Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-09-12
The Effect of Good Environment.

Much has been said about education" with
respect to controlling the use of liquors, many
different views being taken with respect to the SUBJ
ject. There is one line of reasoning which says
that more be accomplished by licensing and reg
ulating the sale of liquor than by prohibition; an
other line of argument is to the effect that only
by show ing to users of liquors the evil results can
the consumption of intoxlcants be curtailed
However, it appears that the Southern Pacific rail-
road company has had surprising success by COM
bination of both regulation and education.
The following editorial comment from the
Los Angeles Times respecting the. subject is of
no little interest:
1.-The common carriers of the country have
learned that John Barleycorn in the habiiments
of Death sits at many railroad crossing, at
many switch, and on many siding, and rides
upon the pilot of hundred engines every day in
the week. They might have nailed up the saloon
door to their employees, and practically did so by
forbidding trainman under pain of discharge to
enter any habitation where John Barleycorn had
his domicile. The rule would have done little
good if they had not discovered more excellent
way
Block systems are good, and so are all other
mechanical devices, but unless you get the man
at the throttle valve to let whiskey alone, deaths
will occur on the track. By the introduction of
more excellent way report upon the Southern
Pacific system shows that in four years ending
June 30. 1872 10000 $1,000 persons had travelled
on trains of that road without killing single
passer ger through collision derailments." In
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twenty-nine saloons had fiourished and kept on
Furnishing in spite of the rule forbidding train
men to patronize these places. Then the road
introduced it's more excellent way'' in the estab-
-lishment of clubhouse to take the place of the
saloon, and six months later a dozen of the sa-
looms had closed their doors because they would
not pay. Two years after the club was opened,
only seven of the twenty-nine saloons remained
in business. Guidance was superior to obstruction,
and education left prohibition away behind.
Something had to be done for no man was
required to pay entrance fees nor monthly dues
to enter saloon, 81 the railroads had to make
their clubs free as water that runs in the rivu-
let or as the air that circulats around the globe
The saloon is the most democratic place on earth,
where all distinctions are left behind as each man
enters the door. So in the clubs all men stand
upon plane of social equality. Another thing,
the railroad clubhouses assume good behavior on
the part of all who enter then and there is never
seen sign prohibiting swearing. smoking ex-
pectorating, or any other improper act There
are no rules of conduct The men are put upon
their manhood and upon their good behavior. In
an article in recent issue of the Outlook the
discussion upon this subject closes as follows:
Social welfare workers will find food for refec-
tion in the remarkable success of this enterprise,
which vigorously suppressed every tinge of pat
ernalism and patronage in order to lay hands up.
on the most elusive. unwilling individual, the
adult. independent, self-respecting worker, and
keep him out of the danger zone of the saloon
And let all men rise up and sing 'Selah."