“A conference is just an admission that you want somebody to join you in your troubles”

American cowboy, humorist and actor Will Rogers (1879-1935) wrote in his newspaper column published on July 21, 1932:
 
“A conference is just an admission that you want somebody to join you in your troubles.”
 
Rogers was no fan of conferences.
     
 
Wikipedia: Will Rogers
William Penn Adair “Will” Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American cowboy, vaudeville performer, humorist, newspaper columnist, social commentator, and stage and motion picture actor. He became one of the most famous American media stars during the 1920s and 1930s.
 
Known as “Oklahoma’s Favorite Son”, Rogers was born to a prominent Cherokee Nation family in Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma). He traveled around the world three times, made 71 movies (50 silent films and 21 “talkies”), wrote more than 4,000 nationally syndicated newspaper columns, and became a world-famous figure. By the mid-1930s, the American people adored Rogers. He was the leading political wit of his time, and was the top-paid Hollywood movie star. Rogers died in 1935 with aviator Wiley Post, when their small airplane crashed in northern Alaska.
 
21 July 1932, Charlotte (NC) Observer, “Will Rogers says:,” pg. 1, col. 6:
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., July 20.—I see where Mr. Mellon is coming home “bringing the data on the economic conference.” A conference, a conference—that’s all we’ve had for years; the world has just conferred itself into bankruptcy. There hasn’t been a conference since the beginning of the war that hasn’t stirred up more hate and done more harm than it has good. A conference is just an admission that you want somebody to join you in your troubles. The world can’t improve ‘till it goes so poor that it can’t send delegates to a conference. Then it will begin to improve by depending on itself.
Yours,
WILL.
 
Google Books
The Reader’s Digest
Volume 106
1975
Pg. 153:
A CONFERENCE is just an admission that you want somebody to join you in your troubles.—Will Rogers
 
Google Books
Will Rogers Speaks:
Over 1,000 Timeless Quotations for Public Speakers (writers, Politicians, Comedians, Browsers ...)
Edited by Bryan B. Sterling and Frances N. Sterling
New York, NY: M. Evans, Incorporated
1995
Pg. 80:
A Conference is just an admission that you want somebody to join you in your troubles.
July 20, 1932
 
Twitter
Daily Quotes
‏@TopDailyQuotes
“A conference is just an admission that you want somebody to join you in your troubles.” - Will Rogers: “A con… http://bit.ly/1bvwpmx
10:03 AM - 16 Oct 2013