The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-02-02
OUR TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
REPORTS OF PROGRESS OF THE
BATTLE AGAINST RUM.
Railways and Drink.

1Od11NdJS ttu AiAh
That railway accidents in this coun-
try are due, in some degree, to the
use of alcohol by employees, is assert
ed, at least by implication, by DR..
Henry o. Marcy, of Boston, in a lead
ing article in the Quarterly Journal
Of Inebriety.
Dr.. Marcy emphasizes the point
that it is not sufficient for trainmen
to keep from drinking while on duty,
they should be a~bstainers; otherwise
their nerves will not be strong enough
to stand the strain Of their occupa-
ton. Most railroads do not go as
far as this. Says the writer:
"The railroad authorities of the
United States are widely awake to the
dangers to their various systems,
from the, monetary standpoint as
also from a humanitarian point OF
view. AS I have just shown, every
railroad wreck involves a large loss.
Therefore it behooves these great
companies not alone to especially
train their important servants,
watching carefully over their physical
condition, seeing to 1t that, as far as
possible, their duties are assigned
to them at regular hours, with an
insistence Of taking proper rest and
food, and then demand of them when
on duty the highest type of possible
efficiency.
! 'In the army, no matter how IA
tigued, the sentinel has his four hours
Of rest and his two hours of watchful
vigilance. Neglect of duty during
these two hours may endanger the
entire camp. Woe be then to the
sentinel caught sleeping at his post.
A court-martial and execution swiftly
follow as a stern warning to the fu-
ture. In a large sense the engineer
and trainmen are sentinels on duty,
upon every one of the numberless
trains traversing the country. While
we may not shoot such derelict serv-
ants, we certainly should bring to
bear every possible effort to secure
from them the best and safest service.
Hence the wisest teachings Of the eff
feet Of alcohol upon the human sys-
tenn should be disseminated, and es-
tablish among these men the esprit
de corps Of the service"
After quoting letters from officials
of the New York Central, Boston and
New Haven and Hartford roads, from
which it appears thatthese three COM
panies absolutely prohibit the use Of
intoxicants by employees on duty, DR..
Marcy says:
These letters show a commenda-
BILE spirit Of watchfulness on the part
Of the managers of our great railroad
systems, and I doubt not similar rules
are enforced with greater or less
stringency upon all the railroads of
the country. The rule of thirty years
ago is now decidedly the exception,
and the type and character of our en-
ployes in their self-respecting man.
hood show a vast improvement. To
those who desire to drink it is yet all
too easy to furnish stimulants, but
each year the responsibility is more
and more placed upon the dispensers
of alcoholic beverages, as well az
those who partake of them.
1.-THE London and Northwestern
Company have established a Total
Abstinence Union Society among its
employees, which society now numbers
over $4,000 members. The central
object of this society is not only to
promote total abstinence among Its
members, but lessen the risk and dan
ger of the work and diminish acct
dents and lessen the worry and strain.
All members of this union are put on
the promotion list to receive an in
crease of wages every five years If
they remain in the anne position and
are total abstatners.
1.-THE Midland Railway Company
have encouraged their operatives to
form total abstinence societies and
pledge themselves not to use spirits
at any time or place. Preference is
given to all persons applying for pro.
motion and larger wages who belong
to these societies. The company re-
ports less loss from accidents and
more perfect work by the members
of this society,""