The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-03-14
ENFORCED TEMPERANCE
IKE GREAT CORPORATIONS ARE
ELIMINATING THE oRUNKARD.

Line 81 Work Disinissal for Driaktng
is Fatal 90 Chancss foe Aus,hsr Jsb.
One Of the greatest armies OF tenn
peranoe reformers in the world
breaches Us doctrine daily IN our
midst by action. and not by precept
or sermon; but few OF the thousands
VINO travel up and down the railroads
OF our country ever stop to consider
this silent force which has become
stronger In It's example and power for
good than all the temperance organ
izatlons. There are several million
men employed Ia various capacities
on the railroads OF the United States,
and OF this considerable army fully so
percent occupy responsible positions
which render their work Of a pecu-
Harly public character. The engineers,
hremen. switchmen and train dispatch
ers are daily responsible for the lives
and property Of great numbers. and
TO prevent mistakes, which might
cause great disasters, every possible
precaution Is taken to eliminate err
rors.
The discipline OF the railroad en-
Dloyes Of the country is probably
etrlcter. and better enforced, than in
any other line of work. A number OF
? years ago temperance was not strict
~ enforced on tTainmen, but the en-
gineers we're compelled to report for
business in a perfectly sober condi-
ton. There we're some lax rules in
regard to the trainmen, and it was not
uncommon to see many of them drink
ing at the public houses along the
route when their train was waiting
for orders. But today not only tenn
perance, but almost teetotalism, is en-
forced on our leading railroads, espe-
cially among engineers, firemen,
switchmen and train dispatchers and
conductors. The managers of the rail-
roads found that many of the acct
dents we're due to drink among the
employees, and, after considering the
problem for few years, the man who
could not get along without drinking
was gradually forced from the ranks
Of the railroad employees. Today these
workmen represent the largest and
strongest army of upright, sober, in
dustrious men in the world.
Dismissal for drinking is the wors
roads today for drunkenness, and they
must continue so long as human temp
tations are in existence; but it is be-
coming more difficult every year fol
a drinking man to secure any respon
sible position in the railroad com
panies. A drinking engineer would
no more be tolerated on railroad thar
a wild Indian. Such a man Nigh
cause more damage and loss to thu
road than his wages would amount t.
in a century The man who has dis
position to drink must be content t.
seek employment in other lines thai
on the railroads. The eng neers ar
as a body strictly sober and temper
ate men. Their calling has made ther
so. They realize the dangers whic
they must daily meet, and their respon
sibilities sober them. 1t is rarely tina
an active railroad engineer eve
touches liquor on or off duty. Hab
makes him dislike to introduce an
risk in his work. He knows tina
liquor might tend to befog his min
some day. and an accident that result
ed tberefrom would mean his eternt
ruin. An engineer discharged Tc
drinking could never hope to find
posifion on another railroad.
Dismissal for drinking is the wor
nossible thing that could happen to
railroad man in any position. II
applies to another road he must flu
nish reference or tell where he W;
last EMPLOYED. His record is the
looked I'D. and each road furnishes al
other with the correct data require
If the dismissal has been for drinkin
the applicant is very naturally turn'
down.
Yet allowances are made for humi
weakness. and if an otherwise go
employe fails once, unless he Is
engineer or train-despatcher he m
raceive reprimand and warnir
he Is then placed on trial, and II
does not repeat his offense he m
be retained indefinitely Indeed ma
men have been reformed from drl
in this very way Realizing that thu
nositions depend upon their sobrie
thew have steadily refused to tou
iionor at all. In this effort to refoI
thew are nightly helped by their
sociates These are all railroad m
who are placed in the same poaitic
tbev must live a sober life. Con
ouently The weak man in the NUM-
e encouraged rather than tempt
~, b,++1e ia rendered mt