The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-07-22
TIE GREAT
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMpERANCE.
Railroads Forbid Use Of IntoXicants
baltimore and Ohio Follows
Lead of Other Roads jim Forbid

II bdlllulOIG duu Oulo 1Sdiltooo
put into effect recently a new rule by
which men employed in the operation
O. the road are prohibited from par
taking of intoxicating liquors either
while they are on or off duty. The
rue has been made a general n by
tho Baltimore and Ohio, and men who
indulge in intoxicants will in the fut-
ure be barred from that roads serV-
ice. This action served to call public
attention to q movement among rail-
road managers. which has been IN
for some time past, looking
to the elimination from railroad serv-
Ice of men who are known to indulge
In ~intoxicants.
A number of other roads have es-
tablished in the recent past regula-
tons in this respect similar to those
which are being put into effect by the
Baltimore and Ohio. Inquiry made
last week among railroad officials re-
yealed the fact that, while so far as
known the General Managers Asso-
citation, which is made up Of the act
i've managers of most of the impor-
tant railroads, has taken no formal
action in the matter, they have as q
result of exchanges Of views on this
subject come to the conclusion hat
the course which is now being fol-
lowed by the Baltimore and Ohio is
The best both for the public and for
he railroads themselves.
Last year a similar rule was put
into effect on the New York Central
lines. 1t applies not only to the Cen
trail itself, but to it's numerous sub
sidiary roads, including such roads as
The Lake Shore, the Michigan Cen
trail, the Big Four, the Nickel Plate,
the Boston and Albany and others.
An official of the New York Gen.
raj said last week that the policy OF
The road was to be extremely strict IN
The matter of it's men refraining from
The use of intoxicants. The regula-
lions in force on the New York Cen
raj, it appears, go to the length of
compelling the conductor Of a train
to refuse to permit the train to start
# he learns that the engineer has in
iulged in intoxicants before going to
iuty. The rules compel the substitu-
ion of another engineer in such a
case, and similarly an engineer Is for
hidden to take out a. train should 1t
happen that he knows that the con-
iuctor has taken an intoXicant.
Commenting on these regulations,
his official said:
I'VE would sooner have a man in
the roads employ take money than
that he should indulge in intoyicants.
The damage that could result from
stealing would be triling compared
with the trouble which might result
from a conductor or an engineer or
sven a brakeman taking too freely OF
lntoxicants. One or the other would
be very apt to neglect orders and per-
haps the neglect might occur under
conditions which would lead to dis
aster."
The advantage of minimizing the
use of intoXicants among operating
employees has been recognized not
only by the railroads, but by large
Industrial establishments as well.
While the rules adopted by manufac-
turing companies in respect to the
use of intoxicants by their employees
are not understood to be as strict as
those in force on the New York Cen
trail, on the Baltimore and Ohio, and
IN other roads, the movement among
manufacturing companies has been
gaining ground. Among the compa-
MES which have taken steps in the
direction of f%orbidding the use OF in
toxicants by their employees are the
international Harvester Company and
some of the companies controlled by
the United States Steel Corporation.
This movement on the part Of the
railroads and industrial concerns tc
establish s~tricter regulations thar
those which have been in force in the
past regarding the use of intoxicants
by their employees Is particularly in.
teresting at this time, owing to the
acknowledgment in brewery trade
circles that that trade is being seri'
ously hurt by the Prohibition move
ment. 1t happens that the purpose
of the railroads to surround the op-
Grafton of their lines with all possible
safeguards has made them a powerful
ally of the Prohibitionists. 1t is said
that they recognize this fact, and that
they are giving all possible o
agement to the movement among the
railroads to prohibit the use OF in.
toxicants by their employees.
The desire of railroad managers to
abolish the use of in~toxicants by OPP
Grating employees Is in keeping with
the policy of eliminating as many as
possible of the factors which tend to
careless service. Despite all the safe
ty devices which have in recent years
been put into use in increasing num-
bers, it remains true that for the
safety of it's passengers as we'll as OF
it's freight service a railroad Is large
ly dependent upon the faithful per-
Torrance of their duties by the meL
who are directly charged with the
handling of the trains. Automatic
devices cannot, except to a limited
extent, take the place of intelligent
work by all classes of employees who
are engaged in the moving and dis
patching of trains and in the guard
ing of the line of road.
The present is regarded as a par
.~ticularly favorable time for putting
more stringent rules into effect. The
demand for railroad employees is, OF
course, much less than it was when
traffic was so much heavier, n 1t IS
vastly easier now than it was a few
months ago to replace men who are
disposed to infringe the rules estab-
lished by the railroads.-NeW YORK
Times.
Benbow City, ILL.,, has eighteen Tot.
ers and twenty-three saloons.