The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-09-18
WHITE


Badges of the Railroad Train-Service Mons
Total Abstinence Association.
New York Nail and Express
If there is one class of men In ell the
world who, more than any other class OF
men. should never touch intoxicating Iio-
nor when on duty it is the men who sit in
the cab of a passenger locomotive.
This need is recognized. and TO aid the
roailrosd men in their efforts a society has
been formed. It is called the Railroad
Temperance Association. aud the badge
thereof il white 9pbfen worn on the lapel
of the coat. =
Hon. L. s. Coffin. ex-Railroad Commits
sioner of lowe. is deeply interested in the
work. He was IN this city a few days ago,
and talked about the movement.
Il nave found" said Mr.. Coffin, that no
topic outside of safety appliances for rail-
roads elioits more hearty response from
railroad men than that of total abstinence
from all intoxicants by every man engaged
ii have found that these brotherhoods
make sobriety one OF their cardinal princi-
pies in their notices. and they have done q
grand work In elevatlnR the personnel OF
the men. No man can he an habiiual
drunkard and remain Q member of either
of these orders. fa-p34pe
Il found. too. thatthere was q very wide-
spread feeling that even moderate drinking
really had no place with men who have the
responsibility of handling trains. and q
great many were ripe for q movement for
total abstinance.
80 crystalize this feeling and make it
effectual for great influence for good. act
ing from q hint from Miss Jennie Smith. of
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union,
who has charge of the railroad department
in the great work the union Is doing. l
conceived the idea of this white button
to correspond TO the white ribbon worn by
them, and had ten thousand of them made
as an OK pertinent. The Brotherhood of Lo-
connective Engineers held their information
al convention in Atlanta, Ca, In MAJ last.
] was hOnored with an invitation 10 speak
before them. | brought out the White
button idea. 1t took wonderfully. i had
with me about one Thousand of the but
tons. These went like snow before a sum-
mer sun
II sent 5000 more there to Chief Arthur to
distribute to the to take home
with them TO their several divisions. ana
these are now being worn by engineers In
every State and Territory. and In canada
and Mexico. The first 10000 are all gone.
j ordered another 10000 q few weeks ago.
now having $4,000 more made.
Applications are coming In Tor buttons
from all over the Nation. These men put
them on and wear them in good faith.
II am fully convinced that u majority OF
the men In railroad train service are now
In principle thorough-going temperance
men, and they want to wear this white
button as a silent preacher to their asso-
ciates.
"The safety of every trainman is so de-
pendent upon the faithfulness of every
other man in like service that they are be-
ginning to feel that they have a right to
demand that every fellow-employe must bo
In IA condition to be at his best at all times.
This they are not sure of If he Hampers
ut oil with drink.
II design To keep the button on deposit at
the headquarters of all the grand lodges and
divisions OF every order Of railroad meu,
and also at the rooms of the Railroad
Young Mems Christian Association of the
country.
They are furnished by me freely to every
railroad man that will wear them In good
faith. They are exclusively for railroad
men. Any one sending for them to me at
my home. Fort Dod&e. Ia. Will be supplied.
Who pays for the bnttonsi / do-should
not theee men be willing TO pay me for
themf Yea. without doubt; but soon some
saloon fellow wonld start to cry. Mr.. Cot.
fin is making n speculation out of IT
Then. again. 1T would be a small: busi-
ness To try to sell them. aud as these men
realize that am willing TO spend my time
and money for what taey ali admit is for
their best good. every man that puts one
on says 10 himself. We'll. IL Mr.. Coffin is
doing all this for me I will wear this in
good faith out of respect to HIM. If nothing
else.in