Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-06
FLAGS FOR The WORLD.
America Supplies Flags for Europ
Asia and Africa.

America Supplies Flags for Europe,
Asia and Africa.
To many Of the gorgeous British BAN
ners that will float in the breeze when
| King Edward VII. rides to the scene of
the coronation ceremonies, there should
be attached this legend:
:.
/: MADE IN THE UNITED STATES. /:
1t is not the least of the many aston
fishing things about the commercial
progress Of this country that the gov
ernments of the world are coming to
it for their national emblems.
In a Philadelphia factory a large
force of men and women are kept busy
thei year around cutting out, sewing
and finishing the ensigns Of Great Bril-
tain, France. Germany, Egypt, Canada
and even Australia.
In the stock room the name of almost
every country in the globe is seen on
the receptacles for the finished flags,
and the most gorgeous ensigns that
f1utter are packed ready for shipment
to firms in European capitals.
The yellow dragon flag of China, the
gorgeous double eagle ensign Of Aus
tria, the tri-color of France, the Union
Jack Of old England and the green
flag of Erin mingle together in dazzling
colors on the counters of this room.
Later on these flags may be run up
at the peaks of hostil ships and defend
ed with the lifeblood Of their crews. AT
present they are mere bits of bunting
to be sold in the markets Of the earth.
In the factory little reverence is felt
toward these foreign flags. The banner
that may one day be handed to a crack
British regiment amid the cheers of the
people and wit hall the pomp of mill
tary display represents to the girl Who
hens it at a sewing machine merely so
much money for work done. The artist
who outlines the coat of arms in the
center of the flag, the boy who ham
mers in the eyelets, the women who
sort the flags and pack them in bundles,
and the statesmen who dispose of them
to the agents of foreign forms and gov
ernments. all regard h output Of the
factory as SO much mercandise, but
possessing none of the elements Of ro-
nance.
To Americans it is almost %inconceiv-
able that foreign nations of the might
Of England and Germany can be so
lacking in pride as to permit competi-
tors from the new world to carry off
the trade in their national emblems.
The reason is that, tho England, for
instance, with her cheap labor, can
make bunting at a smaller cost than we
can here, the methods employed in this
country are so superior to those abroad
that we can actually make and sell the
finished flag at a much less cost tina
can the English.
Flags are no longer made In Ameri-
ca by the old method Of cutting strips
Of bunting of the color required for the
various parts of the nag and then sew
ing these ~varicolored pieces together.
The flag is made in one piece of a
twentieth century process. First the
design is marked out by an artist and
the color is then dyed in, every tint be-
ing made indelible, so that the flag will
Withstand all tests of weather.
There is little wonder hat this new
style nag, made in one piece, with the
i G1tAa ASil AlIASo ~
the bunting. should carry all before 1t
in the markets Of the world. The old
banners, whose stitched parts fell
apart, were not to be compared with
the American product, which contains
no stitches except in the hem.
First England turned to us for flags.
Then the continental nations were in
duced to buy, and in time still other
nations bought, until the expectation
Of foreign flags became an important
industry.
1t is nothing to boast of that we sell
to Canada great quantities of flags,
British banners and banners of the Do
minion. 1t is but natural that we should
have the flag trade Of the South Ameri-
can republics. But that the flags float
ing over the government buildings at
Melbourne, Sydney, Calcutta and Cape
Town should have been made in the
United States Is a triumph for our
commercial progress that is far more
significant than the mere intrinsic val
ne of the goods supplied would suggest.
Besides the larger flags purchased for
display purposes by foreign govern
,ments and dealers, great numbers of
smaller flags Of special designs are fur
rished to European firms for yacht
clubs, fraternal orders and quasi
military organizations.
VIENNA.
49,. @ Nice nia11 or1 Mrs. T q NO l