That afternoon the Duma selected a temporary committee to restore order.  The committee, called the Duma Committee of Safety, consisted of twelve members, representing all the parties and groups in the Duma.  The hastily formed committee of the workers met and decided to call on the workmen to hold immediate elections for the Council of Workmen’s Deputies—­the first meeting of which was to be held that evening.  That this was a perilous thing to do the history of the First Revolution clearly showed, but no other course seemed open to the workers, in view of the attitude of the bourgeoisie.  On behalf of the Duma Committee, Rodzianko issued the following proclamation: 

The Provisional Committee of the members of the Imperial Duma, aware of the grave conditions of internal disorder created by the measure of the old government, has found itself compelled to take into its hands the re-establishment of political and civil order.  In full consciousness of the responsibility of its decision, the Provisional Committee expresses its trust that the population and the army will help it in the difficult task of creating a new government which will comply with the wishes of the population, and be able to enjoy its confidence.

    MICHAIL RODZIANKO, Speaker of the Imperial Duma. 
    February 27, 1917.[4]

That night the first formal session of the Council of Workmen’s Deputies was held.  Tchcheidze was elected president, Kerensky vice-president.  The deputies had been elected by the working-men of many factories and 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,