DSOC Candidate Fails in Bid To Head Young Democrats Club

The Harvard-Radcliffe Young Democrats Club yesterday defeated an attempt by a number of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC) to become president of the club, electing instead a club member who described himself as "moderate-liberal."

Samuel J. Dubbin '77, formerly the club's second vice-president, received 19 votes, while Dennis J. Saffran '76 polled only 17 ballots.

Later in the evening, the club elected Saffran as treasurer and DSOC member Elizabeth Glazer '77 as secretary.

The two candidates differed over the question of whether the club should be involved in active advocacy of specific causes, in addition to being an open forum for discussion of the issues.

Dubbin said, "The role of the club should not be one of general advocacy," and the club "should reflect the prevailing philosophy of the national Democratic Party."

Saffran emphasized that the DSOC represents an existing element in the Young Democrats, and that his candicacy did not "represent an effort to take over the club."

DSOC member James A. Dumont '76 said last night that the democratic socialists seek "a more leftist orientation in American politics, as a part of the Democratic tradition."

Saffran said he "would like to make the club more issues-oriented," mentioning the Gallo boycott and desegregation as two issues on which he felt the Harvard Democrats should take an active stand.

"People on the Democratic left don't feel that they've been represented here, that's why we're becoming more active in the Harvard Young Democrats," Dumont said.

The club's retiring president. Harvard H. Leach Jr. '75, said the question is whether the club members "support these [left-supported] issues if the leaders advocate them."

Joy F. Kathlenberg '78 defeated Glazer for the first vice-president position by a margin of 18-15, after four rounds of voting.

After the election, Dubbin said that he would like to see the club "unify behind one candidate in the 1976 presidential election after an open debate among the members as to who the preferred candidate should be."

Dubbin said he currently favors Sen. Henry M. Jackson (D. Wash.) for the presidency, but said. "People interested in any candidate should be able to contact them through the club."