Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-08-18
Plain Talk

l. LIN vi i 1o111 l. oxN
Some time age, in one of these columns, I told you that my
friend, George, the editor of the Times, was very angry with
the voters of Toledo and that he would have a candidate for
Congress more to his liking later on.
Well, he has a candidate and it is the individual I knew it
would be. Only, no matter how much George raves and sput-
tiers, fumes and stews, it isn't the candidate he would prefer.
It's the candidate his boss tells him to order you to elect.
The Blade and its "myrmidon," the Times, and the new
people of the Ninth Congressional District from themselves.
Just think of the great favor the new candidate is doing you
by mselfishy sacrificing himself to run for a position which
two years ago he considered too lovely for his great talents.
Probably the most arrogant statement ever made in local
politics was his-"The people, themselves, had little to say who
their representative in Congress would be-" In 1913 there were
approximately 10000 votes cast I have not heard of one
single case where any OF the ;. dozgoo voters were forced TO go
their own free choice after they got to the polls. Conversely,
vote was forcibly detained from exercising the voting fran
chise. In a democracy either such forcible action is criminal
and subject to severe penalties. AS an attorney, the third man
of the Blades third man theme should know this.
Now let's look a few facts squarely in the face and lay To-
eternal rest some of the differences, allegations and plain leSs
you are hearing and will hear as the campaign runs its course.
In the first place I entered politics on my own, with the
valued help of Bill Calvin, sr. and John Quinlivan. l had the
ambition and they furnished the encouragement. The same
year I met Dick Gosser and we formed a friendship largely be-
cause of our mutual interests in obtaining a better shake for
the working man. I have made and retained many other friends
in the intervening years. No person who becomes my friend
just don't make enemies because of disagreements or differ
ences of opinion.
I am not in Congress because the so-called hierarchy" of
the Democratic Party or of Labor picked me as a candidate.
The leaders of both thought that I had absolutely no chance of
winning and tried to dissuade me from running The party
leaders strove frantically to persuade political "big Names to
run. One of these was the third man of the current third man
theme. He refused because he felt that to consider him for this
office was to ask him to step down from loftier ambitions.
Let's consider for a moment the 1948 Democratic primary.
I was one candidate battling it out with three others. None of
us had the endorsement of the party leadership. So, whichever
of us won the primary could truthfully say he was picked by
the rank and file in that party.
We have been taught as Americans that the two-party
system is the life blood, the heart and the soul of democracy.
Two World Wars were fought for the express purpose of saving
the democracy we built on that system. Now the Blade with
its third man theme, finds that it is dissatisfied with the choice
made by the voters of each party. Even a newspaper monopoly
has a right, in our democratic way of life, to support or oppose
whomever it pleases. However, isn't it being just a little brash
to proclaim that the Blade and only the Blade is properly
qualified to pick candidates. After all, we have established by
law a method whereby the citizens can pick their candidates.
But the Blade, in effect, is saying to you that you are incapable
of making a proper choice so they are choosing for you.
I think it would be an excellent idea to discuss also this
matter of a "bossed" representative. If the third man theme
should be successful would there be a "boss"? You're darn
tootin' there would. AS l said in the opening paragraph, thisks
is not a new and spontaneous development by public demand.V
The decision was made on a certain day in the latter part Of
yourself that he won't be the boss if Mr.. Third Man Is elected.
Many times in the past I have told of my relationship with
Dick Gosser. He supported me and worked hard for my cleo
ton when ne was convinced that the going was so tough there
was little chance of success. AS a citizen he has as much right
to confer with me as does anyone else. As a supporter he even
has a prior right. He has never exercised the latter.
Many people in political life who are now batting Dick
around because they think it currys favor with the Blade were
darn anxious in times past to get his support. How do | know
that? Simple-they asked me to use my influence with him.
pitch because the road might seem a little rocky.
Dick Gosser has never interfered in any way, shape or
form with the affairs of, or the running of my office. He has
never asked me to make any appointments to jobs. Nor has ne
ever asked me for any personal favors except one. Dick is a
football fan and has a yen to see an Army-Navy game before
he shuffes off this mortal soil. Last year he asked for and I
obtained for him two tickets for the game. He paid for the
tickets and then had to give them away at the last moment
because he was called to settle a strike some place.
Sure Pm against Taft-Hartley. So is Dick Gosser. But I'm
not against Taft-Hartley because Dick told me to be. Sure I
supported the Improvement of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
I said 1 would in the 1913 campaign. Yes, I fought to obtain
the increase in Social Security. l hardly think Dick would have
to tell me to do that do you?
Dick Gosser is busy on his job and I'm busy on mine.
Neither of us tells the other how to run his job although I sup
ported him and he supported me in our respective campaigns.
He doesn't have the time to run my job and l certainly don't
have the time to run his. The Blade, in stating that he does run
my job, is certainly putting the mantle of superman on his
shoulders. It's physically and mentally impossible for an ordi-
nary human to do both jobs.
The Blade, in its editorial of last Thursday, says that in
areas where l have freedom to act l have done a pretty good
job. Chez, tank kids! Now maybe they'll tell you exactly what
areas there are where / don't have freedom to follow my own
prediction. I'll bet they will say that these are the areas
where I do agree with the Blade. All right, what's so sacred
about the Blades opinion that you or I or anyone else cannot
disagree? I'll be waiting anxiously to hear the answer to that
question.