The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-03-24
Bulletins from the Temperance War
(New York Times)

we" AOAh AAAlCS)
The Lackawanna railroad issued re-
Gently a new rule against the use of
intoxicants by the men who run the
company's trains. The old rule against
drinking on duty is extended to cover
all the time of the men. They are en-
Joined to use their time off duty to OBJ
tain rest, and they are prohibited from
spending their time in any way that
might unfit them for service. The men
are told that the visiting of saloons or
other places where liquor is sold will
be considered sufficient ground for
dismissal The rule becomes effective
at once.
company, George A. Cullen, passenger
traffic manager, said:
Recent experience has shown that
there is only one absolutely safe course
to be followed by these classes of men,
and that is to abstain altogether from
the use of liquor. That will be the
rule of the Lackawanna hereafter.
THE company realizes that in this
department it may be criticized for
pursuing an extreme course, but it
rests assured that public sentiment
will support its position, in view of
the great risks involved.
1T is a we'll known fact that there
are many other forms of dissipation be-
sides drinking that may tend to unfit
men for their duties, and where safety
requires men to be alert and keen
while on duty it is absolutely essential
| that they should come to their work
refreshed by abundant sleep and in
full possession of all their physical
and mental faculties"
Colonel Maus, chief surgeon of the
Eastern Division of the U. S. army,
says:
ut lessons working capacity, march
/ ing endurance, accuracy and rapidity in
rifle firing, ability to command troops
and solve military problems, to navi-
gate and manoeuvre war vessels, to act
as members of courts and military
| boards, to properly perform admins
trative work, to develop the intellect
and fit one for the higher duties and
responsibilities of life
1T causes sickness, impairs health
and usefulness, adds greatly to the
non efficiency of both officers and men,
adds additional burden and cost to the
medical department, deprives the gov
eminent of otherwise valuable officers
and enlisted men. and forces them on
4
ponding increase OF governmental ex-
penditures.
Vital statistics clearly prove that
the moderate use of ALCOHOLIC bever-
ages reduces the longevity of mankind.
| They have a distinctive bearing on
public officers, many of whom have
passed years on sick status as a result
of their use Many have died in the
prime OF life, or have been retired from
active duty through their direct or in
direct influence. The same may be said
of enlisted men in both services.
The higher powers of judgment and
ability to make proper comparisons
and weigh testimony is lowered under
the influence of alcohol. Serious mis-
takes have occurred from alcohol
among officers in command of land and
sea forces. Those who served in Man
liza during the early days of the Phil
ippine instruction remember the
Hooker whose bleaching wreck on
the rocks off Corregidor attests the in
efficiency OF drinking navigating Of
ficers.
Total abstinence should become a
requirement in the election of our
presidents, governors OF states, SEN
ators, congressman, judges and all Of
ficers within the suffrage of the peo-
pie Besides, no one who uses aIco-
lholic beverages should be appointed to
the important positions of cabinet Of
ficers, members of the supreme bench
or district courts, heads of govern
ment bureaus, civil or military, to the
command of military or navy forces
or any other position of Importance
and responsibility"
| Railroads and army
usually regarded as temperance IA
lnatics. Are the Lackawanna railroad
and Surgeon General Naus right or
wrong?