The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-31
THE POTENT PROMOTER OF
SORRTET'V

The last bulletin of the United States De-
partment of Labor. just issued, contains
the results of an exhaustive inquiry into
the liquor industry as consumer of raw
materials an employer Of labor and capital,
and a producer of revenue, federal and
local. The more interesting portion of the
report is that setting forth the experience
and practice of employers in respect to the
use of intoxicants by employees. Reports
upon this topic were collected from 1925
establishments engaged in variety of in
dustries, employing 1,746OOO men.
OF 6,976 employers who made answers to
the question whether or not they gave con-
sideration in employing men to the drinking
habits of applicants, 1858 replied that such
habits were taken into consideration. That
is, more than three-fourths of the employ
ers reporting make inquiry relative 10 the
sobriety of men applying for employment.
AS such inquiry is made, it is fair to assume
that men who are habitual consumers of in
toxicants are refused employment at the
outset. The extent of the discrimination
against habitual drinkers is made more APP
parent by the further statement that 70S
of TIA transportation companies and 2,94O of
1923 manufacturing concerns reporting pay
attention to the use of intoxicants in EN-
ploying men, for the reason that the two
employ 1,47O425 of the 1,745.923 returned by
all the industries making responses. 1t
means practically that all transportation
companies, employing nearly 100000 men,
and that nearly four-ffths of the manu-
mate against men who are addicted to the
use of intoxicants. In trade, All of 535
establishments reported that any general
use of intoxicantS counts against applicants
for employment.
1t appears from other tables that all men
employed are not required to abstain from
the use of intoxicants. The transportation
companies are the most rigid. OF $40
transportation companies which make some
requirements. 20S require total abstinence Of
all, on or off duty; 167 require it when on
duty, and 200 recognize it in the more inn
portant employments. In all industries the
prohibition extends to all the higher grades
of employees and to those holding responsible
positions. The reason given by employers
generally for requiring abstinence is that
men who have the drinking habit are more
unreliable and less to be trusted in places
Of responsibility.
While all who have reported are not of
the opinion that Saturday as pay day is
conducive to intemperance, by Car the
larger part are of the opinion that it is. 1t
appears that 24 establishments have
changed pay day to some other day in the
week than Saturday in the effort to lessen
the drink habit, while forty-seven which
have paid their help on some other day have
changed back to Saturday for the same
purpose To the question of the means of
abating the drink evil. 1,10S reported in IA
vor of State prohibition; 76s. the nonem-
ployment of drinking men; high license, AS;
education, $50; improved social conditions.
Us. There are hundreds of other remedies
suggested, making the total 4.sl4
A firm employing large number of men
in handling coal in Chicago and Milwaukee
pays its men by check. so that it is able TO
ascertain where its employees turn their
bank orders into ready money. 1t finds in
Chicago that "a per cent. cashed their
checks for a given two months at saloons.
and IS per cent at groceries and other
places. In Milwaukee. 43 per cent. went to
groceries and other places, and 81 per cent.
to saloons. In Chicago. only per cent. of
the Swedes went to saloons, but u per cent
OF the Poles banked with the saloon keeper.
These statistics do not warrant the conelu-