New-York tribune., 1918-09-01
Turning the
Wheel Back.
ward
-@HE transformation of ioetrograd
brought about by nearly year
of Bolshevik rule is poin ted out

Of Bolshevik rule is poin ted out
in the "Frankfurter Ultung'
by former German war prisoner who
passed several months in the Russian
capital and has now returned to Ger
many The conclusion which he reae hes
and which he says is based on what ne
had heard in Russia is that the on
pressed Russian bourgeoisie would glad
ly welcome Germany if the Germans
could "bring order" in Russia. He
writes:
"'The complete social revolution in Rus
sia, which the Bolshevik with smile Of
satisfaction calls 'naoborot' (vice versa,
has been accomplished by the cxproprla-
ton and confiscation of all banks. In this
way at one blow ali the prosperous circles
of Russia have been faced by the bitter
necessity of earning money, very often by
engaging in the lowest kinds of work in
order to obtain the means for existence.
For the sum which the Bolshevki allow
those having bank accounts to draw month
ly is only 500 rubles Just now it has
been raised to $50 rubles, and that is not
sufficient for the maintenance of family
even if its needs most moderate.
can average family consisting of four
members and servant needs at least
1000 rubles (S6Oo} monthly in order to be
able to lead even very simple life. 1t IS
a sad picture to see older ladies and men
of the best society waiting to be admitted
into bank in order to draw their little
allowance from their immense Investments
And very few of these people can find en-
ployment in commercial or other Offices
In the latter the 'tovaristchi are preferred
to all other classes The bourgeoisie,
whom the Bolsheviki call 'bourshooi,' are
compelled to seek all sorts of manual labor.
And so it is not rarely that one sees in
Petrograd officers unloading railroad cars
carrying bags. cleaning streets and working
as day laborers receiving a pay of from
twenty-five to thirty rubles per day ($12
to S15), according to pre-war rates
"Some wealthy Russians who own horses
and carriages are working cab drivers
in order to earn a few rubles and not have
their horses cotfscated by the Bolshevki.
Some women of the best society selling
in the streets newspapers, postcards, home
made chocolates, partridges and other
home made products at fabulous prices in
order to support their families The cx-
ternal, elegant appearance of these women
is very often in marked contrast with tho
work they are doing.
"'Thc practice of law has been discon
tinucd, and all lawyers have given up
their professions as there are no more civil
courts in Petrograd. All legal questions
are now settled by peoples tribunals.
oIo defendants 70
permitted to employ any lawyers. What
else could the lawyers do than choose new
paying occupations? Many of them are
cab drivers to-day.
an many cases the Bolshevki authorl-
ties have forced women of the best society
to work as street cleaners and guards
Worst of all is the fate of owners of
houses If some influential Bolshevik hap
pms to be without any quarters he directs
himself to the Bolshevk real estate infor-
nation bureau and may find lodgings in
some luxurious villa where, in the opinion
of the Bolshevik bureau, there is sufficient
vacant space
Gone woman in Kronstadt, who owned
seventeen tenements, has been deprived OF
all her houses by the Bolshevik real estate
committee and made janter in one OF
her own houses The rent Of her tenc
ments is now collected by the Bolshevil
committee which is in charge Of hcl
houses
"An owner of q moving picture theatre
had his place conhscated and now he il
working as a cashier for 500 rubcs
month.
"rhc cases mentioned not at al
single examples, but they are typical an'
of daily occurrence. ut is not strange
then, that the intelligentsia,' which for
merly had been most hostile to US, would b
glad to see the Germans come and max
order in Russia ] myself heard that wisl
frequently expressed. But from that W
must not conclude that there is dee
sympathy for Germany; of two evils peopl
usually select the lesser if it can remed
the greater evil"