Following his union involvement, Goodwin entered politics, running as a candidate for the Socialist Party of Canada in the 1916 provincial election representing Trail. Although he did not win, Goodwin carried on with his union activity. The following year, he was elected to the executive of the British Columbia Federation of Labour as Vice-President, and as the President of District 6 (Kootenays) of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers. Goodwin frequently spoke out against Canada's involvement in World War I as a conscientious objector. He rejected conscription on the grounds that workers of one country should not be employed to kill workers of another country as a result of capitalist conflict. Goodwin is reputed to have said, "War is simply part of the process of Capitalism. Big financial interests are playing the game. They'll reap the victory, no matter how the war ends." Goodwin eventually did sign up, but was initially exempted from conscription after a medical examination found him unfit for service. Following the exemption, Goodwin called a strike on November 10, 1917, at the Trail smelter in an attempt to get the company to agree to an eight-hour work day. As the strike continued, Goodwin was recalled for another medical examination, whereupon he was ordered to report for duty for overseas, overturning the decision previously made. Death After being reinstated for conscription, Goodwin attempted to appeal the assignment, but was denied multiple times. He returned to Cumberland once more to prepare a final appeal. After returning to Vancouver Island, Goodwin and other draft evaders fled to the Cumberland hills sometime in April or May 1918, hiding out in the mountains around Comox Lake. By breaking into a cabin, they were able to survive with supplies provided by friends and community members. On July 27, 1918, Dominion Police ventured into the hills to locate and arrest the men. On that day, Dominion Police Officer Dan Campbell encountered Goodwin in the woods at Comox Lake and shot him with a .30-30-calibre lever-action hunting rifle. Campbell claimed that the shot was fired in self-defence after Goodwin raised his own rifle when he was asked to surrender. It remains unknown how the two men actually encountered each other since there were no other witnesses. There is debate on whether Campbell fired in self-defence or if he shot Goodwin deliberately, acting under special military orders. Goodwin died instantly after being