Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-09-13
TEMPERANCE.
A WISE REGULATION.
Strange Propositions from an Advocate
of Drink.

New York, and devoted entirely to tn
subject embraced in its title-the tratfi
in Intoxicating liquors 1t is bite
opponent Of prohibition, Of course
Nevertheless, the last issue contain
the following editorial, under tn
heading: "A Wise Regulation"
The Phoenix Protective association
of this city, which is local branch o
the organization Of Surface Railroad
I Employees, has seen fit TO denounce al
! order Of the arrangements Of the road'
ombined under the Broadway syndi
cate. forbidding its operatives TO enter
saloon during working hours.
THE syndicate has a perfect right to
make such an order, and the Protective
association assumes an untenable posi-
ton in opposing it. Employees sell their
time to their employers. They need
not sell it if they do not wish to do so.
but having sold it, it becomes the EN-
ployers time, and their own no longer.
Therefore the employer has right 10
say where it shall and where il shall
not be consumed Naturally the EN-
ployer requires that the time shall be
consumed in his service, not idled away
in saloons or other places removed from
his field Of labor That is the CONNER
cial proposition.
Pint there is another and a stronger
argument in this instance Railroad
employees are entrusted with tie care
Of lives and property for which their
employers are eponsible. The respon-
sibilitv is So great that It will admit of
no unnecessary chance or risk. A man
who drinks once will drink twice. Two
much drink is apt 20 befuidle The
brain, rendering the man stupid and
careless or re kless and daring. a
man in such a condition is not fit 20
have the care Of human lives or o.
property Therefore the railroad com
pany simply says is operatives shall
not put themselves into such d condi-
ton. nor even take the first step to-
wards il. while their time is AT its dis
posal AT other times they are free 10
do as they please"
Everyone will agree 10 both the
propositions laid down by the Wine and
Spirit Gazette. The first is. as Il cor
rectly styles il, the Commercial prop.
osition. The employee sells his time
TO his employer, and the latter has the
right 10 say where il shall be spent.
The second, while strictly true in every
word is one which we must confess
surprises MS TO fiud in the columns OF
paper devoted 10 the liquor traffic. II
saws "a man who drinks once will
drink twice every one knows
how fatally true that is! Then, "too
much drink is apt to befuddle the
brain, and . man in that condition
is not tit TO have the care OF human
lives or property"
Quite true But the principle has
far wider application than merely 10
railway employees. Is man whose
brain is befuddled proper person 20
stand behind an accountants desk
FOR instance? l. he a proper person
TO work at a machine? II he be a
for instance is his work.
while under the influence Of liquor Of
proper quality. or does he accomplish
rs much as though he were perfectly
'ober2 And would not the same an
iwer be given IL he were painter.
a carpenter, a brick
aver, or employed ia any other of
occupations?
There is no reason the line should /
De drawn on railroad employees, and |
Tot on men employed in any other
operation. No matter what may be l
he work It's quality suffers when
he workman is a drinking man. II. /
,erchance. il be work TO which this 1
objection will not apply-as is the case
With the coarser forms Of manual la Dor
the amount Of work he performs in
given time is diminished, and he is
lot so profitable TO his employer as in
sober man.
There is an increasing disposition on
he part Of the employers TO give work
My TO men who do not drink. There
re many lines Of work already from
'hich drinking men are actually
hut out, and the list grows larger
very year. The drinker is not so
God, nor so reliable. nor 80 profit
BE an employee as the non-drinlxer.
While this may be considered as also .
reason, il is potent one.
hen liquor organ admits as a mer-
intile proposition, that an employer
as the right TO require his men 70 alb
.ain from visiting saloons or drinking
uring the hours OF LAHORE il makes an
omission which is a very strong one
rainst the liquor habit, and when il
oes further. and admits that an en-
Ioyer has the right to require men
OF to drink. because it destroys their
'nse of responsibility, il has given the
opouents Of the drink ira f'ic power
II weapon' for, if the traffic be abol-
he'd, men can not drink. = Toledo
lade.
ALCOHOL IN THE SYSTEM.