1.
Oborontsi—“Defenders.” All the “moderate” Socialist groups adopted or were given this name, because they consented to the continuation of the war under Allied leadership, on the ground that it was a war of National Defence. The Bolsheviki, the Left Socialist Revolutionaries, the Mensheviki Internationalists (Martov’s faction), and the Social Democrats Internationalists (Gorky’s group) were in favour of forcing the Allies to declare democratic war-aims, and to offer peace to Germany on those terms….
2.
Wages and Cost of Living Before and During the Revolution
The following tables of wages and costs were compiled, in October, 1917, by a joint Committee from the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and the Moscow section of the Ministry of Labour, and published in Novaya Zhizn, October 26th, 1917:
Wages Per Day —(Rubles and kopeks)
| Trade | July 1914 | July 1916 | August 1917 | |
| Carpenter, Cabinet-maker | 1.60 — 2. | 4. — 6. | 8.50 | |
| Terrassier | 1.30 — 1.50 | 3. — 3.50 | ||
| Mason, plasterer | 1.70 — 2.35 | 4. — 6. | 8. | |
| Painter, upholsterer | 1.80 — 2.20 | 3. — 5.50 | 8. | |
| Blacksmith | 1. — 2.25 | 4. — 5. | 8.50 | |
| Chimney-sweep | 1.50 — 2. | 4. — 5.50 | 7.50 | |
| Locksmith | .90 — 2. | 3.50 — 6. | 9. | |
| Helper | 1. — 1.50 | 2.50 — 4.50 | 8. |
In spite of numerous stories of gigantic advances in wages immediately following the Revolution of March, 1917, these figures, which were published by the Ministry of Labour as characteristic of conditions all over Russia, show that wages did not rise immediately after the Revolution, but little by little. On an average, wages increased slightly more than 500 per cent….
But at the same time the value of the ruble fell to less than one-third its former purchasing power, and the cost of the necessities of life increased enormously.
The following table was compiled by the Municipal Duma of Moscow, where food was cheaper and more plentiful than in Petrograd:
Cost of Food —(Rubles and Kopeks)
| August 1914 | August 1917 | % Increase | ||||
| Black bread | (Fund) | .02 1/2 | .12 | 330 | ||
| White bread | (Fund) | .05 | .20 | 300 | ||
| Beef | (Fund) | .22 | 1.10 | 400 | ||
| Veal | (Fund) | .26 | 2.15 | 727 | ||
| Pork | (Fund) | .23 | 2. | 770 | ||
| Herring | (Fund) | .06 | .52 | 767 | ||
| Cheese | (Fund) | .40 | 3.50 | 754 | ||
| Butter | (Fund) | .48 | 3.20 | 557 | ||
| Eggs | (Doz.) | .30 | 1.60 | 443 | ||
| Milk | (Krushka) | .07 | .40 | 471 |
On an average, food increased in price 556 per cent, or 51 per cent more than wages.
As for the other necessities, the price of these increased tremendously.
The following table was compiled by the Economic section of the Moscow Soviet of Workers’ Deputies, and accepted as correct by the Ministry of Supplies of the Provisional Government.
Cost of Other Necessities —(Rubles and Kopeks)
| August 1914 | August 1917 | % Increase | |||
| Calico | (Arshin) | .11 | 1.40 | 1173 | |
| Cotton cloth | (Arshin) | .15 | 2. | 1233 | |
| Dress Goods | (Arshin) | 2. | 40. | 1900 | |
| Castor cloth | (Arshin) | 6. | 80. | 1233 | |
| Men’s Shoes | (Pair) | 12. | 144. | 1097 | |
| Sole Leather | 20. | 400. | 1900 | ||
| Rubbers | (Pair) | ............
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