Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-07-03
ban ON CIGARETTES
Rock Island Railway Company Off.
cials Discourage the Smoking
of Cigarettes.
Will Employ No One Who is
Addicted to Their Use Strict
Rules.
Other Roads May Take the Same
Measures Today's Market
Quotations.

Chicago, July S.-Cigarette smokers
have been boycotted by the Chicago s.
Rock Island road. An order practical-
fly has been issued TO the effect that in
future no one shall be employed by the
company who is addicted to cigarettes.
which are thus placed on par with
whisky.
Vice President and General Manager
H. a. Parker is responsible for the or
der and he believes that the rule viii
result in the roads having a force of
employees which Will be fully 20 per
cent better than the average. The ap-
#plication blanks furnished by the COM
pany do not contain any questions re-
sarding smoking, and there is no rule
prohibiting the tobacco habit among
employees, but Mr.. Parker is determined
not To- have in his employ any cigarette
smokers. The examiners have their in
structions. and each applicant is asked
if he smokes cigarettes. III he replies
in the affirmative he might as wei! take
his hat and go. In many cases the
question is not asked, the tell-tale coll
or on his fingers being enough for the
examiners.
In event OF the applicants hands
showing the peculiar nicotine stain it
is not unusual for the examiner TO tell
him plainly that there is no use in his
taking the examination.
The rule has been in effect but few.
weeks. and it is already having a
marked influence upon the present en-
poNes of the road. Cigarette smoking
at the Rock Island offices is decreasing
Ito marked degree and some of the
frightened employees are said TO have
gone so far in their abdication as to
join the Anti-Cigarette League. So far
as known the Rock Island is the first
railroad company TO taboo cigarette
smoking among employees and it is not
at all unlikely ths example Will be fol-
lowed by other roads. Nearly every
railway in the country asks prospec-
tive employees if they drink, and if SO
they are told that they might as we'll
refrain from making application for
employment. MIR. Parker is the first
executive official to recognize the fact
that as nerve destroyer the cigarette
/ has King Barleycorn not only beaten
but distanced.
In speaking about the matter yester-
day Mr.. Parker said: While we dc
not put the question in our application
blanks the applicants are Invariably
\ asked If they smoke cigarettes. If the
i answer is yes, tbs applicant is told
] that he might just as we'll not make
application. Yes, it is practically an
order that no cigarette smokers need
T apply
4 The rule of the Rock Island line waa
made known to the general managers
Of sevral other large systems yester-
! day, and while they were at first in
ciined to laugh at it, they finally con-
4 ceded that it is a good regulation. The
4 general manager of a large southern
I line said he had supposed he was TAX
Il ing every precaution when he prohib-
tied the employment of men or boys
i who drank intoxicating liquors. Il have
never given cigarettes thought" hi
declared, but now that my attention is
called toit am inclined TO believe thai
Sit is move in the right direction
4 Other general managers express
themselves as favoring the plan and i
may be given a trial on many Of the
Hines eentering in Chicago.