The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE
INDUSTRIAL PROHIBITION AMONG
THE IRON AND STEEL MILLS
IN THE NAME OF
SAFETY FIRST"


has said much in regard to the grow
ing hostility to alcohol on the part
Of industry In order to determine
the extent of this feeling, and to
throw broad shaft of light on the
attitude OF all industry toward the
movement for abstinence and prohi-
bition, the Methodist Temperance So
ciety has conducted careful investi-
CATION covering the iron and steel
trades Of Pennsylvania Ohio, Illinois
and West Virginia Information was
secured from 140 companies, many Of
which have more than one plant.
This investigation reveals conclu-
siyely that the tendency of industrial
corporations is to take every practi-
cable measure to prevent drinking on
duty or off. Almost without excep-
tion they testify that the abstainer
is more efficient in his work and that
he alone is considered when a place
OF responsibility is open. Many of
these concerns are conducting extern
siVe propagandas to induce their men
to abstain at all times. The motto of
the Illinois Steel Company is Safety,
Sobriety, Cleanliness" and that motto
is typical
Not so many years ago it was quite
the custom for workmen to send boys
out for beer during working hours.
Of 120 concerns replying, only six
say that they permit this at the pres
ent time.
Ten concerns not only prohibit
drinking during working hours, but
absolutely prohibit it at any time.
One hundred others, in giving infor-
nation on this point, say that they
do everything possible to prevent
drinking by their employees out Of
hours, but that the practical Difficult
ties prevent their announcing a blan-
ket policy of prohibition. The ten
concerns which have undertaken the
| herculean task of preventing all drink
| ing by their employees are:
The Illinois Steel Company, Joliet.
Illinois; The Berkshire Iron Works,
| Pennsylvania; The American Sheet
! and Tin Plate Company, West Vir-
| GINA; The Lukens Iron and Steel
| Company, Pennsylvania; The Reading
Iron Company, Pennsylvania; The
Howard Iron and Tool Company.
Pennsylvania; Joseph E. Thropp.
Pennsylvania; Hubbard Steel Foun-
dry Company, Illinois,; The Interstate
Iron and Steel Company, Cambridge.
Ohio; The West Steel Casting Com
pany, Ohio.
ANY attempt to interfere with the
habits of the men outside of working
hours would be resented by them.
but We recognize that even the mod
crate use of liquor is hurtful, and we
| exert every moral influence to pro-
mote abstinence among our en-
| ployes," says the Lockhart Iron and
Steel Company of Pennsylvania. 1T
is impossible to prohibit the use of
intoxicating liquors by employees while
they are off duty, but we use every
means to discourage and tprevent it,"
says the Jackson Iron and Steel Com
pany of Ohio. The American Car
Foundries Company of Pennsylvania
| dlsmisSeS men who go into saloons
on the way to or from work, and the
Lukens Iron and Steel Company, of
the same state, suspends an employee
one week for his first offense; for the
second he is often discharged. The
Lukens Company prohibits drinking
both during working hours and out of
working hours. These replies indi-
cate the nature of many others.
| oh Of hn cd
discriminate against those who use
alcoholic liquors in employing and
advancing men. Even the most
moderate" use is fatal to a mans
chance of advancement.
SiXty-three concerns have taken
steps to determine the influence OF
the moderate use of liquor on work
ing efficiency and reliability, and
without exception they testify that it
is bad
Extracts from various letters, which
are of the highest value to students
of the liquor problem and to business
men generally, follow:
1--WE suspend an employee one week
for his first offense in drinking; for
the second we very often discharge
him. We prohibit drinking during
working hours or out of working
hours. The Lukens Iron and Steel
Company, Coatsville, Pennsylvania
I'VE favor prohibition laws as a
means of promoting abstinence among
our employees The Buchanan Elec-
trio Steel Company, Buchanan, Michi-
gan.
Our furnace is located in dry ter
ritory and we have no trouble on ac-
count of liquor drinking. The An
drews &c Hitchcocks Iron Company,
Youngstown, Ohio.
The industrial abstinence propagan-
da has become closely allied with the
Safety First" campaign. The whole
movement is conducted in the name
of efficiency, and abstinence cam
paigns are managed in the great in
dustrial plants of the country in an
attitude of sympathetic cooperation
with the men themselves.
Perhaps the most significant thing
developed by the whole inquiry is the
universal recognition of the fact that
moderate drinking has distinctly bad
effect upon the efficiency and relia-
bility of working men. There do not
seem to be two opinions upon this
point.
In our work we cannot use a man
Il.