Frontlines

OFF AND RUNNING…

The latest in the growing list of libertarians entering races for Congress is Marvin J. Edwards (see REASON Profile, December 1973), who is mounting a serious campaign as an Oklahoma Republican. Edwards, author of HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH and a recent editor of PRIVATE PRACTICE magazine will be running his campaign on the theme that "big government is the only real problem we have." He has a number of advantages going for him—he enjoys close ties with influential Republicans because of his prominent role in health care debates and analysis, and he has strong backing in the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, a small, Objectivist-led, and well-financed group. Two other candidates are seeking the Republican nomination in the Fifth Congressional District—an early show of strength could persuade both not to run. If you live in Oklahoma and have some time to volunteer or can spare some money, please contact the Edwards for Congress Committee, c/o Frank Robinson, P.O. Box 25517, Oklahoma City, OK 73101.

Meanwhile, in Ohio businesswoman Kay Harroff has filed nominating petitions as an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate. The Harroff for Senate Committee submitted over 10,000 signatures, of which only 5,000 need to be valid to ensure a spot on the November ballot. Ms. Harroff, who has been active in libertarian causes for over a decade and is currently chairman of the Libertarian Party of Ohio, will run a strictly libertarian campaign: "There are too many Messiahs in the world; do-gooders, legislators, leaders of the people. They place themselves above mankind and set about planning it, organizing it, and ruling it. I do not look upon people as clay, to be molded and shaped to my image." Those interested in this campaign may write to the Harroff for Senate Committee, 204 Solon Road, Cleveland, OH 44146.

DUTCHESS COUNTY DYNAMO

Sanford Cohen continues to generate publicity for libertarian ideas with his energetic campaign for New York's 25th Congressional seat (now occupied by liberal Republican Hamilton Fish, Jr.). Calling for competition in education, repeal of all victimless crime laws, and implementation of the Pay-What-You-Want Tax Plan (see REASON, August 1973) Sandy and his indefatigable campaign workers manage to reach up to 500,000 people weekly through newspaper, radio and television coverage. A nude campaign poster touting Cohen as the "candidate with nothing to hide" brought him flack from some libertarians, but accomplished its purpose of generating publicity in the media (The Poster, which features Sandy and a strategically-placed telephone, is available from Citizens for Cohen for $5. Eat your heart out Burt Reynolds!).

On April 20th Citizens for Cohen will sponsor a gala Fundraising Party—time: 8 P.M., place: Poughkeepsie, N.Y. John Hospers will be guest speaker. For further information on what could be the social event of the season place contact Ellen Davis, c/o Citizens for Cohen, Box 1776, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or phone [phone] or [phone]. (If you can't attend, send money anyway—they'll make good use of it!)

NATIONAL TAX PROTEST

The Society for Individual Liberty, a nation-wide libertarian campus organization, is busily making plans for this year's National Tax Protest Day, April 13th. SIL has invited other libertarian organizations and organizations sympathetic to lower taxes to join in this project, and will produce and make available various items of literature, bumper strips, etc. At a national press conference SIL will announce the two week protest period from March 30th to April 13th. For further information please contact SIL, National Tax Protest Day, 304 Empire Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Last year's Protest generated considerable sympathetic publicity—with plenty of enthusiasm and planning libertarians could do even better this year!

NOTES

Several anarchist groups and individuals in New York City are issuing a call for anarchists of the North American continent to meet at Hunter College in New York City on April 19, 20 and 21 to participate in a conference to organize a first continental anarchist congress. With such groups as the Hunter Libertarian Alliance, Living Theater Collective, Free-space Alternative U., Faggot and Dyke Anarchists, and Ecology Action East participating it promises to be an interesting get-together! If you are interested in participating or have useful suggestions please contact the Hunter Libertarian Alliance, 49 E. 65 Street, New York, NY 10021 or phone [phone] or [phone]. Here's a chance for free market anarchists to have an impact on the wider (and decidedly more collectivist) anarchist movement.

The Objectivist Reference Room, 4772 Holt, Montclair, CA 91763 (phone [phone]) is open from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M. seven days per week, with a Sunday afternoon discussion meeting from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M. The Room is designed to help libertarians communicate with each other via social activities, lectures, discussion groups, question and answer sessions, etc. Cassette tape recordings, books, journals, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings will be available in the room to help keep members ($2 per month) and visitors informed.

The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire has given its endorsement to a class action suit filed by Andrew Melechinsky of the George Mason Movement against Richard M. Nixon for damaging acts of price-fixing and rationing in the fuel industries. Among the many who signed as agents in the suit were State LP chairman William Zebuhr and vice-chairman Arthur Ketchen. NHLP has also been working closely with the fusionist Coalition for Freedom, an ideal forum for wide dissemination of Party views amongst leaders and representatives of the many diverse groups forming the Coalition.

A South Florida Chapter of the Libertarian Party has been formed, with monthly meetings planned. Please phone Carl Hastings, Ft. Lauderdale, 584-5907 or Dr. Fred Miley, Miami, 891-7933 for further information.

The Basic Principles of Objectivism is being given every Tuesday (the 20-week series started January 29) and The Principles of Efficient Thinking is being given every Thursday (the 10-week series started January 31) at 8 P.M. sharp at 2311 McGee, Apt. A, Berkeley, California. The donation for each session of the recorded lecture series is 50 cents. Please call John Harris in Berkeley at 548-2242 for further information.