Publisher's Notes
• SPECIAL BONUS FOR SUBSCRIBERS: This month's extra-length Special Issue contains 48 pages, and features an unprecedented combination of leading libertarian contributors. The newsstand price for Special Issues—which are published twice annually—is $1.50. Subscribers receive REASON's Special Issues at no extra charge.
• NEW REASON STAFFER: REASON's newest foreign correspondent, Pauline Russell, reports this month from England. Ms. Russell is director of the Free Market Research Institute and operates the popular Transatlantic Success restaurant in Kingston-on-Thames. She is a UCLA economics graduate and is one of England's most effective advocates of laissez-faire capitalism.
• FACULTY REGISTRY PROJECT: REASON has compiled a tentative listing of more than 100 college and university faculty members who teach courses of interest to students interested in libertarianism. The list is still growing, and will be published in a future issue.
• REASON ASSOCIATES PROGRESS REPORT: One of the major aims of Reason Associates is to provide "risk capital" for expanding REASON's circulation beyond the libertarian movement. The first step in this direction has been taken with the placing of classified ads for REASON in three publications: PSYCHOLOGY TODAY, MS., and SOCIETY (formerly TRANS-ACTION). Additional ads will soon be placed in the NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS and NATIONAL REVIEW. Depending on the response to these ads, additional classified ads may be placed in other such periodicals. In addition, the relative response rates will help to determine which publications appear to offer the most fertile ground for possible future display ads.
• MINERVA NEWS: The president of the laissez-faire Republic of Minerva, Morris C. Davis, has been removed from office by vote of the other three officers (vice president Richard King, secretary of state Ralph McMullen, and secretary of interior Dr. David Williams). The reason for the action has not been announced, but REASON has learned that it stems from Davis' unauthorized actions in issuing shipping licenses, issuing coinage, and making arrangements (including financial commitments) with International Maritime Legal Research for an "occupation" force. The government of Minerva has repudiated the occupation project, as has Mike Oliver, author of A NEW CONSTITUTION FOR A NEW COUNTRY, and originator of the new-country project. "As far as I'm concerned, this project with Minerva is dead," Oliver told REASON in March.
The fate of the project is uncertain, as Davis (along with Oliver and the other government officers) is still on the board of Caribbean-Pacific, the company which owns the Minerva Reefs. Majority interest in the company was recently purchased by one Roger Adair, whose plans are at this point unknown. Meantime, International Maritime has announced its intention to proceed with the planned occupation of the reefs. And BARRONS, the financial weekly, has assigned reporter Peter DuBois to investigate the whole project.
• SAN DIEGO UPDATE: REASON has previously reported on developments in the trial of the San Diego Ten, a group of individuals protesting current IRS tax collection tactics. All ten were convicted in federal court last December of various charges stemming from a San Diego demonstration protesting the seizure by the IRS of property for non payment of taxes. The federal district judge rejected all motions for a new trial except for Hank Hohenstein's. Late word received indicates that the U.S. Attorney's office will dismiss charges against Hohenstein prior to the date set for his new trial.
Chris Bates was given six months probation and a $50.00 fine. All convictions will be appealed.
Readers support of the two libertarian defendants has been greatly appreciated. Additional funds are still needed to finance the appeal and retire the remaining expenses of the initial trial. Contributions may be sent to Libertarian Defense and Education Fund, Suite K, 2550 Via Tejon, Palos Verdes Estates, Ca. 90274.
• DIVERT YOUR TAX: Persons filing federal income tax returns this April may wish to divert $1 of their tax ($2 if filing jointly) away from the government and into the coffers of the Libertarian Party. You can do this by using Form 4875, included with your tax return. Simply write in "Libertarian Party" in the blank provided, and the IRS will subtract the $1 or $2 from your tax, and—subject to government red tape—the IRS should send it to national LP headquarters. It may be necessary to sue the government for release of the funds allotted to the LP, which makes it important for as many LP supporters to use Form 4875 as possible.
• DEMSETZ TO SPEAK IN L.A.: Prominent free-market economist Harold Demsetz of the UCLA Economics Department will address the Libertarian Supper Club of Los Angeles on the first of May. Dr. Demsetz's topic will be concentrated industries and the extent of evidence linking concentration with monopoly. (See "Administered Prices—Fact or Fancy?" REASON Trends column, October 1972, p.31) For further information on Dr. Dernsetz's talk contact Lloyd Licher, 12536 Woodbine St., Los Angeles, CA 90066.
• LIBERTARIAN WOMEN'S LIB: At the National Women's Political Caucus conference in Houston early in February, libertarians were well represented. Nationwide advance preparation (through the efforts of Tonie Nathan, Lynn Kinsky, Clarica Scott, Susan Nolan, and Elizabeth Jacobson) aided local libertarians Georgiann Trammell, Juliane Dollohan, and Robert Tinney in preparing an elaborate booth from which over 1000 pieces of literature were distributed. In addition to copies of REASON and various other materials, original articles addressed to feminist issues (written by Sharon Presley, Mike Holmes, and Lonnie Brantley) were distributed. Many media people picked up these materials, and ABC-TV taped several shots of the booth and posters.
• SIEGAN BOOK WINS AWARD: Chicago lawyer Bernard Siegan's attack on compulsory zoning (LAND USE WITHOUT ZONING) has been awarded the Monks award by the Institute for Humane Studies. The award is presented each year in recognition of distinguished writing in the fields of jurisprudence and political philosophy. Mr. Siegan is the subject of an in-depth interview in the April 1973 issue of REASON.
• LIBERTARIAN PARTY CONVENTION: The 1973 National Convention of the Libertarian Party will be held June 7th-9th in Cleveland. Convention space has been reserved at the Holiday Inn, one mile north of the Ohio Turnpike and ten miles from Cleveland-Hopkins Airport.
• ECONOMIC HISTORY SEMINAR: The Institute for Humane Studies is sponsoring a seminar at Cornell University on the topic of "New Perspectives in 20th Century American Economic History."
The seminar will feature Professors Murray Rothbard and Forrest McDonald, and will take place from June 18th through 28th. Attendance is by invitation only and will be limited to 40 persons. Inquiries should be directed to Professor Leonard Liggio, 2233 Westervelt Ave., Bronx, NY 10469.
• COMING NEXT MONTH: REASON's June issue will feature a timely and insightful interview with Daniel Ellsberg, presently on trial in federal court in Los Angeles for dissemination of the Pentagon Papers. Also included next month is a significant attack on current FTC policy by University of Chicago economics professor Yale Brozen. Don't miss this important issue—if you are not yet a subscriber, act now!