The State Secretary of the Socialist Party appeals for help from the national Party to rebuild in West Virginia in the aftermath of the bloody 1912-1913 Mine War. Socialist miners in the armed confrontation that cost many dozens of lives clearly violated Article II, Section 6 of the Party’s constitution prohibiting ‘sabotage’, with the Party leaders then engaged in a crackdown on the left. The Party leadership also endorsed a national U.M.W.A.-backed settlement to the outrage of many Socialist miners in the Kanawha Valley, who also led the local unions. A document that puts West Virginia’s militant Socialist past into relief. Here we see that the Socialist Party failed, in part, to organize West Virginia because its labor movement was too left wing, too militant, not because it was so conservative.

‘Reconstruction in West Virginia’ by Edward H. Kintzer from the International Socialist Review. Vol. 14 No. 1. July, 1913.

AGAINST the forces of capitalism and capitalist methods and tactics, the Socialist and miners of West Virginia made a defense that should go a long way toward removing internal differences of the Socialist party, over mooted questions of direct and political action. In no instance where force was used in the strike can it be shown that the Socialists and miners were the aggressors; not in any instance can it be learned where they lacked courage, conviction, or where they stood in fear of censure or expulsion from their political party for a violation of Art. II, Sec. 6. They did not do it from choice, but from necessity.

THEY VOTE

And yet they are not opposed to political action. In fact they have long known the power of their political weapon. They stood by the Socialist party as the Socialists have stood with them. In Paint Creek and Cabin Creek districts the Socialists polled a majority over all other political parties combined, electing Justices of the Peace and Constables. The miners remained with the party in their locals so long as they could hold together in the “war,” and immediately upon cessation of hostilities old locals began to take on life, and the miners unable to pay dues are requesting “strike stamps,” as they term the “exempt” stamps.

Here is a situation such as never before favored party work in any state. West Virginia is a ripened field for the harvest. In these mountains, where it may generally be understood that Socialism is backward, one hears the talk of the Revolution; of Socialism and Unionism. It is a well-balanced condition, and there is not the slightest friction over the kind of unionism, so long as it is revolutionary. It must be that, or it soon will be. The miners will make it so if it isn’t, and any set of principles or any person that is not responsive to this condition has small quarter with the miners, and no endorsement by them.

Socialists All.

Quite recently 5,000 men in the New River district were organized as District 29, U.M.W. of A. For president the miners selected L.C. Rogers, State Executive Committeeman of the Socialist party; and other avowed Socialists were chosen for the offices under him. Rogers was the guide and companion of John Kenneth Turner, during his recent investigation of “Barbarous West Virginia.”

Many sub-districts are being formed in the New River section, where a strike is now in progress.

Along with the work of organizing miners’ unions, the political side need not be neglected. Where one can be accomplished the other is possible of being organized. Where it is impossible to organize unions, there no propaganda for Socialism can be carried on and a local cannot be formed. In the lower section of the state, where the mine guards are operating, it is still unsafe to hold meetings.

Thugs Must Go.

But the tide is turning. Public sentiment is favoring the miners. Many public officials are in disgrace. Citizens are aroused. At Beckley, where District 29 held its first meeting a few days ago, the citizens of Raleigh county were represented. Stirring resolutions were passed condemning the mine guard system, and a committee, among them the prosecuting attorney for Raleigh County, was selected to journey to Charleston and lay before the governor the proposition that the mine guards and sluggers will not be tolerated in that county.

As rapidly as the feudal system of West Virginia can be corrected, so rapidly does the propaganda of Socialism become less difficult. As fast as the ground is broken by organizers in the economic organizations, the paths for Socialist organizers become easier. Where one can go there the other can also enter. But it is safe to say that only by unity of action and thorough harmony can any good be accomplished for either.

It is usually the Socialist worker that is discharged for agitating among his fellow workers, and as soon as this takes place the U.M.W. organization make of him an organizer; that is, they pay him organizer’s wages. Then he is free to go ahead with his work. As soon as the operators of the mines understand this method the discharged workers will be fewer, for with many of these turned loose in a community there will soon be a sentiment for unionism and Socialism that will not down.

Concerted Action.

The State and National Committees are now working together for the first time in years. During the strike it was out of the logic of events to push organization of the political party. Every nerve was strained to sustain the purpose of the economic organization in its fight. The plans for future activity are only in the rough, and consist, first, of securing funds through the National organization, by instituting a call for funds from the loyal Socialists to help build the state movement; second, to build that movement. Not by the useless instruction of propagandists only, comrades who side- step the real work of organization—but to keep a corps of organizers in the field who are strictly “on-the-job” fellows, whose work will consist of reviving the weak and fallen locals, building new ones, and instructing the comrades in party work.

Red Card Socialists.

All else is useless at this time. We cannot eternally go on propagating Socialism without making Socialists. By that I mean, red-card Socialists–men who will not only express their political convictions by marking a ballot under the clasped hands, but Socialists who will support the organization in its furthering of the Socialist philosophy.

The best estimate obtainable now shows there are 50 to 60 voters of the “clasped hands” ballot for every red-card Socialist in West Virginia. This is an abnormal development, due largely to the strike, and it needs correction. And it will be corrected.

Everybody Help.

You who read this, will you help change this condition? We need funds and must get it from our friends. Our enemy, the coal barons, have enough to do in keeping up the mine guard system, buying legislation and keeping the political offices filled with subservient tools of the Glassfield and Hatcock kind.

Remit your contribution to the REVIEW, if you wish, or send to the National Office of the Socialist Party, Chicago, or to the writer, at Clarksburg, W. Va. Give address and obtain a receipt.

This is an unusual condition and needs heroic methods. Help us put West Virginia in the Socialist column.

The International Socialist Review (ISR) was published monthly in Chicago from 1900 until 1918 by Charles H. Kerr and critically loyal to the Socialist Party of America. It is one of the essential publications in U.S. left history. During the editorship of A.M. Simons it was largely theoretical and moderate. In 1908, Charles H. Kerr took over as editor with strong influence from Mary E Marcy. The magazine became the foremost proponent of the SP’s left wing growing to tens of thousands of subscribers. It remained revolutionary in outlook and anti-militarist during World War One. It liberally used photographs and images, with news, theory, arts and organizing in its pages. It articles, reports and essays are an invaluable record of the U.S. class struggle and the development of Marxism in the decades before the Soviet experience. It was closed down in government repression in 1918.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/isr/v14n01-jul-1913-ISR-riaz-ocr.pdf