The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-11-17
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&'HlHz44{\p5E4
ANTI-DRINK FACTS.
1000 Employers Regarding Use
of Alcoholic Drinks.

The commissioner of labor in our
government in a recent bulletin fur
nishes some interesting facts and fig
ures upon The economic aspects of
the liquor problem" We give an out
line of the report, which is based upon
the observation and experience of
large employers of labor and in vari-
Gus industries, as we find the report
condensed in the Washington City
Post:
The main object in the investigation
was to ascertain how the drinking
habits of a man affected his chances
for securing employment, and what
means were used by employers for
judging the prospective employe gen
orally. 1t was the desire of the de-
partment to acquire a knowledge of
the lines of industry in which men adj
dicted to the use of Intoxicating
liquors were not employed, and the
reasons why they were not. 1t was
also desirable to know the extent of
the use of liquors by men subject to
night work, overwork, exposure, ir-
hldlllD VI hOul ClCs, anu, uHd1lN.
to know what means employers sug-
gested as the best to lessen the con-
sumption of liquors.
Aschedule embodying all these ques-
tons in detail was sent out to 80, Ala
employers, of whom 12,114 were en-
gagged in agriculture, 6,673 in manu-
features, 6,5S2 in mining and quarry
Ing, 3,040 in various trades, and zoos
in transportation. A total of 1925 es-
adjustments sent replies, reporting
1,745,923 employees; 1874 establish
uients did not report the number of
employees.
Employers were asked if in employ
ing new men they were accustomed to
give consideration to their habits re-
garding the use of liquors, and if so,
how they made their investigations.
Of the 6,796 employers answering this
question, 1913 reported that the liquor
habit was not taken into considera-
ton by them when employing men,
and 1858 reported various means used
in ascertaining the facts.
Only eight employers reported re-
quiring bond for the sobriety of their
employees, and all these were in trans
portation. 1t was found that in some
establishments no one using intoxi-
cants was employed. In other cases
prohibition applied to certain occupa-
lions only, and in still others to en-
ployes only when on duty.
The two chief single reasons given
for the requirement that employees
should not use liquor appear from the
answers received to guard against &C
cidents" and responsibility of posi-
ton"
There has always been a wide
spread impression that men who
worked while others slept were prone
to indulge rather freely in stimulants.
This impression must now give way be-
fore the cold facts brought to light by
the department of labor. In all, 1,659
establishments reported employing
men subject to night work. Of these
III establishments stated that their
men were more addicted to the use of
Intoxicating than others, while 1,46O
an overwhelming majority, reported
TO the contrary.
The popular impression that the
American workman drinks more i'm
mediately after payday is borne out
by tie reports of the employers. OF
the total establishments reporting on
this question, 1897 stated that their
men imbibed more freely directly aft
er receiving their wages than at other
times, and 2,766 said they observed no
increased indulgence at such times.
The chief means to prevent intoxica-
ton appears from the report to be
discharge. Change of payday from
Saturday comes next.
uADTOTYC NNTEc