Since I’m flying to Oklahoma tomorrow, I’m letting Will Rogers take over my column. After all, he knows a lot more about politics, campaigns, and elections than I will ever learn.
“Come pretty near having two holidays of equal importance in the same week: Halloween and Election, and of the two, Election provides the most fun. On Halloween they put pumpkins on their heads, and on Election they don’t have to.” DT #1334, Nov. 2, 1930
“If all the charges that’s been made in regard to both the Candidates were layed end to end it would take ’em over two hours to pass a given point.” Life magazine, Oct. 19, 1928
“In this country people don’t vote for; they vote against.” Radio, June 9, 1935
“The Literary Digest is taking a poll to see how many people there are in the United States who are interested in politics that can write their name. Up to now there has been about a third more Republicans that can write than Democrats. Course, when election day comes and all you have to do is make your mark, why I think the Democratic total will pick up. Republicans have to learn to write on account of signing checks, but Democrats never have to be bothered with that.” DT #695, Oct. 18, 1928
“Of all the ‘dumb’ issues that candidates bring up to try and influence people how to vote, I think ‘prosperity’ takes the cake. How a speaker can convince a man that he is prosperous when he is broke or that he is not prosperous when he is doing well is beyond me.” DT #704, Oct. 29, 1928
“Every Guy just looks in his pockets and then votes.” WA #196, Sept. 12, 1926
“There should be a moratorium called on candidates’ speeches. They have both called each other everything in the world they can think of. From now on they are just talking themselves out of votes. DT #1948, Nov. 1, 1932
“You can’t beat an administration by attacking it. You have to show some plan on improving it.” WA #101, Nov. 16, 1924
“This President business is a pretty thankless job. Washington or Lincoln either one didn’t get a statue till everybody was sure they was dead.” DT #1951, Nov. 4, 1932
“There is only one redeeming thing about this whole election. It will be over at sundown, and let everybody pray that it’s not a tie.” DT #1953, Nov. 7, 1932