A WORD WITH THE CONGRESSMAN
The biggest part of the job of any Congressman before, during and after a campaign is talking with constituents about what they have on their minds. Last week TIME listened while Michigan's Chuck Chamberlain talked with voters who streamed through his trailer.
FARMER JACK MAIN: Tell me why, when your first load of beans goes in to market, the price drops.
CHAMBERLAIN : It's a supply and demand situation, don't you think?
MAIN: I don't know. I can't figure it.
CHAMBERLAIN: Do you think the less control over the farmer the better, or how would you say it?
MAIN: I'd say it like that. Farmers are better off without controls. Of course the soil bank is damn silly. I know a lot of farmers who are sitting around making money by not raising anything. Now that's damn silly, wouldn't you say?
CHAMBERLAIN (to a Fisher Body worker): Do you think Reuther's done a pretty good job for you?
WORKER: You don't get nothing by raises. Twenty years ago at Chevy I made $1.04 an hour. I could save money then. Now, at $2.50 an hour, I can't save anything. So what's Reuther done for me? A lot of headaches, that's all.
A BLONDE IN BLUE JEANS: I've got husband trouble.
CHAMBERLAIN: Tell me about it.
THE BLONDE: I've got a $30 Government check for my husband and he's been gone since Sept. 3. Can I sign his name to the check and cash it?
CHAMBERLAIN: I wouldn't advise you to do that. You would only be borrowing more trouble. -
FARMER KERMIT CAREY: I wish you'd get out to the farmers more. I'm for you, you know, but lots of farmers haven't met you. You should come out on one of these soil conservation tours --lots of farmers you should meet.
CHAMBERLAIN: Well, it takes a day to make one of those soil conservation tours. Don't misunderstand me, Kermit. I've got to do more in Livingston County. I want to do more there. But I've just got to put in my time where it's needed most.
BUICK PLANT WORKER: I'd like to know why these investigating committees don't go ahead and do something about what they've found out. They're giving us all a bad name, but it isn't us guys in the shop who are doing the racketeering. It's the guys on top. Why don't you do something about that?
CHAMBERLAIN: I'm glad you asked that. I don't think there's anything wrong with union members--but they've been exploited by their leaders. Now I voted against the Kennedy-Ives labor bill because I think we'll get a better bill next session. You know, it's about a dozen years since Taft-Hartley, and if we had taken this bill, which wasn't very good, people would say, "O.K., we've got a labor law," and maybe it would take another dozen years before we got a good piece of legislation. -
PENSIONER BRIAN SKELLENGER (his wife had been laid off from the General Motors AC Spark Plug Division plant in 1952 as permanently disabled, but had so far been unable to collect Social Security disability benefits): I told Social Security that I was going to see my Congressman, and they told me not to do that. They said it would simply delay matters. Is that right?
CHAMBERLAIN (angrily): Of course they don't want you to come to me, because they don't want pressure from the top. But that's my job--to put pressure on them when you don't get a fair shake. Just give me the details and I'll look into it. -
R.F.D. MAIL CARRIER NICK MARVOSH (who wants quick Post Office Department action on extending his route--and his per-mile income): The people out my way aren't getting service and they are complaining.
CHAMBERLAIN (patiently): You tell them you have talked with the Congressman and he is doing everything he can to get them mail service.
MARVOSH (belligerently): These folks aren't going to vote for Mr. Chamberlain unless something is done.
CHAMBERLAIN : Well, that's too bad. I can't please all the people. Some people can't be pleased. If I have to please everybody, I don't want the goddam job. (Later, to a friend): If there's one thing they could chop off from the congressional job, it should be this post-office stuff. It's murder.
YOUNG APPLIANCE DEALER (asking to be excused from Army reserve duty): Every time they call me up for a week, it costs me $100 to get somebody to run the store. And it's hard on business because my customers want me, not a stranger, taking care of them. I mean, this is a hardship.
CHAMBERLAIN: I would like to tell you what you want to hear, but I can't always do that. First I'd like to point out the need for keeping our armed forces strong. We have commitments all over the world. Now you may say, 'Do they need me here in Goodrich?' Well, I think all the reserves are needed, wherever they are.
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