University of Virginia Library

Factions Paralyze JP Convention

News Analysis

By Holly Smith
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Dirty linen normally aired only in
smoke-filled rooms was flapping on the
line during the March 31 Jefferson Party
convention. Wracked by internal
dissension, the party verged on virtual
dissolution when controversy over the
winner of the treasurership broke out.

Back stabbing sprang from conflicts
held over from last fall's elections broke
out when the expected winners of the
secretary and treasurership failed to be
elected. However, when the evening
meeting began there was no hint of the uproar
that was to follow. The atmosphere was tense
but friendly among the hand pumping, beer
drinking, tie wearing, log rolling members of
this moderate party.

The attendance was down to about 60
members, compared with approximately 200
during the Party's first convention in the fall of
1969. The participants consisted primarily of
Young Republicans and members of the Delta
Tau Delta, Kappa Alpha and Phi Kappa Psi
fraternities.

Former Council member Scott Stephens was
elected JP President by acclamation, replacing
outgoing President T. Quinn Spitzer. Mr.
Stephens warned that the JP was almost "dead"
and encouraged the group to nominate and
support only a small slate of candidates so that
strength could be concentrated behind just a
few people.

He attempted to close the nominations for
Student Council President before any names
had been put forth, but his motion was
defeated by the Party members who nominated
second-year student John Hogan as the JP
candidate. Mr. Hogan has since decided not to
enter the presidential race.

No vice-presidential candidate was endorsed.
Mr. Stephens again pressed for a shortened slate
of candidates, reminding members that (after
various infractions of rules) "We're climbing
out of a pretty deep abyss going into these
upcoming elections."

His suggestion to limit the number of
Student Council representatives to two was
overridden and four members, Robert Bryant,
Steve Edwards, Bob Kinker and Jim Matthews
were named as JP Student Council
representative nominees.

No names were put up for nomination to fill
the seat which Mr. Stephens vacated on March
31.

The proceedings returned to the election of
party officers. Second-year college student Bob
Sheeder was elected vice-president by
acclamation; William Hurd was named party
secretary. The election of treasurer was close,
only two votes separated winner David Canfield
from Dave Llewellyn.

The supporters of Mr. Llewellyn, who leads
the more conservative element of the party, had
expected him to run unopposed and were
surprised by Mr. Canfield's nomination. Mr.
Canfield's narrow victory was what finally blew
the lid off the convention.

Mr. Llewellyn's supporters called for a
recount, then a second recount since the hand
vote continued to be close. They gathered their
forces on the right side of the room to facilitate
the vote counting.

Mr. Stephens' leadership faltered with his
inability to extricate the proceedings from their
parliamentary tangle. Suggestions, accusations
and corrections were coming from all sides and
culminated with a call for Mr. Stephens'
resignation as president of the JP.

Mr. Stephens quickly complied and JP
Vice-President Bob Sheeder took control of the
proceedings. He faced a room divided evenly
down the middle, with the Young Republicans
and the Delta Tau Delta fraternity to the right
of the aisle, and the Phi Kappa Psi and Kappa
Alpha fraternities and independents on the left
side of the aisle. "What we're seeing," he said,
"is the whole party destroyed because of these
factions."

The Kappa Alpha house announced it was
resigning from the JP. Mr. Spitzer called for a
ten minute recess during which a caucus was
held; it was decided that everyone would resign
and reelections would be held.

After the recess Mr. Stephens was reelected,
again by acclamation. Mr. Sheeder was also
reelected as vice-president. In the secretarial
race William Hurd was replaced by Kappa
Alpha member Ross Perry, thus placating the
KA faction of the party.

Mr. Spitzer took the floor and added, "I
think it's good we've finally had this out.' He
asked the members to "stop thinking in terms
of fraternities and YR's and start thinking in
terms of a party. We're facing ashes right
now... Don't quit because of a few words in
the CD saying this is a YR controlled
organization."