The Yellowstone venture consumed ten days. Upon returning to your home, everything has a better look than when you left. Your mother, your sister and father are fresher, younger and more beautiful. They seem to have been changed some. The house, yard, and living quarters have inviting appearance. What is happening is that your home environment is telling you what a wonderful home you have. And after ten days of your own cooking and on the ground sleeping you know that you have the best at your home.
In less than five days the feeling of unemployment again consumed us. All except Ivan Hardy who was back hauling mail. It was now a know fact that college in 1933 was impossible. Our only chance for more money was picking peaches at Ben Lomond. One great event of 1932 that soon captured my attention was the presidential election. Roosevelt, the democrat versus Hoover, the republican. It was the first election that I would cast a vote. I would be twenty one on September 28, 1932. Though I took no active part in the campaign, I became interested in the proceedings. Roosevelt and the democrats were presenting their programs to cure the depression. I went to public meetings, listened intently to the issues on the radio and spent a great deal of time reading t news paper and magazine articles about the problems and issues confronting the nation. At heart I became, at least, a Roosevelt democrat. I knew, by the first of September that, Roosevelt and the democrats would win the election in November. Supporters of Hoover would have a hard time if the favored him in front of me. At age twenty one I was ready and willing to vocally support my views. It mattered not who they were, young or old, I would openly present my views against theirs. I was not argumentative. The explanation and understanding of issues was what I was looking for.
September 28th, my birthday, was the most important day yet in my life. I was now a legal man. Now I had the right to vote. There were many things that were first for a 21 year old. As I remember neither my mother or father made much to do about it. It was just another birthday. I am sure that I received some family presents. A shirt, pair of sox or some other piece of clothing. My mother baked a cake and maybe may some ice cream. That night some of the 12th Streeters got together and sang happy birthday. All in all just another day.
As the time drew near to the presidential election I found that I would vote at the Garr residence across the street from out home. That was where 12th Streeter Arnie had lived. One day seeing Mrs. Garr on her porch I wandered over and informed her that I would be voter come November. During our conversation she told me it was her responsibility to staff the district election headquarters. She asked me if I was a Democrat. I told her I would be voting Democratic. She then asked me if I would like to b e the Democratic Judge at the district. I did not hesitate. I accepted the immediately. Later I found that I would receive $2.00 pay for my services.
Election Day was the first Tuesday of November. The polls opened at 7:00 am and closed at 7:00 pm. The staff met the day before to orient themselves as to their duty. My duty was to watch the voting procedure and protect the rights of the Democratic voters. From the time the polls opened until they closed there was not a single error made on either Democratic or Republican side. After the polls closed the counters took over to count the votes. In 1931 there were no automatic counters. It had to be done by hand with the only aid an adding machine, which wasn’t electric. Within an hour after the polls closed we were all counters. We did not complete counting until well after midnight. The result was overwhelming victory for the democrats. The same result came from all over the country. It was now the responsibility of the Democrats o put an end to the great depression.