Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-12-01
Rean1s Plans To
Stay Independent

a segment OF all the people;
These, all the people, and those
who voted against me or did not
vote at all, | shall endeavor to
represent. shall be guided by
their wishes and by my conscience
and my judgment.
These are crucial times local
ly, in the state, and in the ma
ton and / shall approach my new
job with due humility and with a
grim determination to do what
think is best, regardless of con-
sequences" the congressman-elect
said.
Needless to say, | am deeply
grateful to those who expressed
their confidence in me, to the press
of Toledo and of Lucas and Ottawa
Counties who endorsed me, and
to various individuals who assist
ed me, and who declared their
faith in me, often in the face of
pressure to the contrary"
ITS independent with both a
big 'I' and a little "i'', says Fra
zier Reams, Congressman-elect
from the Ninth Ohio District.
Newspaper stories and radio COM
mentators have stated that the
Congress will be composed Of 200
Republicans and 235 Democrats.
ut isn't So", says Reams. Il was
qualified by independent voters
signing petitions asking me to
run. ran as an independent, was
elected as such, and | will be an
independent in Congress-"
In ReamS' statement announcing
his candidacy, he said, ITO people
who have asked me whether | no
longer favor two-party system,
| have answered, Il do favor it."
But editorial writer's and letters
from home have not been able to
Scold the Democratic Administra-
ton and the Democratic Party
into prudent and economical be-
havlor, and all the pleading that
can be referred to cannot induce
the Republicans to be realistic.
The answer must be for the people
to take back the reins into their
own hands and elect Congressman
to represent them who can vote
and act and be Independent"
ReamS continued, Il believe in
the two-party system, but when
one OF the two parties chooses
its candidate badly and selfishly,
the independent vote can swing to
the best candidate. This is chas-
tisement to the unwiSe end selfish
leadership of the party for the
present and warning for the flu
ture. II both parties choose badly.
the people must uSe the ancient
instrument of petition and put
their own candidate in nomina-
ton. The petition is a weapon
both of defense and offensive, old
er than political parties. 1t is
mentioned in the Declaration of
independence and in the Consti-
tuition OF our country. 1t still is
an effective means of keeping the
parties reminded to nominate the
best men available for office"
When asked whether he would
SIT on the Democratic or the Re
publican side of the aisle, Reams
said, Neither | will sit on my
little carpetbag right in the
mlddle!" This reference was to
his campaign symbol, carpetbag.
He adopted this after Congress
man Mike Kirwan, from Young
town, had charged that he was a
Southern Carpetbagger and had
no right 20 the seat in Congress
from the Ninth Congressional Dis
trict. Frazier Reams has lived in
Toledo for more than % years,
has been on the delegation to each
Democratic Convention since 1923,
IS two term Prosecuting Attor-
ney of Lucas County, State Direc-
tor of Public Welfare and U. S.
Collecto: of Internal Revenue.
"Gosserism". Reams continued
was the local issue in the cam
paign," This referred to Richard
Gosser, CIOUAW Vice President
whom ReamS charged with using
Thomas H. Burke to maintain his
prestige as labor leader. Burke"
said Reams, "by his own admis-
sions and by every act, shows that
he is the stooge of Gosser. He
does not dare vote on any act
until it is cleared with Gosser."