1959 Prohibition National Convention
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The 1959 Prohibition National Convention was held September 1–3, 1959, at the Westminster Hotel in Winona Lake, Indiana. It nominated Rutherford Decker of Missouri for president, and E. Harold Munn of Michigan for vice president.
| |
 The former Westminster Hotel, venue of the convention | |
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | September 1–3, 1959 |
| City | Winona Lake, Indiana |
| Venue | Westminster Hotel |
| Candidates | |
| Presidential nominee | Rutherford Decker of Missouri |
| Vice-presidential nominee | E. Harold Munn of Michigan |
| Voting | |
| Total delegates | ~300 (attending) 95 (voting) |
| Results (president) | 95 |
| Results (vice president) | 95 |
| Ballots | 1 |
Logistics
The Prohibition Party was the first to nominate its ticket for the 1960 United States presidential election.[1] Its convention was held September 1–3, 1959, at the Westminster Hotel in Winona Lake in the state of Indiana.[2][3][4]
The convention featured nearly 300 delegates[4] hailing from seventeen[a] state delegations.[5]
The state of Indiana was a regular location for the party's conventions. Indianapolis had been the site of the 1888, 1904, 1932, and 1951 conventions. Winona Lake had previously hosted the 1947, while nearby Milford, hosted its convention in 1955.[6][7]
Earl Dodge served as temporary chairman during the convention.[4]
Schedule and speeches
The first day of the convention featured a session with an address by E. Harold Munn of Michigan, the party's chairman. It also featured caucuses by state delegations in the afternoon, and an annual party banquet in the evening.[4]
The second day of the convention featured committee reports. It also featured several speeches.[4]
The final evening of the convention featured the first meeting of the new national committee of the party, speeches, and the selection of the party's presidential and vice presidential nominee.[4]
Nominations
For president the party nominated Rutherford Decker of Missouri, a Kansas City-based Baptist minister. For president, the party nominated E. Harold Munn of Michigan,[1] the assistant dean of Hillsdale College and the chair of the party.[1][4] Both were nominated unopposed. On both nominations, 95 total delegates voted from fifteen state delegations.[1]
Platform
Beyond its support for reimposing prohibition, the party's platform advocated for:[1]
- a balanced federal budget
- tax cuts
- ceasing nuclear weapons testing
- "right-to-work" laws