Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-03-22
w. C. T. u.
COLUMN.
Edited by the Local Chapter Of the
wcman's Christian temperance Union.
Alcohol a Zoe 10 tfnclency.

There recently appeared in The Rail-
road Association Magazine, perlodi-
cal devoted to the interests of railroad
| men, a symposium on aleoho md its
effects upon efficiency. The subject
was treated from the respective view.
points of general superintendent, the
grand chief of the Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Engineers, and an exper-
fenced conductor, az well as that Of a
prominent physician. We give below
the statement Of +. f Williams, chief
conductor for twelve years of St. Louis
Division No.3, Order Of Railroad Con-
ductors. He says:
Alcohol is foe to efficiency in rail
reading. | regret that have not sufli-
Gent command Of language to express
what know and feel in support of the
above statement from the viewpoint of
the man N train and engine service.
There is perhaps no other calling in
| which such a high degree Of efficiency
| is essential as in the safe and prompt
| operation Of trains. Emergencies of
which the general public know little or
| nothing and which cannot be antici-
| pated by operating rules are constantly
| arising and are accepted as a matter of
course by the men in the service.
These emergencies must be met with
quick thought aad immediate action
to insure as far as possible safety to
life and property. II is conceded by
all authorities that the presence of al
cohol in the system creates an abnor-
NAL condition both mentally and
physically which renders the victim
(the word is used advisedly) incapable
OF concentrated thought aud initiative
action, and units HIM for that alert
attention to duty which is the primary
essential of safe ana successful rail-
reading.
1.-The young man entering the service
should be fully impressed with the i'm
portance of three things: First, the
duty he owes 10 the public in safe
guarding as far as possible their lives
and property; second, the duty he owes
to his employ ers in giving value re-
cAived for every penny of his salary;
tArd, the duty he owes to himself and
family and his fellows in the service.
The habItual use OF alcohol has ten
dency to eliminate from the mind all
sence OF responsibility, and even if
man does his work it is in mechani-
cal way and simply from force of
habit. He is rot safe man to trust
waen the lives Of the public, his fellow
workmen and the property of his en-
ployers are at stake. AS duty TO him.
self and his family be should conserve
his resources aud be prepared as far as
possible for the accident or misfortune
which will probably come sooner or
later even to The sober man, and which
is muca more liable to come when al
coho becomes factor 10 be reckoned
WIN among our associates
From "rhe Presbyterian, Ontario.
The charge brought against The bar
room, backed by generations of sor-
| ~" al history, is, ttai it &c lbs breed
! ing place and rnndpzvous of a COM
m t,ity's Vulgarlty aud haoilum ism.
To- that iiupeacbment there may be
iced tbat the business of the bar
| room L., by its very nature, an indus
trial, social and moral burden on the
community that supports it, for which
no license revenue compeuSat in the
least degree.
is truly wonderful for how long
time the barre has been able to
bind the community to the burden
some character of its operations. Aud
yet 1t Is everywhere aud always an
economic burden. II is sound
maxim of political economy that any
thing which does not produce some
thing valuable or stimulate the pro-
duction Of something valuable ia bur-
oensome In lis operations. Apply the
maxim to the mills and factories and
industrial trades and they stand its
tests, for they all take raw material of
little value and convert it into articles
Of increased value TO the community;
they produce something valuable. APP
| ply that maxim to mercantile institu-
tiors, TO the grocery store or the dry
goods house or the machinery ware
room, aud they meet its demands;
they stimulate The production of some
thing valuable. So do the educational
institutions, the art galleries, the IL
braries, the colleges aad the churches;
they create higher ideals and awaken
loftier ambitions and inspire 10 worth
Ter service; they stimulate the produc-
tioa of something valuable. But APP
ply that maxim to the bar-room and