The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-10-27
.C0[E IS CONDEMNED
BY FELLOW TOWNsMAN
Republican Candidate for
Governor Gets Hard Rap
From Former Friend
His Townsmen Write Things:
About the Candidate Which
Show Him Up.

The Little Falls Herald publishes
the following letter from citizen OF
Motely, Mimi, relative to the standing
in that community OF A. L. Cole:
Motely has recently received
great honor. A gentleman who was
until recently citizen OF our little
village has become the nominee. for
governor of a great party. Motley
ought to enthuse, one would think,
but it doesn't. Sad is the fact, yet
true. There may be reasons for this
lack OF appreciation OF fellow citi-
zen who has suddenly achieved prom
inence.
A. L. Cole came to Motley about |
1880 from Fergus Falls. When he
came here he went into partnership |
with Mike Walsh, later buying out |
his partner. The store was run in the |
name of Mr.. Coles brother, A. B. |
Cole, until about five years ago.
Mr.. Cole did great deal OF business
with and for the Northern Pacific
| railway, and the local belief is that
| his associations with the company
| brought him fortune. He was the
| exclusive cordwoOd agent OF the COM
pany, and no one but himself could
| fournish cordwOod to the company.
| In those days when the country was
| being cleared cordwood was almost
| principal product land the farmers
had to submit to the local monopolist
who practically controlled the indus
| try. Others tried to sell cordwOOd to
the Northern Pacific but to no avail.
The railroad was very kind to Mr..
Cole, doubtless for good reasons.
/ AS the farmers had to sell their
cordwood, and Mr.. Cole was buyer for
the concern that handled the most
wood, Mr.. Cole bought the wood,
paying In trade and getting cash. lie
issued store chips, and practice
much disliked by the people around
here was common, that OF discount
ing the store chips when presented at
the store. or course, this was simply
a business proposition.
When Mr.. Cole came here he was
simply Republican, so some OF the
oldest Inhabitants say. But he later
became a strong populist, and later
still a Democrat. He was active for
Bryan, and for Lind and Towne in
their campaigns. One OF our citizens
recalls a happening OF the campaign
in 1896 which seems rather amusing
One Saturday Mr.. Cole addressed a
meeting in a part of Motley town
which is now the town OF ROsing. 1t
was at what is known as the Cy
Beaver schoolhouse. He made a thrill.
ling address, among other things say
ing he was surprised that as a bust
ness man he had been SO blind to the
1n1Quities and corruption OF the Re-
publican party, and then he she'd
tears; he felt so badly about it. But
the climax came when he said that he
hoped God might strike him dead il he
ever again joined the Republican
party! There are parties here who
: will make affidavit to this. Pleasant
reading for GU Republican friends,
isn't it?
Cole ran for office as Populist-
Democrat, also asp1red for office, but
never seemed to succeed. In 1898,
when the people OF this legislative dis.
: trict were after Senator Fuller be-
cause it was alleged his affiliations
l and actions in the legislative were OF
corporation and railroad hue, Cole
J. supported Fullerton for reelection.
He was sore because the Democrats
uAuA AOlu1udI0 IL Wd0A uAI14
l several years after, however, that Mr.
Cole formally called himself Repub'
! lican. His home was in Motley, but he
had store in Walker, as he has at
Akely and Pequot also. When Ia
I Walker he used two rooms over the
9 store. He was as much resident OF
Q Akely as OF Walker, and certainly a
I resident of Motley when he became a
s candidate for the legislature in the
l. heavily Republican Cass County dis
trict, however, although Motley folks
n smiled, the other district did what
+ this would never dd-elected Mr.. Cole
s to the legislative twice. He sold his
home here about year ago to DR.
r Schaafer. The household goods were
8 shipped to PequOt last winter, and
Il then to Akely. The piano is still here
Possibly something may arise wherein
Mr.. Cole may desire to prove residence
S here. Maybe the pianer would do it,
s but this matter Of residence is OF
Y small account, anyhow. 1t shows 4
S courageous man may overcome OBJ
T stacles.
g Mr.. Cole is a kind man, according
o to story told here. About ten years
S ago an unfortunate farmer who hao
farm near Motley was suspected oil
s differing from the Cole store, presum
e ably food for his family. At any
: rate, bear trap was set to capture
e the man, and the jaws at the sugges
Y ton of a friend OF the writer hereof
was covered with cloth SO as not te
n injure the fellow-just catch him. He
n was caught all right. Scared out o.
n his wits by threats of prosecution, thu
e man and his wife were induced as
l. recompense for the generosity which
d saved him from prison to transfer hi
It farm to Mr.. Cole, receiving In ex
IT change some $50 or, SO of goods from
$, the store. The farm is worth nov
: about $4,000, which shows that kind
e ness always pays. The man himself
Is Ck~v1s1L T1041>o~