The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-09-14
Business A G ent of
Electrical Workers
Is Dry Booster
DRINKERS BEING
ELIMINATED
Earnings Now Go Into
Banks Instead of
Saloons
HARVEY y. WATSON.

The liquor interests today are
q detrimen, 70 organized labor or
any other kind OF labor.
In these words Harvey z, Wat
son. business agent OF Local No. IS,
International Brotherhood OF Elec-
trical Workers. expressed the stand
that the local branch Of the organ
iza;ion is taking on the question OK
drink among its members.
we cannot tolerate the wet ele-
ment In our ranks" Mr. Watson
told a Times reporter 1t has been
our experience that the fellow who
is addicted 70 drink IS not only a
less efficient worker than the man
who does not drink, but be also L.
menace 70 the well.being and good
standing OF our organization.
The entire labor world IL coming
10 realization OF the harm done
the worker BY alcoholic Indulgence
he said. and practically all labor or.
ganizations are gradually dr1ftins
into line with the prohibition move
ment. The only exceptions 10 this
ara those trades tAat & rana direct
ly upon the liquor business and is
connections for employment
"our union nov has only II men
who are giving the organization any
trouble because OF liquor, Mr. Wat
son declared II is our rule that
a man found with signs OF liquor on
him while working on Job. b.
called in and Aaed. and several rep
etitiors az the oTense result in his
card being taken away from him and
he is elected from the union. We
no longer have any patience with
the drinkers
Not very long ago II was the
general idea that a good mechanic
had 70 be a good drinker That has
been discovered 10 be a fallacy and
organized labor In general seems 20
be getting away from that idea more
and more eve,y day
Personally. ! would like 20 sec
every saloon in the country closed
up. They're no good The police
arrest a man for carrying concealed
weapons but nothing Is done 10 stop
the man who sells the devils con
cealed weapon booze, 10 the work
ing man 70 rob him Of his brains. %
The local branch OF the electrical
WORKERS has 200 Of it, younger mem
hers attending Cass Technical high
school evenings, where they are
learning 70 become more proficient
IA their work This with the aboli-
ton Of the use OF drink BY - mem
bers. "a another Of the means the
organization IS taking 20 arrive a.
greater efficiency In It's work
A typical case OF what the union
is doing toward putting booze" or
the labor map IL that o. man who
drank continually and was always
broke" as a result one day be
accompanied fellow worker 20 a
bank and saw him deposit some
money on his bank account
How do you DO IT," the drinker
asked his companion.
II put In the bank about the same
amount that YOU give 20 the saloon.
keeper FOR poison" was the reply
The former drirker nov Is attend
ing evening school and has becom
a better workman and is saving
money.
The original opposition OF labor
! especially the building trades c0un
I cils. 20 the liquor interests, arose
over the employment by liquor men
I of nou-union labor on building and
other work. The dry movement
gained headway in the labor ranks
and men who avoided liquor 20
spite" the employers OF non-unioE
labor gradually found that their alb
stinence was a good thing FOR their
work and their physical well.being
and stayed "on the wagon This
has resulted in a general dry move
ment among labor men according
20 local union officials
More "autiwet' agitation Is OK.
pected 20 develop among local
unions M a meeting ~ the building
trades council which viii be held
Friday night In Brlcklaycrs nall.
Cass-aye. and High-st.