The leader., 1905-08-16
A RAILROAD TEMPERANCE LECTURE
A Fine Object Lessen for Young Men
to Study.

W JIuuJs
A recent special to the New Or
leans Times Democrat from Chi
cago says:
Employees of the Alton road
have been given to understand
that instant dismissal will be the
penalty of their being caught or
seen in any questionable place or
detected in any questionable prac-
tices.
"The subject came up during
conference which the management
recently had with a committee Of
conductors, who complained of
the discharge of some men who
were caught taking a drink in
dance hall. A request to reinstate
the men met with determined
refusal, and the management
again took the occasion to lay
down the law of rigid moral life.
Under the present rules of the
Alton it is impossible for man
engaged in the operation of trains
on that road to visit race track,
or dance hall, saloon, beer gar
den, concert hall or any resort
where liquor is sold or where
there is gambling or where any
immoral or questionable practice
is permitted.
The lines are drawn as strictly
as it is possible to draw them, for
under the rules the operating men
of the Alton have to avoid even
the suspicion of evil and lead a
strictly moral life. -. In the effort
to raise the standard of morality
among the men, the operating
officials of the road are striving to
set them a good example. None
of the officials in the operating
department ever carry intoxicat-
ing liquors on their private cars
when on Alton rails nor do they
enter saloons IN towns along the
Alton road. l."
The position Of all trainmen,
and especially of conductors and
engineers, is one of great respon-
sibility. To them is entrusted not
only large property interests of
the Railroad, but the lives and
limbs of trains full of innocent,
helpless passengers-men, women
and children-whose best guaran-
tee of safety is the cool heads and
steady nerves of the men in charge
of the train. And this is not true
for one day only, but every day.
How solemnly important then
that the engineer who stands at
the throttle, the conductor who
has charge of the train, and even
the brakemen and switchmen, be
sober men at all times in full com
mand of their facuItiesl
The Atoms position is the safe
and right one, and the officers are
to be commended in the highest
degree for living up to the stand
ard they have set for their men
and setting them a worthy exam
pie.
It is indeed gratifying. reaec-
tion that for years there has been
a steady and surely onward march
in all business circles along tenn
perance lines. The railroads,
large business concerns and small
er ones, which have to employ
men are demanding sobriety and a
higher moral standard than be-
fore. The booze fighter is
losing out all along the line in
business life. 1t is the same way
with the drunken lawyer or doc.
tor. People who have cases in
court or sickness to be treated,
avoid the drinking, unreliable
lawyer and send for a sober,
steady, clear headed physician.
Thank God this sentiment and
policy is growing all over the
country. It is a lesson our young
men who tamper with strong
drink cannot heed too soon.
The public seems sIowest in
realizing the Importance Of shut
ting all drunkards and unreliable
characters out of public Office.
They are more particular to de-
mand sober railroad men, tele-
graph operators, bookkeepers,
clerks, lawyers, doctors, carpen-
tiers, machinlsts, etc., than they
are to demand sober, steady, re-
liable men to conduct their public
affairs. Too often the men who
are of notoriousIy dissolute habits
who have been failures in every
thing else because dissipated and
unErustWorthy- y-are the ones chos-
en- by the people to ill Offices of
public trust and the gravest re-
sponsibility. However, there has
been marvellous progress even ID
this direction and a brighter day
is daWning. There is q gradual
awakening among The people and
the time will come In the no dis
tant future when there will be
written, metaphorscany speaking,
ia box car letters over the door
Of every public ofice iii the land
NO DRUNKARD NEED AP-
PLY Already It ID largely SO
in many counties and States and
many branches of the general gov
enrmenb service.