The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-07
SOBER MEN REQUIRED
GAMBLING, AS WELL AS VISITING
SALOONS, CAUSE FOR DISMISSAL.
President Thomas, of the Monon,
Pleased with what He Saw on His
Western Trip-Iaailway Notes.

a railway superintendent speaking of the
better character of the men in the various
branches of railroad service, said that
much of the improvement was due to the
prominence railway arrangements have CIV
en- the matter of temperance. The time has
come, practically, said the speaker, that
a man cannot hold a good position in any
line of the service If he is a patron of
saloons or visits gambling houses. Il am
glad to learn" said he, that the Santa
Fe people, who issued an order that no
employe who visited saloons when on or
off duty or INDUCED in intoxicating drinks
would be kept in the service Of the COM
pany, has declined to modify the order at
the request of some brewery association,
as, If there is any business in the world
which requires that men be sober and clear
headed, it is in the railroad service, es-
pecially in handling trains, and it applies
to every man in passenger, freight or yard
service; for the lives of hundreds Of people
are at stake daily. An engineer, a passen-
ger conductor or switchman who is under
the influence of liquor is liable to make
a mistake which will cost the company
many thousands of dollars and many lives.
For that reason railway officials cannot be
too strict in the matter Of requiring every
eInpIOye TO ABSTAIN from intoxicating
drinks. I am glad that this rule is being
extended to all departments, and that a
man, to hold a good place, must refrain
from drinking and gambling" He then
named two passenger conductors who have
recently been discharged from Indianapolis
lines for betting on horse races and base
ball. The official said this may seem rather
arbitrary, but men who handle the COM
panys money should avoid giving any rea-
son for suspicion. A conductor who is bet
ting on races and baseball is very apt to
use money he ought not to. If he has won
some of his bets each time he is disposed
to go deeper and increase his bet until
not know but the policy of the superin-
tendent who discharged the two conductors
was correct; 1t certainly was if he had
warned them to desist and they continued
betting. Less trouble, though, was likely
to come to q railroad company from an
employee betting on races or baseball than
from an employee using intoxicating liquors,
and he thought the great Improvement in
character of trainmen was largely due to
the agitation of the temperance question
and the orders which have grown out Of
that agitation.
A railroad attorney who heard the con-
Versation remarked that before this matter
of discharging men for betting on races
and baseball was carried too far, some re-
forms among the officials might be made
to advantage, as it was no uncommon thing
for officials on private cars to play poker
for money, and the official who, it is al
legged, discharged two of the conductors
on his division for betting on races, lost
of 1892. He was glad to say, however, that
on private cars less intoxicating liquors
are carried than in former years; in fact,
on many of the cars none is allowed