, Ed Clark, Ed Crane, Willis Stone, Kay Harroff, Bob Steiner, Karl Bray, and Susan Brown, plus nearly a dozen delegates from the Free Libertarian Party of New York, including Chairperson Andrea Millen, "token radical" Sam Konkin, David Friedman (who spoke on Icelandic Sagas), Howard Katz, and Mayoral Candidate Fran Youngstein, who was the "hit of the show."
On Saturday morning, events resumed with a Buffet Breakfast, during which delegates heard taped greetings from the movement's two leading intellectuals, John Hospers and Murray Rothbard.
This was followed by a seminar on use of media, moderated by Pipp Boyls, and featuring Tonie Nathan, Karl Bray Don Ernsberger (of SIL fame),Bill Westmiller and Paul Streitz.
Interest in this session was so great that it had to be extended an extra half hour, and was finally terminated only because of the need to break for lunch.
The third political action training session which convened after lunch, was devoted to' the subject of fund-raising. Under the skillful leadership of D. Frank Robinson, three fundraising experts -- Wain Dawson, Dave Walter and Bob Meier -- imparted invaluable tips on this vital subject.
The final session was devoted to the subject of organizing a State LP. This consisted of a free-wheeling "give and take" by present and prospective State LP Chairmen, under the guidance of National Vice-Chairman Ed Clark, who has served as Chairman of both the New York and California LP organizations.
Throughout the day Saturday, in conjunction with the main sessions, there were also numerous "workshops" on a wide variety of topics ranging from Public Speaking to Indian Affairs. One of the most popular was that on the Tax Issue, held by anti-tax leaders including Karl Bray and Willis Stone. An outgrowth of this meeting was the formation of a Tax Strike Coalition which may prove to be one of the most significant libertarian groups in America in the near future.
Saturday evening, the Convention wound up with a Poolside Luau arranged by the Ohio LP, where, as the phrase goes, "a good time was had by all."
In its entirety, the '73 LP-Con was a great success, and thanks are due to the Ohio Party, and to Kay Harroff, Sue Arnold, Tom Tanner, and Ross and Goldie Black in particular for doing so much to help make it the success that it was.