South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-27
South Bend Manufacturers Say
War Situation Can Be Bridged
Locally If People Are Brave

What is worrying u.s." said s. A.
Niles, secretary of the company, lis
where we are going TO get our dyes.
Ordinarily they come from Germany,
and we have a supply for a couple of
months on hand, but after that, unless
there is lifting Of embargos we are
likely to be somewhat crippled
Meanwhile, according to Mr.. Niles, the
mills are operating in the hope that
things will clear up and a way out
OF it be devised,
Sales Are Running Short.
Manufacturers are also cautious in
laying in their stocks of goods. ac-
cording to Mr.. Niles: buying just what
they need, ami but little more. They
seem TO be feeling their way. This
is not such a bad omen, If the future
could only be digested. The plant is
hanging on and will meet the situa-
ton as best IL can.
The South Bend Chilled Pillow works
is in about the same position as the
Oliver people, only their foreign trade
was less extended 1t is believed at
the plant that the domestic trade will
keep up though n is expected that
the competition will be made some
what keener.
The South Bend Toy works. already
the largest toy factory in the United
by the war situation, Germany being
the worlds greatest toy producing
country. The company is planning to
extend its operations along some new
lines. 'since the children must have
toys" says ]. y. Zeal. land if they
can't get them from Germany we will
have to see what can be done toward
producing them here"
The toy factory ordinarily employs
L -
number may be increased is not
known. but it is certain that none of
these will be left jobless on account
OF the European war.
Singer People Nom CommittaI.
Authorities at the Singer Sewing
machine plant declined TO give out any
statement but it is known from other
sources that much of their scare that
followed the outbreak of the war is
now fizzling out. The Singers have
a large export trade and the countries
involved in the war are among their
principal foreign patrons. According
ly when the news of armed conflict
came, and with il the attendant dan
gers of the sea, a considerable force
Of mer are said to have been laid off
at the factory, but many of these
have since been taken back
Week before last this reduced force
worked four days at eight hours.
Last week five days of 10 hours
were put in by larger force and
this week promises a full six days.
1t is probable that the Singers have
received word similar to that which
has come to other factories. that the
sea IS TO be cleared and commerce
resumed, much dependence being
made, perhaps, on the use of bot
toms flying the American flag under
the new merchant marine registra
ton law.
There is little TO sewing machine
that could be construed as cOntraband
of war, and if there is a buying mar
ket-anyOne left with money TO buy
machines-outsiders claiming a pass
ing acquaintance with the Singer stu
alton, are expressing the belief that
the local plant will De considerable
less affected thar wes at first sup
posed.
Varnish Factory Optimistic.
The only way the war can affect
us is on raw material. which we i'm
port" says George O'E:rien, vice-presi-
dent of the q trlen Narnish Co. 1--WE
import raw materials from Germany
and England in the main, and from
Germany in particular, but anticipat-
ing the kaiser we have been prepar-
ing for this situation since the Span
lSu-AIneIlCdn WdTs CdlCuldllnS never
to get tied up again as we were then.
In consequence we have a six-months
supply and expect that by that time
commerce will have resumed and we
will be able to keep going"
The O'Briens import their raw ma
terials but sell here in this country.
They have no export trade at all. The
local trade is reported good, the house
is doing a good business, and they
are looking for no considerable halt
plans are already under way by
which we will be able to get raw ma
terials when we need them" said
Mr.. O'Brien, speaking for his COM
pany- We wouldn't be surprised if
they were carried in English or Ger
man bottoms as in the past. There
is nothing contraband about these
gums that we get. The sea will be
cleared. The outlook, of course, is a
trifie more hay than as if all were
peace. but | do not believe that as
a whole there is the least need Of
South Bend being seriously affected
by this war"
Such is the local situation from the
manufacturers viewpoint. and as pre-
scented by the city's leaders in those
lines. They are not ali sunshine, but
quite as far from all gloom, and lead
ZIP TO the suggestion that the reader,
if inclined to be pessimistlc, go back
and read the first four or five para
graphs over again-and then be
thankful that he is not over in Eu-
rope, target and a dupe of kings.