New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-31


rcsumption Of work. a proposal wnicn was
unanimously applauded by the coune''
("Rech." March 81, 1910. The couneiI IS
sued an appeal 70 the population Of Petrograa
N practise strict economy in food CKeen'
March 25. 19l7).
In another appeal the council placed under
the protection OF the public the imperial PAL
aces as monuments Of public art. NO . IN,
formation Of the Council Of Workmen and
Soldiers).
In the provinces the local branches OF the
council followed the same line OF conduct
and IL is owing to them that the hrst attemp 's
~ nrovocators failed completely. cRech,
March 81, 1910.
wherever possible. rural branches we're
formed, as the council expressly stated IN an
appeal, because 10 per cent OF the fussian
population is peasantry."
But what has been the attitude OF the
council toward the election OF officers, which
has been so often quoted, and it's direct inter-
vention in the zone of the armies in order
to make revolutionary propaganda among the
soldiers!
A Plea for Discipline
Well the best answer we find in the paper,
"Rech.' the organ Of Miliukoff, where is
printed cpltNulu S4iSuioA ~ S"S
of the committee to its adherents and SOL
diers. and in which it is clearly recognized
that the necessity of military discipline is in
compatible with an unrestricted access to the
soldiers in the trenches; that the soldiers in
military matters must obey their chiefs and
especially their officers, who, as a document
from the Moscow Council Of Workmen and
Soldiers says, shave fought side by side with
Al. fo- revolutionary and
deserve the greatest confidence" Socially
and politically" says another document OF
the same council, "you are free, but military
you come under military discipline, without
which the army cannot exist; and while
promising to do all in its power to humanize
that discipline, the council exhorts the SOL
diers to submit TO discipline, not in slavish
spirit, but voluntarily.
In the question of the election OF officers
it seems that there was misunderstanding,
an isolated action. A document issued by one
person without the consent Of the whole
council seems to have conferred that right to
the soldiers, at least in Petrograd. The
council very distinctly made it understood
that those elections which had been accom-
plished would be upheld if the higher mill
| tary authorities accepted them, but that in
future no more would be allowed. ("Birjevia
Viedemosti" March 10; "Novoe Nremya,
March 20, "Rech," March 23).
1t is evident that the Council Of Work
men and Soldiers, while counting upon popu-
lar effervescence, often so fatal in revolu-
TONS does it's utmost to guide the rising tide
of the movement by making full use OF the
special authority conferred upon it by its
democratic composition and popular connec-
| tions.
| Quite recently the press informed US that
the council intends to cease its activities
when the Constituent Assembly has been
elected. II the council has taken the initia-
tive of proposing to establish a republic, II
was done in full accord with the executive
Of the Constitutional Democratic party and the
committee of manufacturers and merchants
of Petrograd. If the Council Of Workmen
and Soldiers refused to let Nicholas Romanoft
free in the Crimea, ready TO begin his in
trigues for a counter revolution, at the same
time the council repudiated the idea of the
conhscation Of the personal property OF
Nicholas II and claimed only the return OF
the imperial appanages.
II the expressions of some members OF
the council are sometimes violent, the actions
Of the council are extremely moderate, and
even when they appear excessive they seem
to lead toward organized concerted and
thoughtful activity of just those exuberant
elements which the revolution naturally re-
suscitated.