Prohibition Party holds convention; nominates Jack Fellure for U.S. President

June 23, 2011 Retired West Virginia engineer won the  nomination of the Prohibition Party yesterday at the party's National Convention in, Alabama. He won on the second ballot, defeating tax accessor  of Pennsylvania, who initially ran unopposed. Party Chairman Toby Davis of Mississippi received the nomination.

The Prohibition Party is the third oldest existing political party in the United States, having been established in 1869. It reached its height of popularity during the late 19th century. As its name suggests, the party heavily supported the, which banned the sale of alcohol, and resulted in the US period known as (1919–33). The party has declined since the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, but has continued to nominate candidates for the presidential election.

Fellure, 79, has run for president in every election since, though usually as a Republican. This run marks his first as a member of the Prohibition Party. On his campaign website, he cites the as his presidential platform, and calls for the teaching of the Bible in public schools, criminalization of homosexuality, and the elimination of abortion, the  and. On economics, he supports reducing taxes and balancing the federal budget.

Hedges, the first Prohibition Party member elected to public office since 1959, announced his campaign in February 2010, and was the only candidate until last month. According to Vice Chairman June Griffin: "While Jim has contributed valuable resources to this Party...his positions regarding Environmentalism and passivity toward war forced me to vote for Jack Fellure. As well, his insistence on a moratorium on the building of nuclear plants caused much unrest among the membership. Yet he prevailed to install this plank."

The ten voting Prohibition Party convention delegates and a few guests met for the National Convention, which began on Monday at the in Cullman. Tuesday featured a short greeting from Cullman Mayor Max Townson, followed by addresses from Libertarian consultant,  publisher , and Eunie Smith of the.

Gordon, who previously worked as the e-Campaign manager for the, jokingly commented that his speech "stunk". He opened his address with the joke that "the way to pick out the libertarian at a Prohibition Party function is that I’m the one wearing the tie." He discussed how third party candidates could utilize to their advantage, but avoided any ideological topics.

Winger, an expert on election law, discussed and the history of the Prohibition Party. He notably explained how the party had cost the Republicans presidential victories in the elections of and, which forestalled the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment by Republicans, who wanted to do away with the alcohol issue. Gordon later commented that Winger's speech was well-received by the audience.

After Winger's speech, the convention broke for lunch. Afterwards, Smith, the widow of former Congressman, focused on immigration and education in her address. When asked about the Eagle Forum's participation in the fight against alcohol, she commented that the group was focused on more pressing issues such as gambling.

After the nomination, some party members traveled to the grave of in Florida. Catts, who died in 1936, was the first and only state governor elected from the Prohibition Party.

The party will now begin ballot access drives in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, New Jersey, Utah, Colorado, Tennessee and Arkansas. In, the late appeared on the ballot in Colorado, Florida and Louisiana and picked up a total of 653 votes.