Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-24
TECHNICAL EDUCATION NEEDED.
why. in One Yeur. SEQ, GOO, 900 Worth Of
Foreign Textiles Climbed over Oar
High Protective Tariff Wall-Soine
Wholesome Truths.


Association Of Wool Growers. in Boston,
Mr.. Theodore e. Search of Philadelphia,
made an address on "Iextile Education IN
America"
at has long been recognized by every
country in Europe whose example is worth
anything to us, T" said Mr.. Search. that in
dustrial education is quite as legitimate
and quite as necessary Il function OF gov
eminent as maintaining armies or building
battleships. Technical schools in which
lads may learn the use OF special tools
characteristic of the trade or business he
may choose, abound in France, Germany,
Belgium, Switzerland and England, In
these the student is the heir OF all the
knowledge of the craftsmen who have pre-
ceded him, but this knowledge has been SO |
systematized that it can be easily Stndien |
and utilized, and better than all that, ~ |
can be used as substantial basis upon |
which this younger Craftsman may pallc |
yet more stately structure.
ut is technical schools of this sort which |
foreign countries have sustained so ad- |
mirably and which have contributed go
much to their material success.
"ln France, from the time of Colbert to |
/ our own, princely provision has been made
from public fund for technical and art
instruction. Not only has this provision
been continuous through all the mutations
of political fortunes which have over.
taken France, but it has actually increased
until to-day no country in the world,ex-
| ceeds her i'll the sums devoted to educa-
tiou Of her people in the arts and crafts in
| which France is still pre-eminent The
example of Germany under institutions
| somewhat more stable, is quite as splendid,
and to say that Austria Rally, England
| and Russia have done their best to keep
pace with France and Germany is imper-
| fectly to indicate the immense energy and
| the magnificent sums which have been ex-
| pended in this century in developing the
national strength in the direction OF art
and skilled industries.
TARIFF LAWS INEFFECTIVE.
Americans can no longer ignore the
significant lesson which these examples
teach. No amount of tariff legislation,
important as it is, can possibly preserve
| Our home markets to our manufacturers
unless they make the quality of the things
produced equal if not superior to that OF
their foreign competitors.
1--WE built tariff wall higher than ever
prince or potentate ever dared build it, and
vet in one year 100000 900 of foreign tex
tiles climbed up its sides and spread them
selves all over our country. These industrial
invaders marched boldly into our shops
and yanquished our home product. Our
manufacturers stood aghast. In the face
of an almost prohibitiYe tariff our own
people demanded foreign goods, and paid
for them-S60, 100000 worth in year. Ii
ANYTHING was needed to prove the futility
of a tariff unaided and standing alone to
make great people industriously in
dependent, it was our experiences with
. recent tariff legislation. We cannot hope
to pit successfully against the artistically
designed and exquisitely finished fabrics
of our foreign competitors only a 40 pei
. | cent tariff. 1t il an unequal contest. A
nation which establishes protective tariff
: has only put up the breastworks. The
4 Notifications must be supplied with men
! branv and enterprising without doubt
but, above all, possessing skill in thell
crafts.
China built magnificent battleships, bu
in the hands of their courageous but IN
skilled sailors and fighters these floating
u forts Of iron and steel were but mere cockl'
y shells against the skilfully directed onse
. OF less significant fleet. In certain
. sense we have been Chinese-like. We hay
!, built magnificent protective wall, but Vi
a have failed TO back it up with anothe
y essential-skill. Place 40 per cent tarii
10 against skilled workmen, with artist
training and tastes, and the tariff, even
il be made so per cent will be vanquishe
10 every time. as it stands to-day, the in
RS dustfial problem is skill versus 40 pc
in cent tariff. Let us but once make oil
rs forces up of skill plus 40 iper cent tart
is and the United States would not only !
I'd industrially independent, but would wreS
I'd from her competitors some Of those yawr
e. ing markets OF the world that we read S
IL much about in the newspapers.
IL BRAINS AND HANDS.
ne ave must have designers that know NJ
i'd only how to repeat design made by som
is body else but who are able to original
designs that are artistic in the highes
Id sense of the term. We must have dyel
at that have not alone mere MANIPULATE
III skill in the handling of materials, but all
NJ have the power of applying them wit
g. economy and effect. We must have mi
he managers who are not only mere director
CHI of workmen's movements, but who, wit
perfect knowledge of each employe
work, will direct that work to the be
nj. economic advantage
m 1t was to meet this need that the Phil
." delphia Textile School was formed,
M. which Mr.. Search then spoke warmly al
tic convincingly. In giving its history NJ
nj Search said the school began in 1883 wi
a., one power loom and four hand loom
IT. which were brought from England
n models of tine kind Of appliances whit
he were Ill use there for purposes of instrl
i'd ton. To-day the school includes some
,ed hand looms and 20 power looms OF q
tn. latest and most improved patterns, with
splendid chemical laboratory and an c
od tensive plant for carding, spinning, scot
ing, dyeing and finishing, so that eve
process of textile manufacture, from d
treatment OF the raw material 10 lhe pr
duction of the finished fabric, can
lis carried on under the roof of the schc
building. The marked feature OF t
ST. school is that each pupil shall perform
n. the processes unaided. The school al
~, ~. gives a fine artistic impulse to all phal
cN of the work from design to finish Anoth
re, important and significant feature is
he department OF mill economy. All I
.he economic problems connected with gre
I n establishment are carefully gone over O
tod the students impressed WITT their iInpo
ance as elements in manufacture.
ga Here have been gathered pslientiy q
eu carefully since 1875 some Of :he III
81 specimens of artistic tsoTics 10 pG found
pie the world. These ara az the command
the students TJr sta6v RnG ohseTvRtif
see Only these who knGT the greet part
viii industrial inuseums Of Europe play In
or. industrial eGliaencG vi Germany. Fran
q Switzerland England and Gs!giuR c
appreciate the SGiae Of o wsll'appoiEt
museum TO school. IL "a Only whei
people begin to collect :or ce;nfafisou
cial study the best expressions CT thc Rrih
the and industrial genius Of tine world q
ere real progress i'll art ann iG1nstry Begins
,on ---------------------
The No safer remedy CAR be had for coue
'rly and colds, or any tECuele OF the thru
IS than Browns Bronchial Troches." IT
The IS cents. sold only in boxes.