The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-03-13
HOW WE GOT CUR BUNTING.

From Tie Ne~ York Tribune.
The Morrison tariff bill was under
consideration among a party OF gentle
men at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, when
General b. +. Butler told about the ex-
perience of the manufacturers of bunt-
ing, in which he was a pioneer. He
was III the War department one day
when he happened to take flag in his
hand and to ask where they got flags.
He found that they were manufactured
in England and was told that no one in
this country knew how to make bunt-
ing. He sent some samples TO two
young friends who were in the woollen
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 drop
ped, but about six months afterward
one of these men came to him with a
sample of bunting. 1t was excellent.
He had been working in bunting fac
tory in Manchester, England and came,
home with the secret of how to make
the fabric. General Butler furnished
him the money to start in business and
for years they enjoyed a monopoly al
most of the trade in this country.
In speaking of the fact that it was the
tariff that had made it possible for this
manufacture to be started here, Gen
eral Butler also elucidated the other
side of the protective tariff argument
that home market and competition 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 pro-
teCtive tariff. In the experimental
stages it was bulwark of safety to the
capitalist and the workman alike. The
| General has some nieces, who several
years ago, while in the factory one day,
took a notion to have dresses made of
the stuff. 1t became the rage in their
town. Tnen the fashion spread and
soon there was a craze for the fabric.
Many factories for its production sprang
into existence. Then came the re-
lapse. The servant girls wanted to i'm
itate their mistresses, and the mistresses
no longer wore it at ell. 1t became
cheap and common. The price has
gone down and many manufacturers
have stopped making it altogether. In
General Buffers view there is no more
complete exposition of the beneficial
workings of protective tariff than in the
| bunting business and manufacture.
1t was in the works in which the
General is interested that the first flags
were made all in one piece. The ear
lest flags made in this country were Of
strips of cloth sewn together. The white
stars were sewn on the face of the blue
| field. Butler associate introduced the
manufacture of the entire flag IN one
piece.
The conclusion Of the visit of the
young Yankee who went to Manchester
was somewhat dramatic. He had sought
employment in the bunting works there
as a laborer. His intelligence enabled
him to rise speedily through the differ,
| ent departments of the works. When
he had mastered the business, he asked
for a recommendation and having re-
, ceived it he quit work. He went to
hotel, had his whiskers shaved off, put
on his best clothes, and then sent an
invitation to dinner to the manager of
the bunting works. He explained hi,
request by saying he was an American