For several years, there have been two factions of the Prohibition Party. The October 1, 2006 issue of Ballot Access News had noted that the faction in opposition to Earl Dodge had sets its presidential convention for September 13-14, 2007, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Now the faction in support of Earl Dodge has set its national convention at a church in Denver, Colorado, for June 11-12, 2007.
Meanwhile, the lawsuit in Pennsyvlania state court to determine which set of national officers is entitled to the bequest that is owed to the national party each year, has a hearing on January 18, 2007.
Will this issue ever be resolved? Does anyone know how much money is involved? This is a bit like the Socialist Labor Party and their endowment except they have’t fought about it!
In reality and in law, there is only ONE Prohibition National Committee, ONE Prohibition National Covention, and ONE Prohibition Party. The alleged two factions are quite disproportionate in size, the majority anti-Dodge organization is about 75% of the membership. The minority dissident Dodge faction has about 25%, with few of them being at all active. Legally speaking, the Dodge side are secessionists. They seceded from the organization. That is a key legal point being considered in the ongoing litigation.
The litigation is expected to be settled soon. The majority has filed Interrogatories and motions (e.g., to compel answer, and for dismissal and for summary judgment), which are pending adjudication.
The endowment is from an Estate left by a member from the 1930’s. The principal cannot be touched, only the interest is payable semi-annually. The 75% group received a payment after having notified the payor, but then the 25% minority Dodge dissident faction filed a claim, alleging that they alone should receive the funds, all 100% of the semi-annual payments!
The majority response is, that is not how majority rule works. The majority decides, and typically the minority gets nothing.
Example: When a new president takes the Presidency, the loser does not get, say, 49% control of the budget! The outsider gets zero% control!! And definitely not 100% as the Dodge minority demanded!
The majority expect that the court will eventually follow the standard American legal view, winner gets 100%. And loser, here, secessionists, get nothing.
Thanks for the update and good luck!