Chapter 33

nevertheless, this concept of value is the basis of all socialist attacks upon government and industry. Marx developed this theory as follows:

The value of an article is determined solely by the amount of labor expended upon its production. But although the laborer creates all wealth, the capitalist is enabled, by virtue of his monopolistic control over the instruments of production, to prevent this wealth from going entirely to the laborer. [Footnote: By "capitalists" socialism means not only individuals with money to loan, but "employers" in general, whether middlemen, entrepreneurs, or true capitalists. ] Socialism declares that the capitalist holds the laborer in virtual slavery, the laborer receiving only enough of the wealth created by him to enable him to keep alive, while the surplus of this wealth goes to the capitalist. The capitalist is thus a parasite who performs no useful task, but robs the laborers of the fruits of their industry. Marx did not regard profits as reward for business enterprise, but called them "plunder." Capitalism, according to this view, is a system of theft, involving "misery, oppression, slavery, degradation, and exploitation."

128. CLASS STRUGGLE.--Marx declared that the capitalistic system was doomed to destruction. He maintained that as time went on, wealth would tend to concentrate more and more in the hands of the capitalist or employing class. Trusts and monopolies would become more common, and gradually capitalism would become so unwieldy and so unworkable a mechanism that it would finally fall to pieces of its own weight. Crises, panics, and trade depressions were supposed to be indications of this inevitable disaster.

The tendency for wealth to concentrate in the hands of a few was to be accompanied by the growing poverty of the masses. Marx believed that the middle classes would eventually disappear, leaving only the wealthy employers and the miserable laborers. The individuals comprising these two classes would steadily draw apart into two great armies which were destined to battle to the death. Socialism denies that employers and laborers have anything in common, and insists that between these two groups a struggle must go on until the employing class is abolished.

129. WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE AIM OF SOCIALISM?--Nothing could here be more important than to know the ultimate aim of socialism, nevertheless, there is among socialists no agreement as to the framework of the system which they expect to substitute for capitalism. All socialists desire collective ownership and direction of the instruments of production, but beyond this there is practically nothing in the way of a constructive socialist program. Generally, it is declared that when capitalism has been abolished, the working classes will organize industry on the basis of communal ownership. In the socialist commonwealth there is to be no class struggle, for the reason that there are to be no classes. There is to be a just distribution of wealth, together with an abolition of poverty, unemployment, and all forms of social injustice. But as to how this is to be accomplished we have no proof. The so-called constructive program of socialism is not so much a definite agreement as to aims and methods, as it is a confused and disordered expression of the attitude of different socialist groups toward capitalism. Indeed, when socialists are asked to advance a concrete and definitely constructive program, the reply is often made that the advent of socialism is so far distant that the constructive side of its program is of no immediate consequence.

130. NEGATIVE CHARACTER OF SOCIALISM.--But although the constructive program of socialism is vague and unreal, its destructive or negative program is definite and very real. Socialism is opposed to government as it exists to-day, and to that extent, it disapproves of the Constitution of the United States. The capitalistic system is to be destroyed. The institution of private property is to be abolished. Free competition and private initiative are to be abolished or greatly restricted. All business is to be under the thumb of the government. Personal liberty is to be narrowed down. Some socialists even go so far as to declare war upon the family and the church, but though a number of socialist leaders favor the abolition of the institution of marriage, and are professed atheists, it should be borne in mind that the great majority of socialists are not openly hostile to the home and the church. Indeed, the average socialist is probably as friendly to these institutions as is the average non-socialist.

131. SOCIALIST ATTITUTE TOWARD VIOLENCE.--It is important to understand the methods of socialism. Throughout the greater part of his life, Karl Marx openly advocated violence and revolution as a means of securing the downfall of capitalism. Socialists, says the Communist Manifesto, "disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions." Toward the end of his life, Marx changed this view somewhat, and apparently came to believe that the overthrow of the capitalistic system might come gradually and without bloodshed. In accordance with this later view, there is to-day a considerable socialist group which disavows violence. Members of this group are known as political socialists.

On the other hand, many socialists cling to Marx's earlier insistence upon violence and bloodshed as a means of attaining socialist ends. Members of the latter class are known as militant socialists, as opposed to those who disavow violence and rely chiefly upon political weapons. The two best-known groups of militant socialists are the Industrial Workers of the World and the Russian bolshevists.

132. POLITICAL SOCIALISM.--Many political socialists are personally so mild and agreeable that the thought of unlawful action would never be associated with them. The political socialist relies chiefly upon the growing political power of the working class to effect the abolition of capitalism. This emphasis upon political weapons has been particularly noticeable among socialists living in democratic countries where the franchise is widely extended, and where the will of the people is reflected through the action of their chosen representatives. The political socialist makes a large use of propaganda. He tries to stir up the workingman, to create in him a feeling of solidarity with his fellow workmen, and to incite a feeling of antipathy toward, and dislike for, the employing class. The political socialist emphasizes or exaggerates the undesirable side of the laborer's life, and endeavors by promises of an industrial millennium to rouse him to political action. "Workingmen of the world, unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains," is the slogan of the political socialist.

133. ALL SOCIALIST TEACHINGS TEND TOWARD VIOLENCE.--Though large numbers of political socialists are peaceful and responsible citizens, it should be noted that all socialist teachings tend to result in violence. The insistence of socialism upon the class struggle, the deliberate encouragement of industrial ill-will and the general policy of obstructing the activities of government, all lead inevitably to violence. Strikes involving bloodshed have in many instances been traced to the teachings of political socialism. During the World War, many political socialists in the United States supported our cause, but others of this group opposed the selective draft, attempted to demoralize our military forces, and impeded the conduct of the war by giving aid and succor to German agents. By a series of slight steps, political socialism, theoretically law-abiding and harmless, may drift into treasonable and revolutionary acts. The difference between political and militant socialism is thus one of degree only.

QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT

1. Define socialism.

2. What is the relation between the terms "communism" and "socialism."?

3. How are anarchism and socialism related?

4. Who was Karl Marx, and what has been his influence upon socialism?

5. Outline the socialist indictment.

6. What is meant by the "economic interpretation of history"?

7. Explain clearly Marx's theory of surplus value.

8. Just what is meant by the class struggle?

9. Discuss the character of the socialist program.

10. Explain the attitude of Marx toward violence.

11. Distinguish between political and militant socialism.

12. Name the two chief groups of militant socialists.

13. In what respect do all socialist teachings tend to result in violence?

REQUIRED READINGS

1. Williamson, _Readings in American Democracy_, chapter xiii.

Or all of the following:

2. _International Encyclopedia_, vol. 21, article on "Socialism."

3. Le Rossignol, _Orthodox Socialism_, chapter i.

4. Marx and Engels, _The Communist Manifesto_, all.

5. Skelton, _Socialism, a Critical Analysis_, chapter ii.

QUESTIONS ON THE REQUIRED READINGS

1. Explain why increasing social discontent among certain groups may be due to improvement in their social and economic condition. (Skelton, page 17.)

2. What, according to socialists, has been the effect upon the workers of the introduction of machinery into industry? (Le Rossignol, page 9.)

3. What, according to Marx, has been the effect of the factory system upon the laborer? (Skelton, pages 33-34.)

4. What is meant by "wage slavery"? (Skelton, pages 30-32.)

5. What is meant by the "iron law of wages"? (Le Rossignol, page 9.)

6. What, according to socialism, has been the effect of capitalism upon the moral tone of the workers? (Skelton, pages 37-40.)

7. Who are the bourgeoisie? (_Communist Manifesto._)

8. Who are the proletariat? (_Communist Manifesto._)

9. What, according to Marx and Engels, are the aims of socialism? (_Communist Manifesto._)

10. What does Marx mean by "class consciousness"? (_International Encyclopedia,_ vol. 21, page 235.)

11. What changes would occur in human character, in the opinion of the socialists, if socialism were to supplant capitalism? (Le Rossignol, page 10.)

TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION AND REPORT

I

1. Ask each of a number of prominent citizens in your community to define socialism. Compare the definitions secured with that given in section 122. What do you conclude as to the indefiniteness of the term "socialism"?

2. Make a brief study of the social classes in your community. Does it appear that all of the community's citizens may be grouped into either a wealthy employing class or into an impoverished laboring class? Compare your conclusion with Marx's statement. (Section 128.)

3. Select for study a shop, factory or mill in your locality.

(a) Does it appear that the interests of the laborers and the employers are identical or in opposition?

(b) Carefully observe the actual conduct of the business. Does it appear to you that the laborers alone create the product? Give your reasons.

(c) Do the laborers under observation appear to be getting barely enough wages to enable them to keep alive? Check up your conclusion by visiting the homes of some of the laborers in question.

4. Write to the Department of Justice, Washington, D. C., for information regarding the activities of American socialists during the World War.

II

5. Robert Owen and his work. (Consult an encyclopedia.)

6. Utopian socialism. (Skelton, _Socialism, a Critical Analysis_,