Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-10-07
Liquor and Labor.

LABOR commissioner CarrOll ~
Wright has concluded an investigation
into the relationship between liquor
drinking and hard work, the degree OF
discrimination of employers against
drinking men, etc. He sent schedules
Of inquiry to employers of labor
throughout the country, and replies
were received from the employers OF
about 100000 men.
About five-sixths of the responding
employers said that they made care
full inquiry into the liquor habits OF ap-
plicants for work. OF the different
classes of employers replying that they
are careful on this point those engaged
in the transportation industry showed
the greatest percentage.
In some establishments no one using
intoxicants is employed. In others
certain employees may drink, others
not. In many prohibition rules are ap-
piled only during working hours.
The two chief reasons given for in
sisting of non-indulgenco are ITO
guard against accident" and because
of responsibility of position"
Employees subjected to night WORK
do not appear to be addicted to drink
to any considerably degree above otn-
ers. Between a fifth and sixth OF the
establishments having employees SUD-
ject to overwork reported that these
were harder drinkers than those not
overworked. Out of more than 2,o0o
establishments having workmen ex-
posed to severe weather less than 4Oo
reported that such employees drink
more than others not exposed. Men
who are idle days or months at time
are apt to get into all kinds OF mis-
chief. Out of almost 1000 establish
ments employing men irregularly ana
reporting as to this question trine
more than 1900 did not note any con-
spicuous relationship between such II
regularities and drink, almost 400 con-
fessed that they did and over 300 re-
fused to answer Conspicuous among
those affected by irregularity are those
whose occupations keep them busy only
in certain seasons of the year.
One would reasonably suppose that
more drinking Is done Immediately
after payday than at any other time
in the week or month. A majority OF
employers, replying as to this point,
find that this is the case. Almost 1000
find it so. This is strikingly noticeable
in the mining and quarrying indus
tries. A majority Of employers, asked
the general question whether they are
troubled with intoxication among their
employees, admit that they are. Dis
charge is the chief means tried and
found effective to lessen the evil.
Changing the payday from Saturday
ranks next in effectiveness. Men are
more apt to get drunk on Saturday
night than at any other time in the
week, because they have a day OF rest
and recuperation Immediately in an
ticipation. Some purely practical en-
ployers report that they have changed
their pay-days from other days of the
week to Saturday in order to allow
their hard-drinking employees the Sab
bath for full recovery, and that they
may return to their work Monday
morning feeling fresh and clear-headed.
A firm doing an extensive coal hand
ling business in Chicago and Milwau-
kee. and constantly employing many
laborers of various nationalities COM
mon in this country, has contributed
statistics IS to the relationship be-
tween nationality and drink. The firm
remunerates all of its employees every
Tuesday by pay checks. For two
months a record has been kept Of the
different concerns which return these
checks to the firm for cash. AS to the
norton of money wasted for drink, it
was discovered that in Milwaukee all,
or one hundred per cent of the Hun
garians and Poles and sixty-four per
cent of the Germans cashed their
checks at saloons. In Chicago seventy
seven per cent of the Hungarians and
Poles. seventy-one per cent OF the
Scotch and Irish, seventy per cent OF
the Germans and siXty-one per cent OF
the English and Americans did the
same. A conspicuous exception are a
good majority of the Swedes and Nor
wegians and Scotch and Irish in Mil
waukee, who cashed their checks in
groceries. Still better, in Chicago as
many as ninety-one per cent, or nearly
all. of the Swedes and Norwegians
spent their money away from the sa'
looms.
From all of which it follows that he
who seeks employment stands a better
chance of securing it If he Is teeto-
taller than if he isn't.
From Labor Fields.