The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-11-09
IRE TRAMP RAILROADER.
DRINK STARTS him ON A CAREER
OF WANDERING.
oismjssals For Intoxlcation Commonest
Among Switchmen-Experienesd Men
Whom Any Road Would Employ Except
For Incorporate Habits.

oisnissaIs For Intoxlcation Commones'
Among ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Men
Whom Any Road Would Employ Except
For Incorporate Habits.
"That human nature is pretty much
like in all callings is shown by study
Of the tramp railroad man" said
division superintendent of one OF the
trunk lines running into Washinton to
| Star" man at the station.
"The tramp railroad man usually be-
gins his career of wandering, seeking
| employment from road to road, after his
first dismissal because OF drinking. He
may be an experienced man, such as any
road would be glad to employ, but his
weakness for whisky caused his down.
fall, and, like other men, once the down.
ward slide begins, every jolt in the
tobcggan path sends him farther toward
the bottom.
Railroads all over the country are
enforcing the rule demanding strict So
briefly with great rigidness. They are
the most practical advocates of temper
ance in the land. They do not plead with
men, and hold up frightful examples of
the result of drink The question is
resolved to its most simple terms: If a
man wishes to keep his place he has got
to keep liquor out of his tonach. Rail-
road men all know this, and the result
is that railroad employees as great
body are the most temperate of the
classes of the employed.
"A few years ago it was a common
sight to see traininen come out of a
saloon Or hotel near the depot, after
a preliminary 'bracer" before starting on
their run. 1t is rare sight now, and,
furthermore, the rule holds good at all
times of the day, whether on or off
duty. If a trainman is known to tipple
off duty, he is at once called up before
the division superintendent and severely
lectured. If the admonition fails to
have the desired effect, he is summarily
dismissed. The managers of the roads
have determined that men who possess
disposition to drink cannot remain on
their payrolls, and the wholesale re-
formations and the good in general which
has been accomplished has been almost
incalculable.
Probably there are more dismissals
for drunkenness among switchmen than
in the other grades of railroad employees.
This is because switchmen and yardmen
are stationed at one place, frequently
near saloons. 1t is possible for them to
slip away occasionally for drink, rush
the growler and drink its contents on the
sly, or have drink struggled to them
surreptitiously by a companion of a
friend. But off goes their heads if they
are detected, and close watch is kept,
as their positions. though humble, are
among the most important as to results
should they prove derelict in their duty,
OF any on the road
mo, we have no blacklist of men
dismissed. If a man applies to us for
employment, we write to his references,
and if the cause of his dismissal is in
temperance, we do not employ him, and
he passes on to try his luck elsewhere.
Previous experience on railroad, how
ever, counts for a great deal. If we
have evidence that man has really re-
formed, and he is a good railroad man,
We sometimes give him trial on what
is known as hard division, and if
he lives up to his determination. he re-
tains his place, and good citizen has
been made of him.
"It is singular, though true, that once
a railroad man begins to tramp as we
say, it is the exception that he climbs
np again. He soon develops a grievance.
like other men on the downward road,
and falls into the error that everybody
is against him. He seldom lays the
fault at his own door, where it belongs.
eve demand the strictest sobricty
among the train dispatchers. These men
must always be in the full possession of
ah their faculties unaided by stimulants.
If the smell of liquor is detected on the
breath of train dispatcher, the old
man calls the culprit down. in unmis-
taxable terms, and repetition of his
offense means the loss of his place As
rule, train dispatchers are teetotalers.
"The prevention of destruction of its
property by accident and the safeguard
ing of the lives of its passengers are
the cardinal principles governing the
control of railroad employees. The
swagger conductor or engineer. with hi.
nerves keyed TIP by few drinks" is
now almost memory. Each year the
habits of sobriety. neatncss. accuracy and
truthfulness are becoming more and
more part and parcel of railroad man
by reason of rigid enforcement of the
rules. While it is true to large extent.
the companies are actuated by self-inter-
est, and not by temperance or humani-
tartan motives. the result, as far as the
men are concerned. is the same as if the
latter considerations vera the only ones
at issue. "-Wdshington Star.