d by the
members of Socialist organizations. It was not until the following day that
soldiers' representatives were added and the words "and Soldiers" added to
the title of the Council. At this first meeting the Council--a most
moderate and capable body--called for a Constituent Assembly on the basis
of equal, direct, and secret universal suffrage. This demand was contained
in an address to the people which read, in part:

To finish the struggle successfully in the interests of democracy,
the people must create their own powerful organization.

The Council of the Workmen's Deputies, holding its session in the
Imperial Duma, makes it its supreme task to organize the people's
forces and their struggle for a final securing of political
freedom and popular government in Russia.

We appeal to the entire population of the capital to rally around
the Council, to form local committees in the various boroughs, and
to take over the management of local affairs.

All together, with united forces, we will struggle for a final
abolition of the old system and the calling of a Constituent
Assembly on the basis of universal, equal, direct, and secret
suffrage.

This document is of the highest historical importance and merits close
study. As already noted, Tchcheidze, leader of the Mensheviki, was
president of the Council, and this appeal to the people shows how fully the
moderate views of his group prevailed. Indeed, the manner in which the
moderate counsels of the Mensheviki dominated the Council at a time of
great excitement and passion, when extremists might have been expected to
obtain the lead, is one of the most remarkable features of the whole story
of the Second Russian Revolution. It appeared at this time that the
Russian proletariat had fully learned the tragic lessons of 1905-06.

It is evident from the text of the appeal that at the time the Council
looked upon the Revolution as being primarily a political event, not as a
movement to reconstruct the economic and social system. There is no
reference to social democracy. Even the land question is not referred to.
How limited their purpose was at the moment may be gathered from the
statement, "The Council ... makes it its supreme task to organize the
people's forces and their struggle for a final securing of political
freedom and popular government." It is also clearly evident that,
notwithstanding the fact that the Coun