The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-01
LETTERS ON MANY TOPICS.
WOOLLENS.
n. Issue etwec Goods or A-eric. ..s
England.

4 -. Issue Betwecr Goods or America s.a
England.
To THE EDITOR or THE SUr-Sir: Tho
articles recently published In The Sun under
. the title OF American woollens" have boon
Instrumental In setting the American people to
wondering whether We are really as patriotic
and loyal to the best interests Of our country a.
We claim to be.
The several responses indicate that the ma
jority OF our citizens are not very well informed
concerning the merits OF goods manufactured
In the United states as compared with those OF
the Old World.
II has been generally conceded that tho low
and medium class Of woollens produced In THIS
country are superior and outrank those made In
England; arc more honestly made; Of better pat
terms and designs, and moro durable. 30 far as
strength, texture, and color are concerned. Yet
we arc informed that tho majority OF fashionsblc
tailors prefer and TO their custom
ers woollcns manufactured abroad. I have fire.
oucntly observed that fashionable tailors In
setting forth the superiority OF the imported
article are densoly ignorant Of the fact that the
,osalled English goods are often the product OF
American looms. The ultra-fashionable have OF
late years become so anglomanlnc In their nature
that jobbers and dealers have found 1t incum-
hen, upon themselves to keep pace with the
requirements OF their customers by labelling their
merchandise with tho catching information.
made In England" This subterfuge naturally
increases tho price. and 10 n source OF extra
revenue to the jobber and tailor alike.
Neither is this state OF affairs confined to the
East. During a recently extended business
tour-covering 10000 miles-through tho prin-
cipal towns and cities Of the South and West,
the writer noticed both merchants and tailors
alike were prone to place particular stress upon
the imported article and dilate upon It's superior
merit.
OF late years this country appears to have
gone mad on the subject Of English goods. We
are buying our woods to-day side by side with
manufacturers across the ocean. Our machinery
10 equally modern. and much OF 1t superior to
any In the world; our work people are intelligent
and their habits exemplary; the ideas Of our de-
,igncrs are original and modern, thereby produc-
ing fabrics choice In pattern and constructions;
therefore we are in a position to COM
pete with, and even excel, in this par
ticular branch OF industry. Furthermore.
the colors produced upon woollen fabrics
in the United States are far superior to anything
produced by the English or Continental woollcn
manufacturers. Our country. with Its perpetual
sunshine, demands an absolutely fast color that
will not fade nor GnahGe o w. ZONE og anner .he nm m
this has been so thoroughly accomplished by the
Introduction OF alizarine dyes, we are justly en-:
fo~reisuimado goods are often very fugitive in
their nature, hence In the mercantile world are
had an object lesson in this respect last summer.
Yorkshire woollen manufactures visiting In
our our Siih "' Ws s gave eF him carte e i DlSneSe to sor DO %
from a sense of curiosity to learn how he would
view US from & strictly English standpoint.
exalted opinion concerning, either America or
Americans, He spent considerable time study
in all the details OF our factory without being
very communicative. Finally he said: II am
very much surprised and pleased with what
max. ' While an we II have Ss' n ssaP5' o as''' tho 90 and
mills In the woollcn district OF Yorkshire.
,Srrs i, ,6 not S ons o o insm b 1h1l san an sSS% nesma m,lh
cSiors. He shortly aiterwsrd backed up his
fo~t opinion by making an offer to our superin;
engage with him In the management OF his bust
mes. AS a manufactures OF woollcn goods.
What we need for the advancement and en-
oourag-n,,nt of national pride Is "A fair measure
Of good Judgment and common sense. whereby
buyers viii not allow themselves to, be inhaled or
goods are always made abroad. Barnnm once
b%ussed."H and Il is seif-evidenS the great show
man knew whereof he spoke. II 10 a sad re-
p pIio% t EaS. tns % n" Ss dee CO latt! ~ ioau ssKsls
salesmen who offer domestic makes under
Ne, our scif.respect and lack of patriotism
reached 50 low an ebb that the product OF our
factories must tin order to command attention.
hc placed upon the market as u foreign product
We cannot deny that such is the cIso at the
present time, and rather. on tho Increase than
OILttNlst. III ~, HtNtltAC.tsr, n ulStOuruSlnE
feature, when American manufacturer who
have placed vast sums OF money IN tho erection
OF nO,icTn factories and perfected the art OF
manufacturing textile fabrics. thereby produc.
inG cloths superior to anything now imported. 10
De thus unlnwfully deprived OF tho result OF
their own energy ana labor. Neither Is this
state OF affairs alone applicable to the. voollcn
trEac. As an Illustration quote fren The
one " the pleasant pieces OF gossip In Now York.
Slowing low the perfection OF American goods must
90 be ttly rccosnizcd. Is a. fono"s; Mrs. John
I"D 'Nr'l, w'ts OF the hg~Et CT The windsor Print
WORK OF S0rta Adams, Mass. sent TO orc OF the lead.
ms New Eori retailer. for samples Of French challies
and other RrGnch printed faIrlrs. Out Of twenty. six
samples sent her. and sup.cIod to hs fresh froin Eu.
rl', tysuty -four were foiri to hETs lrrn made In
the North Adams establishment of " hich her husband
ssscnt.
And in the general trade we find Englieh
dT.-l goods imported from jamestown, y. Y;
English brussels carpets from Clinton, Mass,
ana English smyrna rugs from Philadc! phia.
also English, you know" although produced
In Utica, Rockville. or Peacodale, or by other
mills OF note that strive to exec! in their partic-
n!ar lines. .Self.preservation being the first law
OF nature, IL seems reasonable that We defend
against this unfortunate state OF affairs.
or late years the cry Of the millions hns been
for fast black In knit goods. hose. and under
wear. Now that the Manufacture OF wooliens
in III" United States lead the world in produc-
Ing fast co!ors TOT mems wear and cloths OF eN-
cll'Ght tLnric. ttSture and design. 10 1t not an
%absurdity that tie moral courage Of American
lohbeT' and ta.!ors fails them on the home prod
ut when they continue to ioist american .1D-
Iiics upon the public as imported goods or Eng
AS you have already shown a lively interest
OIL this question. and as THE Sun shines for
AL" then lot your light 30 shine before all men
that they may SEQ your good work., and for the
therchy discover ways and means to finally OBJ
Nate and remedy this commercial evil.