In explanation of these figures the apologists of Bolshevist rule have said that the failure was due in large part to the control of important grain-growing provinces by anti-Bolshevist forces. This is typical of the half-truths which make up so much of the Bolshevist propaganda. Of course, important grain districts _were_ in the control of the anti-Bolshevist forces, _but the fact was known to the Bolsheviki and was taken into account in making their demands_. Otherwise, their demands would certainly have been much greater. Let us, however, look at the matter from a slightly different angle and consider how the scheme worked in those provinces which were wholly controlled by the Bolsheviki, and where there were no “enemy forces.” The following figures, taken from the same Soviet journal, refer to the month of June, 1918: _Province_ _Wagon-loads _Wagon-loads _Percentage Demanded_ Secured_ of Demand Realized_ Voronezh 1,000 2 0.20 Viatka 1,300 14 1.07 Kazan 400 2 0.50 Kursk 500 7 1.40 Orel 300 8 2.67 Tambo 675 98 14.51 On June 11, 1918, a decree was issued establishing the so-called Pauper Committees, or Committees of the Poor. The decree makes it quite clear that the object was to replace the village Soviets by these committees, which were composed in part of militant Bolsheviki from the cities and in part of the poorest peasants in the villages, including among these the most thriftless, idle, and dissolute. Clause 2 of the decree of June 11th provided that “both local residents and chance visitors” might be elected. Those not admitted were those known to be exploiters and “tight-fists,” those owning commercial or industrial concerns, and those hiring labor. An explanatory note was added which stated that those using hired labor for cultivating land up to a certain area might be considered eligible. An official description of these Committees of the Poor was published in _Pravda_, in February, 1919. Of course, the committees had been established and working for something over six months when _Pravda_ published this account: