The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-18
TRUSTS AND PRoHIBIrToN.

Surely are the members of the Ma
tional Liquor Dealers association gen.
| tlernen of discernment. They think
| that the wave of prohibition which is
sweeping over the land will wipe them
out of business If they do not combat
it in some way. It was not so with
the brewers. At their recent annual
convention they announced the opin-
ion that the wave of prohibition had
reached its crest and that a reaction
was about to set in. But in arriving at
this idea they showed themselves to be
dense lot. The liquor dealers. though,
are far-sighted enough to see the hand
writing on the wall. but nothing that
they can do will obliterate it. 1t will
grow in intensity.
One reason for this is that all of the
large corporations of the country, the
trusts, and others which are not in
that class, are giving their support in
all ways to the prohibition movement
and also taking other radical and
stringent steps to promote temperance
among their men. This fact is likewise
seen by the liquor dealers and they
blame the trusts for their activity in
this respect. But blame should not be
their portion Rather should it be I'M
stinted praise.
An instance of the popularity of this
excellent movement on the part of
large employers of labor came to light
recently with the announcement from
Pittsburg, Pa, that the United States
Steel corporation, the most powerful
aggregation of capital in the land and
one of the largest employers of work
ers, has taken determined stand
against it's workmen drinking liquor.
Within the past couple of weeks there
have been posted in all the big mills
of the Pittsburg and Ohio districts no
tees that workmen once entering the
mills to work will not be allowed to
leave until they are through their days
work. There is no reference to "booze,"
but the managers and superintendent
speak their minds plainly.
The corporation has found that
much time has been lost daily by the
| workmen leaving for a few minutes
to go out and get a drink, perhaps
several times a day. In addition to this,
those in direct charge of the men say
! they do not do as good work when
they are allowed to fill themselves with
drink, and SO the order is impera-
| tive.
The corporation appears TO want TO
run the mills hereafter on a strictly
temperance basis. Numerous instances
of spoiled work in the past few years
have been traced to worlxmen who have
been in the habit of going outside for
their drinks at any time they feel like
| it. Until now neither corporation nor
mill bosses have objected.
Many men have been discharged in
the past week on being found carrying
liquor into the mills in bottles.
| And so this excellent story is
being augmented all the time by addi-
lions of important chapters. Corpora
lions and business men the country
over are demanding strict sobriety
among their employees. They cannot
get the best service from their men
without it. And as a means of obtain
| ing it they are lending vigorous sup
port to the prohibition movement in
all ways. They naturally reason it out
that they can more easily promote
| temperance among their employees if
it is made impossible, or exceedingly
| difficult for them to get liquor and
| beer at will