Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday August 8, 1911 The Rebel of Hallettsville, Texas, Fights Against Referendum B
From the International Socialist Review of August 1911:
Tom Hickey
Defeat Referendum B.—-The Rebel, a bright little Socialist weekly just started by Comrade T. A. Hickey, at Hallettsville, Texas, contains an able editorial argument against “Referendum B,” which we would gladly reprint in full but for the pressure on our space. He calls attention to a remarkable thing that has happened in the Socialist party this year. A little Texas local initiated a national referendum that carried triumphantly. It provides that all national party officers shall be elected annually and shall not serve more than two terms. The party officials and their friends fought it bitterly but failed to defeat it. Now, although no election has yet been held under its provisions, they have started a new referendum [National Referendum B, 1911] to reverse it. On this action The Rebel comments:
It is a piece of unparalleled impudence on the part of these officials who started this latest referendum. They should realize that the motion when it carried should have been given a fair trial. Why plunge the party into turmoil now? We are on the eve of the most important campaign in the party’s history. Shall we go into it with new officers and unbroken ranks and a spirit of growing solidarity, or shall we be torn with dissension by those who have refused to bow to the party’s will? Vote NO on Referendum B. Get out a full vote and let our grand party take advanced ground on the way to a Social Democracy.
In March, 1911, the Left wing initiated anational referendum on a constitutional amendment providing that all national officers should be elected annually and that no Socialist should hold the same office for longer than two years. The Right wing was taken by surprise and the amendment was adopted by a vote of 9,000 to 8,500 [Socialist Party Weekly Bulletin, April 22, 1911]. By this coup the Left had made the top Right-wing vote-getters, Berger, Hillquit, Spargo, and Hunter, ineligible for re-election, but the executive committee elections were still seven months away. Constructive Socialists recovered from their shock and in July initiated a referendum calling for repeal of the amendment. The repeal was carried, 11,000 to 7,500 [SP Weekly Bulletin, Aug 12, 1911].
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