Socialism in Thought and Action

INTRODUCTION

CONTENTS

PART I

SOCIALIST THOUGHT

CHAPTER I

THE SOCIALIST INDICTMENT: I. ECONOMIC AND HU-

MAN WASTES

Introduction: The Motive of Socialist Activity — Char-

acter of Socialist Indictment.

Wastes of Capitalism: Failure to Utilize Productive

Forces - Diversion of Industry to Luxuries - Wastes in
Manufacturing-Wastes in Agriculture. Social Losses
in Natural Resources-Wastes in Advertising — Diver-
sion of Productive Workers - Evaluation of Advertising
-Traveling Salesmen-Wastes from Producer to Con-

sumer.

Human Wastes: Unemployment - Causes of Unem-

ployment - Industrial Accidents-

Poverty and

Disease Increase in sickness

Disease

Summary.

CHAPTER II

Inequality of Wealth: The Wealthy - Wages
Standard of Living Recent Changes - Effect on Fam-
ily Life-In Small Cities-Effect on Marriage.

Effect of Capitalism on Ethical Life: Poverty Not

Chief Evil-The Profit Motive - The Business Man and

the Consumer - Business and the Worker - The Business

Man and His Competitors - The Business Man and His

Fellow Investors-The Business Class and Corruption

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Inequality and Personality-Effect on Victor - Crime
and Social Evil-Intemperance The Spirit of Democ-
racy Artists and Capitalism - Conclusion.

CHAPTER III

SOCIALIST THEORY: I. ECONOMIC INTERPRETATION

AND CLASS STRUGGLE

The Utopians: The Forerunners of Marxian Socialists

Mistakes of Utopians — Marxian Socialism.

The Inevitability of Socialism: Development of Indus-

try - Achievements of Modern Capitalism - Development

of Crises Concentration of Industry - Decrease of Cap-

italist Class Disappearance of Middle Class - Increas-

ing Misery of the Workers Increase in Class Antagon-

isms Industrial Organization of Workers - Political

Organization of Workers-Breakdown of Capitalism.

Triumph of Proletariat.

The Economic Interpretation of History: Introduc-

tory Criticism of the Doctrine Ethical Factors-

Economic Forces in Antiquity - Economic Forces in

Early American History - Economic Forces and the

Revolution - Other Instances in American History —

Economics and Ethics - Conclusion.

The Class Struggle: Marx's Conception of Class Strug-

gle-Explanation of Theory -Increasing Expensiveness
of Machinery Increased Usefulness of Worker - Edu-
cation of Worker - Spirit of Solidarity - Political Power
of Worker - Evolution of Capitalist Outcome of Strug-
gle-Criticism of Theory-Value of Class Conscious-
- Fundamental Antagonisms - Conclusion.

ness

CHAPTER IV

SOCIALIST THEORY: II. CAPITALIST DEVELOPMENTS

AND THEORY OF VALUE

Concentration in Industry: Introductory — The
Growth of the Corporation - The Increase of Large Scale
Production-Growth of Combination - The Corporation
and Concentration of Control - Concentration in Manu-
facture - Concentration in Natural Resources - Concen-
tration in Public Utilities Concentration in Finance-
In Wholesale Trade-In Retail Trade - Persistence of
Small Business Concentration in Agriculture - Depen-

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dence of Farmer - Increased Capital per Farm- Mort-

gaged Farms Summary.

The Disappearance of the Middle Class: Explanation

of Theory Middle Class Incomes Intellectual Prole-

tariat vs. Middle Class - Middle Class Stockholders The

Corporation and the Middle Class - Psychology of Inac-

tive Stockholders - The Increase of Small Business - In-

come of Farmers - The Farmer and Progressivism—

The Small Storekeeper - Summary.

The Increasing Misery Theory: Marxian Prophecy -

Better Physical Conditions - Misery a Psychic Condition

Uncertainty of Livelihood Summary.

Industrial Crises: Causes of Crises- - Effect of Trusts

on Crises Mechanical Impossibility of Capitalism-

Coming of Imperialism - Conclusion.

Theory of Value: Meaning of Labor Theory - Crea-

tion of Surplus Value - Misconception of Theory-
Facts of Surplus Value — Is Private Capital Socially Ad-
vantageous? - Summary.

The Aims of Socialism: Fear Utopianism - Social-

ism and Private Property.

Extent of Collectivism Under Socialism: Socially Nec-

essary Industries - Handicraft Industry - Exploitation
as a Criterion - Voluntary Coöperation.

Collectivism in Land: Opposed to Exploitation and

Speculation- Agricultural Land.

Intellectual Production

Under Socialism: Research

and Education - Art - Voluntary Unions - Publications

- Summary.

Democratic Management Under Socialism: Insistence

on Democratic Management - Differences in Details

Selection of Officers-Conclusion.

Assignment of Tasks Under Socialism: Variety of

Suggestions For the Disagreeable Work - Revolution-

ize Present Method - Principle of Remuneration Under

Socialism: Principle of Equality — Principle of Needs

-Compensation According to Deeds - Full Product of

Toil - Inequality Assists in Assignment - Money Under

Socialism.

The Nature of the State: The Class State - Charac-

teristics of Socialist State Coercion - Decentralization

The Soviet Idea The National Guildsmen and the

State-Organization by Function — State Sovereignty —

Conflict Regarding Transition Stage - Summary.

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Religion Under Socialism: Attitude of Socialists-

The Church and Democracy - Neutrality-Theism and

Economic Determinism - Conclusion.

The Family Under Socialism: Criticism

Private Property Finer Type of Family.

Relation to

Transition to Socialism: History of Controversy

Tactics of the Extremist Left-Dictatorship of Prole-
tariat Tactics of Moderate Socialists - Transition State
Rapidity of Socialization - Conflict of Views.

CHAPTER VI

GUILD SOCIALISM AND SYNDICALISM

Guild Socialism: Origin of Theory - Composition of

Movement - The Wage System -State Ownership and

Guild Management - Organization of Consumers-De-

tails of Democratic Management - Selection of Officers —

Safeguarding the Consumer Contribution of Guildsmen

- Conclusion.

- Socialists and Guildsmen

Syndicalism: Introductory - The Class Struggle - Di-

rect Action-Sabotage - Struggle Against the State-

Patriotism The Militant Minority The Syndicalist

Ideal Socialists vs. Syndicalists.

CHAPTER VII

TENDENCIES TOWARD SOCIALISM

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The Corporation: Lessons from Corporation.

Social Reforms: Extent of Labor Legislation — Criti-

cism of Reforms Advantage of Reforms.

Voluntary Coöperation: Origin of Coöperation - From

Retail to Wholesale On the Continent - Contribution

of Movement.

Public Ownership: Extent of Ownership - Education

and Health — Limitations of Government Ownership — A

Step Toward Industrial Democracy - Centralization not

a Necessary Accompaniment.

The Labor Union: Extent of Trade Unionism - Criti-

cism of Organized Labor - Toward Socialism.

Democratic Management: Advance Since 1914 - Other

Tendencies.

Mater-

System - Greater Incentive for Average Worker
ial Incentives - Incentives and the Administrator - The
Professions - In the Coöperative and Publicly Owned In-
dustries Administrators in Private Concerns - Type of
Administrator Under Socialism - Creative Work Evils
of Profit Incentive - Is Government Ownership Inef-
ficient? - Government Ownership vs. Socialism- -Com-
parison Between Private and Government Ownership -
Importance of Human Element.

Accumulation of Capital: Profit Motive Under Capi-

talism - Incentive to Improve Under Socialism - Accu-

mulation in Coöperative and Public Industries — Conclu-

sion.

Fixing of Prices: Criticism of Socialist Plan- Prices

and Social Welfare-Price-Fixing Body - At Present

Arbitrary Price Fixing.

Political Corruption: Criticism — Big Business and

Political Corruption- The Giving of Contracts - Cor-

ruption and Political Patronage - Disappearance of Po-

litical Boss - Conclusion.

Socialism and Overpopulation: The Malthusian The-