The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-09-08
THE TRANSPORTATION" OF ALEX HOWAT: THE
STORY OF A MINE LEADER WHO LEADS NO MORE
BY CHARLES MILLS.

ana capital always produce new
leaders of the workers and brings
forth new experiences of our class
with lessons that can be used in
future battles. Such is the case of
the miners struggle of six years ago
in Kansas when the organized work
ers fought the Kansas Industrial
Court Law, the operators, and the
Lewis betrayal. In this battle the
militant miners of Kansas were the
shock troops of the American work
ers.
Out of this struggle, from the I'M
known to the known came Alex Ho-
wat, leader of the Kansas miners,
President of District Ia, a man who
was big, rough and ready, yet one
who was always good to his friends.
One who trusted too many. The
miners defied the state Howat led
the fight. And then the miners de-
fled the treacherous Lewis and
again Howat led the fight. Howat's
name was read from coast to coast.
Such opportunities to men come sell
dom and even less do men realize
these opportunities. A chance as a
leader to do the working class great
good or great harm; an opportunity
to reach millions where in the past
one spoke to and was heard by hun
dreds. The good they can do de-
ponds upon their loyalty to the
workers and their theoretical devel-
opment in the class struggle.
A Year in Jail.
The result of the Lewis sell-out
was a defeat of the Kansas miners
even though they beat the law as
law. From the standpoint of the
workers this defeat was practically
a loss but theoretically it was only
one of the many dress rehearsals for
future struggles. To Alex Howat it
was more than that, a years SEN
tence in Jail, removal from office as
president that kept one fairly well,
a slap in the face by Lewis and
year to think it over; to dwell on
the fact that although right he gets
the worst end.
Naturally when this man was re-
'eased he spoke bitterly against
evils and his machine. Had not he
wed through and felt this betrayal?
Tad not experience taught him the
truth. His tours that followed were
erch and although more subjective
han objective we can say with all
re shortcomings his speeches were
basically correct because he fought
The octupus of the miners bureau
cracy. After years of fighting the
lewis machine, after touring all
7ver the East, Alex Howat came
hack to Kansas thinking that he did
rot get the proper response. Many
miners in the East had not had the
experience Howat had had and al
though the masses supported him he
still had the machine to buck.
Howat Changes.
But this did not last long. With
the years, day by day other miners
n other districts experienced SINH
lar sell-outs and they too began to
-espond to the left wing slogans.
Soon district after district was be-
troyed! District after district re-
7olted. Such was the period prior
to and after the April First Pitts
hurgh Conference. Like wildfire the
revolt spread. Like a new day the
liners took up the battle cry. Con-
1itions determine our order of bust
ness and today masses could be mo-
bilized while six years ago only az
section of the miners responded.
At last the chance had come. Six
wears ago Howat preached revolt,
told how he was crucified by the
Lewis machine, how he was ready
to fight to the end. The time had
come but Howat was not ready.
Years changed conditions and men.
Alex Howat could not see the time
had come. Alexander Howat would
not act. First he voiced his SYM
nathy with the left wing revolt,
Hundreds of thousands of miners
were in movement, hundreds of thou
sands looking for a voice for their
feelings but Howat could not be that
voice. -.
Excuse after excuse was given for
not going East and taking up the
battle. The time had come for
leaders to recognize their place and
lead but Alex had spoken six years
ago and not all miners responded
and now when they responded Alex
could not hear. Alex had passed
away.
At first Howat took position Of
verbal support to the left wing.
Next he went to a position of neu-
trail and neutral inevitably means
helping the strongest force in a
fight and this meant helping Lewis.
Actions speak louder than words.
The Turning Point.
At the Arma mass meeting called
by the Burr Skahan machine when
he revolt in the district was gain
ng, when the July LIST convention
vas few weeks off, the machine
put Alex up as speaker for a mass
Meeting, the only speaker to be put
ID. Howat fell for the trap of the
machine. His speech by the words
If his old time followers was the
worst he ever made. In a period
when the storm RACES he did not