The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-04-26

Tor profit. Karl Marx is the prophet
of socialism and his book, Capital"
| In which his theories are enunciated, is
the economic Bible of the Socialists.
His book is hard reading because
deep, but can be easily understood by
anyone at all familiar with political
economy. In it he formulates two the
cries, one that of the materialistic con-
ception of history; the other a theory
of values based on those of Ricardo
and Rodbertus, but carried out in an
original manner. While the arguments
for or against socialism do not rest
upon the truth or falsity of his con-
I ception of history, it may be worth
while to briefly examine it.
His conception of history is that it is
development, and is shaped a. each
period by the economic life of the peo-
pie, by the manner in which goods are
produced and distributed. He makes
everything depend upon economic
forces, yet no one who reads history
can fail to see that other besides eco
nom1c forces have shaped it. Religion
is not product of economic life, yet
what force is greater? Does not the
caste system of India shape the whole
social, industrial and political life of
its people, yet it is a religious, not an
economic institution? Read the Rise of
the Dutch Republic" and see bow the
religious wars of Philip, the bIoodiest
bigot of history, determined for fifty
years or more the manner in which
production and, distribution were car
ried on. See what change in the art
and commerce of Europe was made by
the Crusades. Did the Swiss republic
rise out of economic conditions, or was
IL born out of the unquenchable desire
for freedom on the part of its indom-
liable and liberty-loving mountain
GERS? Have the changed conditions in
Cuba and the Philippines been brought
about by economic forces? 1t has been
through the fortunes of a disinterested
war, waged in behalf of its people by
a great nation. l know that socialists
will say it is for the purpose of ex-
plotting its people. but while this re-
suit may follow to a limited degree, no
honest man believes that this was the
primary motive, or that such results
will be the greatest OF the most far
reaching.
This conception of history leaves out
of account the power of choice, the
sense of justice, the human will, the
force of great ideas, the influence of
great leaders. Society is not an autom-
atom acted upon solely by material
conditions, else how could advances to-
Wdfu a nlgner clNlIlZatlOn ever have
been made? This conception is an at
tempt TO formulate a precise and ac-
curately defined law of evolution for
society. While this law may hold good
in the physical world, it can apply only
partially to society, as long as man
can be influenced by ideals and has the
power of choice.
Marks theory of values is that
commodities and labor have use value
and exchange value. Use value arises
from the adaptation of an article to
satisfy human needs; exchange value
what it would exchange for. Accord
ing TO Marx, the capitalist pays for la
Dor its exchange value, which depends
upon the cost of labor. or the standard
of living which the laborer will be sat
isfied- with. The value in the use of
labor to the capitalist is all that he
can squeeze out of it. and the capitalist
pockets this surplus value. In other
words, the capitalist buys labor for
money and sells his product for money, |
and the difference between these two |
amounts is the surplus value created |
by labor.
Capital Does Not Absorb Surplus |