Mitch Hepburn

Elected at 37, Liberal leader Mitch Hepburn became the youngest Premier in Ontario in 1934. An onion farmer, he ruled during the depression into the WW2 years. Hepburn created a volunteer police force – “Hepburn’s Hussars” – known by some as “Sons of Mitches” – as strike breakers, a strategy that failed. During an election campaign he found himself with a group of farmers out standing in a field. Looking for a vantage point from which to speak he spotted a manure spreader. Promptly climbing aboard to overlook the gathering he announced that he had never before stood on a Conservative platform. To which a witty farmer responded: “Give it to them Mitch. You can spread it with the best of them.”

In fact, I recently learned that quote was initiated by John A. MacDonald, our first Prime Minister.