Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-03-02
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
74F POLICY OF sosRIETY.
n,,siag Men Now viewed with Distrust
10y Employers.

There is an important lesson in the
...t that another of the leading rail-
road companies has discharged all men
a incorporate habits in its service,
ma announced that it will not here
sfter give employment to such persons
!. .rg eapacitv. This rule is in force
~ many lines in different parts of the
sonntry. particularly with reference to
emnloyes engaged in the operation of
trains; and the time is rapidly coming
when sobriety will be generally in
,,sted upon as condition of securing
any kind OF position in the railroad
hnsiness. This is not because the rail-
road CORPORATIONS are devoted to the
conservation and promotion of moral
interests as such, but because they find
1, most advantageous to have their
work done entirely by men who abstain
from the use of liquors. Experience
has shown them that employees who
are piyen to tanning the flame of
friendship with the wing of conviviali-
trn cannot be depended upon for the
correct and thorough performance OF
duty: and thus practical reason of
conclusive force, apart from all consid.
erations of principle and sentiment, is
furnished for preferring persons of diff
farent tastes and tendencies The
babtual drinl1er may be a man of in
telliqenee and integrity, and yet not be
trustworthy in relations and contingent
eies Of serious moment He is not tho
master of his faculties, but is at the
mercy, more or less. of an insidious and
demoralizing influence.
II is not the railroad corporations
alone that are adopting the practice OF
discrimination against men inclined tc
dissipation There is a general drift
in that direction in all forms of bust
ness. 1t is not easy for a man to get
employment anywhere without giving
satisfactory assurances of temperate
habits That has come to be one OF
the best recommendations that he can
bring; and, in its absence, other quail
fcatious do not count as he thinks they
should. The records of defalcation, OF
costly negligence and of annoying mis-
takes are largely traceable to the fire.
ouenting of saloons, and employers un
derstand the fact so well that they are
constantly on their guard against the
danger which it represents. They may
not be temperance men in the strict
meaning of the term; but they have
learned that it is necessary to have
sober men in their service if they ex.
pect their affairs to prosper. There
was time when the drinking fault
was tolerated in employees so long as
they seemed to be industrious and
faithful; but nowadays it is looked
upon with disfavor, no matter how
many attendant virtues may plead for
its eXtenuation A great change has
been gradually taking place in the views
Of all business men upon the subject OF
tipping, not because of the appeals OF
the temperance apostles to their con-
sciences but by reason of what they
have observed IN their daily transac
tons. They look at the matter in the
light of self-interest, and their good
sense tells them that sober employees
are not only most desirable, but really
indispensable.
The lesson is one that young mer
cannot afford to disregard. 1t is to the
effect that sobriety. like honesty, is
the best policy, considered merely in
material aspect and without reference
to any higher motive or interest II
they wish to obtain steady and lucra.
tive employment, with chances of pro-
motion and pronounced success, they
must keep away from the saloons and
establish reputation for temperate
habits They may not see any harm
in what is called moderate drinking,
but other people do, and those other
people include their employers, whose
good opinion is a source of direct and
positive benefit. 1t is a great mistake
10 suppose that the best situations can
be secured or retained by men who are
known to be addicted to the use OF
liquor even in a casual way. Total
abstinence is the only wise and profit
Is able to do the best for himself by
any other. 1t is one of the recognized
tests of fitness for places of trust and
responsibility. The prizes in business
are not for the dissipated, however
bright and energetic they may be, but
Tor those who resolutely shun even the |
appearance of fondness for strong
drink. 1t pays to be sober, in short, |
and that is an argument of practical
force which is unanswered BILE by any |
sort of reasoning. The moralists are /
not always listened to when they talk /
O. the evils of intemperance, because
they are too apt to dwell upon the !
emotional features of the matter and |
70 overlook those of "a more rational !
ami effective nature There can be no |
doubt about the fact that sobriety is
advantage from pecuniary |
POINT Of view, and thus the logic OF /
business is in reality one of the strong /
est influences in favor of the temper
anee cause. st Louis Globe Democrat
TIE DANGER UE STRONG DRINK.