Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1906-07-06
SOMETHING ABOUT COLE
Motley Man Writes Inter-
eStingly about Form
er ToWnSman

Motley, June 30, 1905.
Editor Little Falls Herald:
Motley has recently received a
great honor. A gentleman who was
until recently a citizen of our little
village, has become the nominee for
governor OF q 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-citl.
zen who has suddenly achieved promi.
nence.
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. Tie 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 North
ern Pacific Railway, and the local
belief Is that his associations with
the company brought him fortune.
He was the exclusive cordwood agent
of the company and no one but him.
self could furnish cordwood to the
company. In those days, when the
country was being cleared, cordwood
was almost principal product, ano
the farmers had to submit to the local
uonopolist who practically controlled
the industry. Others tried to sell
cordwood to the Northern Pacific but
to no avail, Walter Benson put in
lower bids several times, 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.
He issued store chips, and a practice
much disliked by the people around
here was common, that of discounting
the store chips when presented at the
store. Of cou1ss, this was simply q
business proposition.
! When Mr.. Cole came here, be was a
republican, go some Of the oldest in
habitants say. But he later became
strong populist, and later still q
democrat. He was active for Bryan,
and for Lind and Towne in their cam.
paigns. One of our citizens recalls a
happening of the campaign of 1896
which seems rather amusing now.
One Sunday Mr.. Cole addressed q
meeting in part of Motley town
which is now the town of Rosing.
It was at what is known as the Cy
Deaver scboolhouse. he made thrill
ling address, among other things say
ing he was surprised that as busi-
ness man he had been so blind to the
iniquities and corruption of the
republican party, and then he shed
tears. he felt so badly about it. But
the climax came when he said that
he hoped God might strike him dead
if he ever again joined the republican
party! There are parties here who
will make affidavit to this. Pleasant
reading for our republican friends.
isn't lty
Cole ran for Office as popullst. dem.
ocrat, also aspired for Office, but never
seemed to sacceed. In 1898. when the
people Of this legislative district were
after Senator Fuller because it was
alleged his affiliations and actions in
the legislature were of a corporation
and railroad hue, Cole supported Full.
ler for reelection. He was sore
because the democrats didn't nomi.
nate him. It wasn't uutil several
years after however, that Mr.. Cole
formally called himself a republican.
His home was in Motley, but he had a
store in Walker, as he has at Akeley
and PeQuot Also When in Walker
he used two rooms over the store.
He was as much a resident of Akeley
as of Walker, and certainly resident
Of Motley, when he became candidate
for the Legislature in the heavily
republican Cass county district.
However, although Motley folks
smiled, the other district did what
this would never do-elected Mr.. Cole
tn the Iaoislatnro fwfce He so1d his
home here about year ago to DR..
Schaefer. The household goods were
shipped to Pequot last winter, and
then to Akeley. The piano is still
here. Possibly something may arse
wherein Mr.. Cole may desire to prove
residence here. Maybe the pisnner
would do it, But this matter of resi-
dence is of small account, anyhow.