New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-23
CATTLON1RY SIGNALS.

yet TO decide WuclHtT dic NollNSp III INV"
estimate or not.
CAUTIONARY SIGNALS.
The Textile Fabric Manufacturers Associa-
ton met in Philadelphia last week and decided
to curtail Immediately the production OF the
lower grades of goods 50 per cent. Ten thou'
sand looms we're represented, and the principal
goods affected were jeans and the lower grades
of cotton. The agreement went into effect
Yesterday. Thousands of higher employees are
at once thrown on half time, besides all the
weavers, spinners, dyers, etc, employed IN
these mills. The reason given for this action
by the Philadelphia cotton manufacturers Is
that their goods are Cutting their shelves;
and the reason they are not sold IS because the
South has begun to make the cheaper line oil
cotton fabrics for herself. and the floods ana
conse luent poverty in the Northwest nave
stopped the usual demand from that quarter.
II is predicted that other and larger manuiac-
turers will run on half time after next week.
With the Increased prices of provisions, the
outlook before the employees of these mills IS
sOmbrc enough.
But there is more behind. The Association
at their last meeting, in behalf of their own
interests. brought out into full view the cause
of this present stringcncy and of the Threatened
future ruin to their trade. Here are the facts
"The manufacturers who can produce the
mere costly line OF goods have all the orders
they can ill.," @The demand in the last two
wears is for the higher grades Of fabrics
American worlmen have NOT the skill to pro-
duce such goods aS France and England send
here. and very few skilled wOrkmcn are com-
ing Hence the goods are imported. The
value during the last fiscal year of dress goods
imported of this grade is stated to be
S22, OO0. 600, which, could they have been
made here, would have been kept in tins cOun-
try.
In other words, there has been for the last
three years IL season of unprecedented pros
perity following one of unusual depression, and
American women have promptly taken adyan-
tage of it to adOIn themselves in habits as
costly as their purse could buy. The money
for these habits has gone in a solid lump out OF
the country. Not only has their increasing
taste for luxury gratifed itself in clothes, but
in household decoration, expensive cookery,
eouipaees, iowelry the kind and quality of
entertainmcnts-in word, every outlet into
which money could flow. Nor have the women
been alone in this burst Of splendid outlay
they have been melted and led On by the lavish
recklessness of fathers and husbands. At 10
time since the Republic was nation has the
habit Of lavish expenditure been so extreme or
so general among us rs now Neither is 1t con-
fined to the comparatively small class with enor-
nous fortunes from whom IT would have had
certain salutary public use; the tradesman, the
professional classes, the mechanic and the
labOrer, and the great heterogeneous mass OF
those who live by their wits, each scatter their
small wages with as prnccly hand as the
millionaire who draws bis royal income from
this country to spend it like king i'll Paris or
Rome None but the highest class of goods
are demanded" and that in every line OF trade,
by the present fastidOus public. Now II our
own manufacturers could furnish these goods
the profit of our extravaganza would return to
ourselves But there are few skilled Ameri-
can workmen, and the trade goes to Europe"
Even in those trades where fine goods are fur
nished ut home, it will usually he found that
while American capitalists own the manuiac-'
tories the skilled wOrkmen vino earn the wages
are usually imported.
Why is this Simply because the American
craftsman has deliberately barred out his own
sons from his trade and left the doors open to
IOftlSHelS. no pIIllJtlS III d tClthH 'ohl-
munty, for example, refuse TO admit American
apprentices, in order to keep up the price of
their work whereupon foreign printers step
in to supply the demand, or the publishers
import the sheets OF their finer publications
from London, ready for binding; while the
sons of the printers go without capital OF craft
to Western cattle farms to earn their living,
complaining that the trades and professions
are full "There are no skilled American
weavers,' and twenty-five millions Of gold go
wear, while American weavers are turned out
of the closed mills. 1t would be hard to find
more complete circle of faulty. The Textile
Manufacturers show at least one CLEAN OF
sound sense. They propose to establish a
school for skilled weavers, dyers, etc, III order
to compete with the French and English
looms.
Immediately before the last crash, it will be
recOllected that the cotton mills of the lower
grade stopped, and for precisely the same
reason as now. There was demand only for
the costler line of goods. 1t was the straw
which then showed that the current of universal
extravaganza and folly was about to result, AS
it does every ten or fifteen years in this country.
in shipwreck and misery. The sign which has
proved correct once may serve again. Is there
yet time to take down sail and make ready for
the stOrmf
RECEITERSHIP SCANDALS
4 L., IL