———-
———-
WE NEVER FORGET
James Kelly Cole Who Lost His Life in Freedom’s Cause,
November 17, 1909, at Tomah, Wisconsin
———-
who believed in the rights of men
that James Kelly Cole was halted suddenly by death.
A railroad accident at Tomah, Wis., November 17th, 1909,
ended only too untimely his brief, young, hopeful life.
He lived well and bravely and thus did he die.”
———-
From the Spokane Industrial Worker of July 2, 1910:
REMEMBER JAMES KELLY COLE.
It was one of those dismal cold November nights [in 1909]. Quite a few I. W. W. members were discussing at their headquarters in Chicago the latest news of the Free Speech fight in Spokane, when a fellow worker came rushing into the door. “Say, boys,” he cried out, “do you know the latest reports? Men are wanted to go to jail. It’s right here on the first page of the Industrial Worker. Read it.” Everybody was on the jump. Voices rang out in denunciation of all those who sought to throttle Free Speech in Spokane. Fellow Worker Cole slammed his fist upon the table, and in a voice inspiring action as well as demanding attention, cried out:
They want men to go to jail;
who is coming along?Several of the members were Johnny-on-the-spot, ready to go with Cole at once.
On the night of November 16th, a few days after this scene took place, 10 men started to beat it to Spokane.
The next morning the boys divided into groups of three. Cole and two other fellow workers decided to tackle the “Pioneer Limited” to Minneapolis, where the bunch was to meet again, to gather reinforcements before starting on their journey across the continent. Friday morning, 10 a. m., was the time set for starting.
All of the men arrived in Minneapolis on Wednesday [November 17, 1909]. Thursday came and no sight of Cole and his partners. Well, he’ll be here before night, the boys thought. But it was not to be. Fellow Worker Duggan, coming from Chicago, brought the sad information that Cole, our valiant fighter, had met with and accident, resulting in his death. At Tomah, Wis., he fell off the train, the wheels crushing out his young life. The message almost stunned the boys. Tears of sorrow came to the eyes of his companions. It was not for long. With revenge in their hearts the bunch started the next night. Let’s do our part as best we know now. In this way we can avenge the death of our comrade and fellow worker and honor his memory, was the thought that spurred the boys on. “Spokane or burst,” was their slogan.
Fellow workers throughout the land, we ask you to remember him also. There is a practical way in doing it. Fellow Worker Cole was the only son of his aged parents. Upon him they depended for support His father is 75 years old and the blow almost killed him and the mother of the boy. The General Administration of the I. W. W. found itself in duty bound to do something for the parents of Cole, who was a member of the I. W. W.
A book has been printed, which contains some of the writings and poems of James Kelly Cole. It is an 85-page book, red cover, and has a picture of Cole on the front page. An introduction gives a short sketch of Cole’s life. All proceeds of the sale of these books will go to the parents, who are deserving the support of all red-blooded rebels. Let every true member of the working class remeber this fighter who lived and died in an attempt to go to jail in answer to the call sent out by the I. W. W.
The price of the book is only 25 cents. It is inspiring reading. It voices the sentiment of the rebels. Every local as well as every member of the I. W. W. should place an order.
Address Vt. St. John, 518 Cambridge bldg., Chicago, Ill.
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[Photograph and emphasis added.]
From the Spokane Industrial Worker of December 1, 1909
-the sad news is reported:
EVENTS OF THE WEEK.
[by Elizabeth Gurley Flynn]
Another week of brutality, of starvation and suffering. Another week of police court farce and the free speech fight swings merrily along, court of justice barred to the public and a martyr to the cause of freedom since last writing. We have had a thanksgiving celebration, a young lite has been crushed out fighting in the cause of labor. “Our martyred dead” has been increased by one more vigorous revolutionist. En route from Chicago, Wednesday, November 17, John Kelly Cole was killed at [Tomah], Wis., under the wheels of a freight train. His fellow workers continued to Spokane, while a committee, came on from Chicago and took his body back to be buried.
It certainly ought to encourage those of us who are in the fight that this boy has given up his very live that we may triumph, much as we sorrow for his untimely death….
[Emphasis added.]
From the Seattle Workingman’s Paper of December 4, 1909
the fight continues:
The First Martyrs
—–(Special Dispatch.)
SPOKANE, Sunday, Nov. 28.-Several men from McKees Rocks, Pa., arrived today. They report a band of about twenty more will reach here in a day or two.
A delegation arrived today from Omaha. They report bitterly cold weather east of the Rockies.
Last evening a Memorial Meeting was held at I. W. W. Headquarters in honor of JAMES K. COLE, the first martyr of the Spokane Free Speech Fight. This young “Fellow Worker” was killed while beating his way from Chicago to Spokane.
He was “riding the rods,” but lost his hold and fell on the track, the whole train passing over him.
Z.
Editor’s Note.-This dispatch is almost too eloquent to be marred by comment. But men who will “ride the rods” in bitter winter for 2,000 miles in order to go to jail for their class, will never be beaten. The death of young Cole will inspire a million others to that determined class conscious action which is the unconquerable hope of the world. Let Capital beware.
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Still They Come
—–(Special to “The Workingman’s Paper.”)
SPOKANE, Tuesday, Nov.30.-I. W. W. Attorneys applied today for change of venue, claiming Judge Mann to be prejudiced. This was on “Conspiracy Cases’ remaining to be tried. Argument on this point occurs tomorrow.
Four more jailed today. Seven came in Monday from advance guard of bunch of twenty-five who left Chicago three weeks ago.
James K. Cole, who fell from the rods and was killed, belonged to this bunch. His companions say he was well educated and an excellent speaker.
Otto Just, a well-known member of the I. W. W. in Chicago, was another member of this group. This is the young man who posed for the cover picture on the “International Socialist Review,” entitled “On to Spokane.”
Another party of nine, all wearing big red badges, arrived yesterday from Minneapolis.
Z.
———-
[Emphasis added.]
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SOURCES
Quote Mother Jones, Pray for dead, Ab Chp 6, 1925
https://www.iww.org/history/library/MotherJones/autobiography/6
WNF, James Kelly Cole, IWW Spk FSF, Nov 17, 1909, Rev Writings Poems p12, 1910
https://archive.org/details/poemsprosewritin00cole/page/12
Industrial Worker
(Spokane, Washington)
-July 2, 1910
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iw/v2n15-w67-jul-02-1910-IW.pdf
-Dec 1, 1909
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iw/v1n37-dec-01-1909-IW.pdf
The Workingman’s Paper
-The Socialist
(Seattle, Washington)
-Dec 4, 1909
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/thesocialist-seattle/091204-seattlesocialist-v10w450.pdf
IMAGES
Book Cover, Photo of JKC, & Caption
https://archive.org/details/poemsprosewritin00cole
https://archive.org/details/poemsprosewritin00cole/page/12
See also:
Revolutionary Writings
–Poems and Prose Writings
-by James Kelly Cole
IWW, 1910
https://archive.org/details/poemsprosewritin00cole
https://archive.org/details/poemsprosewritin00cole/page/n3
-includes biography
https://archive.org/details/poemsprosewritin00cole/page/n7
-re his death, see page 12
https://archive.org/details/poemsprosewritin00cole/page/12
Re: 1907 Conviction of James Kelly Cole
-From The New York Times-p1 of Oct 26, 1907
Re: Memorial Service for James Kelly Cole
-From The Spokane Press-p6 of Nov 27, 1909
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The Red Flag