The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-03-24
How we Got Our Bunrins

! The Morrison tariff bill was under
consideration among party Of gen
[ tleuen at the Fifth Avenue Hotel,
when General b. F. Butter told
about the experiences of the manu-
facturers Of bunting, in which he
was pioneer. He was in the War
department one day when he hap
pened to take flag in his hand and
TO ask where they got flags. tie
found that they were manufactured
in England and that no one in this
country knew how TO make bunt-
ing. He sent some samples TO two
Young friends VINO were IN the wool
len manufacturing business. They
came TO Washington and said they
could make anything in the shape
of woollen fabric. But when they
brought him samples OF what they
intended should have been bunting
it WAS only flannel. which creased
when folded and which would not
float in waves on the breeze. There
Butler supposed the matter had
dropped, but about six months af-
terward one of these same men
came to him with sample OF bunt-
ing. 1t was excellent He had been
working in q bunting factory IN
Manchester, England. and came
home with the secret of how to make
the fabric. General Butler furnish
ed him with the money TO start in
business and for years they enjoyed
a monopoly almost OF the trade in
this country.
In speaking OF the fact that it was
the tariff that had made it possible
for this manufacture 10 be started
here, General Butler also elucidated
the other side OF the protective tariff
argument that home market ana
com petition had Immediately served
to reduce prices until the goods were
now as low as could be secured by
importation if there were no duty.
The start could not have been made
but for the protective tariff. In the
experimental stages il was bulwark
Of safety to the capitalist and the
workman alike. The General mas
some nieces, who several years ago,
while in the factory one day, took
a notion 10 have dresses made OF the
stuff. Ii became the rage in their
town. Then the fashion spread and
soon there was craze for the fabric.
Many factories for its production
spraug into existence. Then came
the relapse. The servant girls want
ed 10 initiate their mlstresses, and
the mistresses no longer wore II at
all. IL became cheap and common.
Ths price has gone down and many
manufacturers have stopped max
ing it altogether. In General But
ler's view there is no more COM
plete exposition OF the beneficial
workings of protective tariff than in
the bunting business and manufac-
ture.
1t was in the works in which the
General is interested that the FIRST
flags were made all in one piece.
The earliest flags made in this eoun-
try were of strips of cloth sewn to-
gether. The white stars were sewn
on the face of the blue field. But
ler's associate introduced the manu-
facture OF the entire flag IN one
piece.
The conclusion of the visit of the
young Yankee VITO went to Man
chester was somewhat dramatic He
had sought employ In the bun
ting works there as laborer. His
intelligence enabled him to rise
speedily through the different de-
partments of the works. When he
had mastered the business he asked
for a recommendation and having
received it he quit work He went
to hotel, had his whiskers shaved
of, put on his best clothes, and then /
sent an invitation to dinner TO the /
manager of the bunting works. He 4
explained his request by saying be
was an American and would ike to
have company at dinner After din
ing the two fell into conversation in .
the course of which the bunting /
manufacturer asked: "How long
have you been in this country
About six months" ;" was the reply. /
Have you travelled far?" No,
have been here all the time. "Wby !
didn't you let me see you sooner?"
"You saw me every day" Il don't /
understand" The American took /
out the letter of recommendation 4
which his English employer and I
guest had written and silently pass
ed it over to him to read. 1t was
revelation. And you are going |
home to make bunting ?" Certain
ly." 1t was all that was said, but it /
was enough.