The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-01
NO TIGHT LACING.
The Corset Industry
Will Not BE Drawn
Together.
POOR SUCCESS FOR PROMOTERS.
Manufacturers Set Too High
a Price on Their
Plants.
POOR SUCCESS FOR PROMOTERS.

At present the outlook for corset
trust seems decidedly dubious.
According to the views of a New York
man intimately acquainted with all
branches of the corset business, there
isn't the ghost of show for success
full combine.
Two of the largest manufacturers in
the country, Weingarten Bros. Of
Newark, N. j., manufacturers of the
"W. B." goods, and L Newman, man
ufacturer of the "P. W. corset, with
factory in New Haven and headquar-
tiers in New York city have not given
options on their stock, and have re-
fused persistently to go into the trust.
The Roth Golshmidt Company is an
other firm which has named figure
so high as to prove seemingly indigesti-
BILE for the trust promoters.
Thus far there has been little or no
progress in development of the com
bine, and from the present outlook there
seems little chance of its development.
The New York man, whose name is
withheld for obvious reasons, says one
| significant fact which leads TO his rea-
soning, is that there is not sufficient fl
nancial backing behind the men most
| interested in the formation of a COM
bine to carry it through.
In fact, so far as this man has been
able to learn, none of the principal
manufacturers of the country have ex-
| pressed themselves as anxious to get
/ into the trust, neither have they come
forward actively in its development
/ From what he is able to gather Charles
7. Root, a leading trades journal man,
is the principal figure in the movement
| and the scheme originated with him
and few others.
| Another significant fact noted is that
John M. Gill and Frederick Wright, the
men who visited Worcester, have beer
west for nearly two weeks, endeavoring
| to interest western manufacturers; but
nothing has been learned of their pro.
gress as yet. 1t is understood, how
ever that western men are holding out
and those who have named a figure
/ haEe set d price so high as to make
purchase prohibitive.
Still another manufacturer who does
| not favor the combine, says that ne
would like nothing better than to see
the trust formed, because it would be
to the advantage of those outside.
As a matter of fact, most corset man
ufaeturers consider the business a good
one and are perfectly contented 20
continue as they are at present. Ac-
cording To the last census, about 3d.
1000 was invested in corset business
of the country. At present the amount
represented is roughly estimated at SILL
000D00. Men intimately acquainted
with the business say that it will re-
quqire S20,0o0000 at least to gain con-
troll of this property, and that from the
present outlook promoters of the trust
will be obliged to back down from lack
of financial backing.
The option on Mr.. Fanning's stock in
the Worcester Corset company expires
October 1, and. unless unforeseen devel-.
opments take place during the coming
month, there seems little doubt but
that the option will be forfeited
Talk of a trust brings to mind a sim
liar organization which was attempted
some 10 or IL years ago, in which the
Worcester Corset company played
part. This combine lasted a, few weeks
and then died natural DEATH Wheth-
er the present movement is the wrath
of the old combine which has arisen
from its grave and is stalking about
the country. or something more tangi-
BILE, remains for time to determine.