Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1903-12-02
NO TIPPhERS WANTED
GREAT CORPORATIONS WARN DRINK
ING AND GAMBLING EMPLOYEES.

Railroads Cannot Trust Lives OF
Their Passengers to Men Rendered
Incompetent by AIcohOl-A Prnc.
teal Lesson In Morality.
The Rock Island and Alton railroads
have followed the example Of the Wa
bash in making rule prohibiting the
use of intoxicating liquors or cigarettes
by their employees. 1t is understood
that all the roads centering In Chicago
propose to adopt the same rule. The
rule has been enforced for several
years as to trainmen, but has now been
extended to apply to all employees.
The Chicago Record-Herald points
out that it is no inordinate desire to
be puritanical that impels railway COM
panes to weed out inebriate employ.
ees and those addicted to the use Of
tobacco, but simple matter of public
safety. 1t says:
"The crusade which the railroads Of
the country are carrying on against the
use Of intoxicating liquors and tobacco
by employees engaged In operating
trains is partly due to the fact, not
generally known, that the pOisons con-
tanned in the prescribed articles pro-
duce color blindness, which Is n fatal
defect in enginemen, firemen and train.
men. For more than twenty years the
disease Of endlyopia has been recog-
nized by the oculists as the most insld
ious and difficult with which they have
TO deal. Through the employment Of
official oculists the existence, growing
prevalency and terrible results of this
disease have become familiar TO the
management of many large railway
systems.
According to one Of the railroad spe-
cialists cndlyOpia was rarely found in
this country fifteen years ago, but was
quite prevalent In European and south
crn countries prior to that. Now ocu-
lists of good practice in this country
have to deal with quite large number
Of cases yearly, the increase being due
to the increase In nicotine and alcohol
infection. Endlyopia in It's first stages
produces slightly failing vision, often a
smartlng of the eye, but Is not marked
In effect. The disease does not progress
far. however, before scotoma, or color
blindness, makes It's appearance. Ger
tain portions of the eye are unable to
recognize the colors green and red.
which are used in railroading as dan
ger and cautiOnary signals.
Eye specialists unite In declaring
that If endlyOpia maintains its present
ratio of increase 1t will not be more
than quarter Of Il century before 1t
will be one of the common eye trou-
blcs Scotoma is one Of the most dread
cd enemies TO safety in train operation. |
and railroad officials rightly recognize |
that they must wage unccasing war
against anything which produces It,"
Great corporations other than rail
road companies have also followed the |
Wabashs lead, and recently the West
crn Electric company, one Of the lar
gcst employers of labor In Chicago,
posted throughout its works notices
that drinking and gambling employees
would be discharged Immediately upon
detection.
The Intcrurban Street Railway COM
pany of New York has issued strict
rules against drinking and gambling.
Oren Root, Jr., general manager Of the
says:
I'VE will discharge any employee for
or for frequenting saloons.
in any form we will not tel
crate"
j. Williams OF the New York Edison
says:
"a warning will be issued to any Of
fender regarding gambling and drink
ne. 1t makes no difference either who
HE employee is.
The New York Central railroad has
llso declared war on its Maynard EN-
)lOyees.
1t Is well that such reminders Of the
wisdom of morality should come from
his source. When preachers and Sun
lay school teachers issue such warn
ngs ii practically goes for naught, but
when business concerns, employers OF
nen. issue them II counts.