Happily, when Helen was a young woman she assumed blindness to be a misfortune. A cruel test from God that nobody could control. Then she was appointed to a body that advocated for the affairs of the blind. And was faced with the stark reality that much of the blindness in the world was caused by people. Industrial accidents and chemical exposures often caused by the greed and selfishness of the owning class and the minimal protection afforded to citizens who didn’t merit the governments protection. So she joined the wobblies, the IWW.

From which she soon became one of the most radical members.

In her own words from an interview with Barbara Bindley with the New York tribune, 1915

“What are you committed to - education or revolution?”

“Revolution.” She answered decisively. “We can’t have education without revolution. We have tried peace education for 1900 years and it has failed. Let us try revolution and see what it will do now.”

“I am not for peace at all hazards. I regret this war, but I never regretted the blood of the thousands spilled during the French Revolution. And the workers are learning how to stand alone. They are learning a lesson they will apply to their own good out in the trenches. Generals testify to the splendid initiative the workers in the trenches take. If they can do that for their masters you can be sure they will do that for themselves when they have taken matters into their own hands.”

“Don’t forget the workers are getting their discipline in the trenches,” Miss Keller continued. “They are acquiring the will to combat.”

And thus her statue

I assume they’re referring to her being an outspoken socialist as an adult.