‘Remember James Kelly Cole’ from Industrial Worker. Vol. 2 No. 15. July 2, 1910.

It was one of those dismal cold November nights. 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. 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 remember 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.

The Industrial Union Bulletin, and the Industrial Worker were newspapers published by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) from 1907 until 1913. First printed in Joliet, Illinois, IUB incorporated The Voice of Labor, the newspaper of the American Labor Union which had joined the IWW, and another IWW affiliate, International Metal Worker.The Trautmann-DeLeon faction issued its weekly from March 1907. Soon after, De Leon would be expelled and Trautmann would continue IUB until March 1909. It was edited by A. S. Edwards. 1909, production moved to Spokane, Washington and became The Industrial Worker, “the voice of revolutionary industrial unionism.”

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iw/v2n15-w67-jul-02-1910-IW.pdf