“Never judge presidential timber by its bark”

The New York City humor magazine Life published on June 28, 1923:
 
“THE presidential candidates have started roaring. But you should never judge presidential timber by its bark.”
 
“Never judge presidential timber by its bark” is an infrequently used political adage.
 
     
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28 June 1923, Life magazine, pg. 6, col. 2:
THE presidential candidates have started roaring. But you should never judge presidential timber by its bark.
 
16 June 1924, Rockford (IL) Republic, “Hit and Run,” pg. 6, col. 2:
You can always distinguish presidential timber by its bark, says Diogenes Dinkle, Whig Hill philosopher.
 
6 June 1968, Aberdeen (SD) American-News, “Earl Wilson’s New York,” pg. 4, col. 5:
EARL’S PEARLS: Here we go again, trying to judge presidential timber by its bark.—Ben Bergor, Wisconsin State Journal.
 
Google Books
20,000 Quips & Quotes
By Evan Esar
New York, NY: Barnes & Noble Books
1995, ©1968
Pg. 109:
Never judge Presidential timber by its bark.
 
11 December 1991, Los Angeles (CA) Times, pg. B10, col. 1:
Candidates
Never judge presidential timber by its bark!
HAROLD GOULD
Los Angeles
 
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Michael D Thornton
‏@mthorntoncpa
Mentioned to my Lib Dem friend that I think entirely too many people are judging Presidential timber by its bark these days… #tcot #humor
5:19 PM - 3 Aug 2012