I'd like to say that all your villagers are too smart to take the job! Someone eventually will take it however. As previously mentioned, when this happens to me I try switching tribes, then come back and start with my oldest villager working my way down till someone is chief.
I've never tried putting all the villagers on the robe at once, but that sounds like an interesting solution. I may do that next time my chief goes to visit the ancestors. Could be a real time saver.