Washington sentinel., 1898-07-30

n
than others There has Away!
been a widespread impression tha
men who worked while others slepI
are prone to indulge rather freely
in intoxIcants. This impression
must now give way before the cold
facts brought to light by the De
partment oil Labor. In all 1,6st
establishments reported employing
men subject to night work. Oi
these I4I establishments stated
that their men were more addicted
to the use of intoxicants than
others, while I,46o, an overwhelm
ing majority, reported to the con-
trary.
Two more results on the same
line are equally surprising. twas
ascertained that men subject to
overwork do not drink more than
those who have regular and easy
hours, and the same is shown with
regard to men subject to exposure
to severe weather. From the same
authority the public may learn that
men employed irregularly do not
drink any more than their more
fortunate fellows who have steady
work.
The popular impression that the
American workman drinks more
Immediately after pay day is borne
out by the reports Of the employ
ers. Of the total Adjustments
reporting on this question, 1897
stated that their men imbibed more
freely directly after re ceiving their
wages than at any other times, and
a,766 said they observed no in
creased indulgence at such times.
In the mining and quarrying in
dustries increased indulgence is
strikingly noticeable according to
the figures given in the report. In
creases are reported by os4 estab-
lishments, while only 2oS reported
no increase.
The chief means to prevent in
toxication pears from the report
to be discharge. Change OF pay
day from Saturday comes next.
Oi this the report Of the Commits
sioner of Labor says:
This statement can hardly be consid-
cred satisfactory from a statistical point
OF view, since, out of 3,62I establish
ments reporting the means tried for
lessening intoxlcation among employees,
2,SS7 tailed to report whether effective
or not. This leaves but 734 establish
ments reporting both the means irted
and the results, 6II reporting that
the means were Iound effective, and I23
that they were not effective.
The concluding query in the
schedule was "what means, in your
view, better than now employed,
can be taken by employers, COM
munitieS, organizations, munici.
palities, or States to lessen the con.
sumption of Intoxicating liquor
among the people1" To this great
variety of answers was received.
The proprietors of I,roS establish
ments suggested prohibition as the
best means; 76o considered that
the refusal to employ drinking men
would accomplish most; 44s fav-
ored high license; and ISo thought
that education would lessen the
evil. A table is given showing all
the means suggested. One manu-
facturer who favors the removal Of
all restrictions from the liquor
traffic, says: Prohibition increases
the desire for whisky, wine and
beer. The abolition Of the treat.
ing habit of our people would de-
crease consumption, increase so
briefly, and solve the liquor prob.
lem"
Another gives it as his opinion
after thirty years observation,
"that the bad habit of treating
is the cause OF more drunkenness
than any other one thing" and
still another advocates the "use,
free and open, Of wine, beer and
spirits, whence moderation and
absence, which alone IS injurious" !"