Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-06-07
HELEN REICHERT



Opinion Of Alcohol
II seems to have taken this world |
wide war to awaken the people of this
country as well as those Of other
countries to this great question of
Liquor"
II can be said Of this country, as
the prime minister Of Great Britain,
Lloyd George, said of England, "We
are fighting three enemies-Germany
Austria, and Drink"
Heads Of big industries say Pro-
hibition would make possible higher
wages and better feelings between
capital and labor. They declare it
viii conserve food as well as release
labor for the production Of things es-
sential to winning the war.
Mr.. Warren s. Stone, grand chief
Of the Brotherhood Of Locomotive
Engineers, has this to say concern
ing the question: We fight liquor
evil perhaps as hard as any Of the
churches. Liquor has no place in our
modern railroading. No man could
work for me who would take drink
either on or off duty. would not
maze a 'hneNeAlSc III blAe bWOg UeCduSt
the man who will drink off duty is
not ft to go on duty when the time
comes. fail to understand why our
men do not come out in the open in
certain localities and fight this en-
emy. IL tends to destroy the home
life, to lower the tone Of the citizen
ship Of the community, and the NOR
ais Of the individual as well; to say
nothing Of his mental and physical
health"
Since steam and electricity have
become the motive power of the in
dustrial world, managers of great fac
tories have studied the effects of
stimulants and narcotics and have
reached the conclusion that they can
employ no workman whose nerves
are not steady, where costly equip
ment and the protection of the hun
dreds of lives are involved. There
fore, these industrial managers are
demanding Of their employees what the
Wyoming Light Company Of Wilkes
bawrre, Pa, demanded of their line
meng "that they sign a pledge to alb
stain from intoxicating liquors while
off or on duty, or leave their en-
ploy."
In the business world banking in
terests are of preeminent Importance.
Here the character of the employe
must be above reproach. Hence, the
rigid rule Of many of the larger
banking houses that young men in
their employ shall not simply abstain
from the use of intoxicants, but to
be seen in any place where intoxicat-
ing liquors are sold is a sufficient
warrant for their dismissal. Wher
engaged they sign contract to this
effect.
Even Uncle Sam doesn't intend Il
permit the booze business to lose tn,
war for him.
The soldiers in camp Throughout
the United States are not permitted
the use of alcohol, and if caught il
an intoxicated condition they mus
suffer severe punishment.
It is very difficult for men to ente
the Aviation or Marine corps If the,
are addicted to the use of liquor.
In the pursuit of agriculture tn
same result is being achieved. Lu
ther Burbank says that he can prov
that even the mild use of stimulant
and narcotics is incompatible wit
work requiring accurate attention an
definite concentration, as is the wor
Of budding. Men fail here because O
their inability to concentrate thei
nerve force.
1t may be said that the great CON
mercial world is waking out of Ion
deep sleep, and that while liquor il
terests are still defended with toot
and claw, we now have capitalist
employers and captains of industr
on our side. The day has alread
come when the boy who has not bee
taught in the school room the trut
concerning the dangerous effects ,
stimulants and narcotics, and who hs
not made that instruction an una
terable part Of character has b.
small chance Of any place in the a
tivities of the business world.