Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-26
FAMINE IN COLORS ALARMS
Retailers Fear They win Be Unable
: Presently to Guarantee Dyed
. Fabrics.
CAMPAIGN FOR WHITE GOODS

Despite the best efforts Of the Amer
Scan dyestuffs industry. persons generally
will have 70 get along with less color IN
wearing apparel effects while an addi-
uonal deprivation TO be encountered prob
ably within a few weeks will be the cir
rumstance that retail stores will no
lonser be in a position 20 warrant many
FABRICS as dyed with lasting colors. In
short. the embargo on German dyestuffs
as result Of the European war has at
last reached the point where the ulu-
mate consumer will be called upon 60
exercise patience and an unusual degree
uf iorcbearance with his tradesman when
it comes to purchasing all sorts OF wear
ing apparel. house furnishings and all
articles Of everyday use into which col
orinE enters.
Secretary OF State Lansing has been
unable to find a workin= arrangement
acceptable alike TO the British and Ger
man governments While II was an
nounced rom Washington the other day
that Great Britain was willing to per-
NIT two cargoes from Germany worth
s5.OO00O0 60 como to this country, Ger
many maintained the attitude adhered
TO consistently. that no colors would be
exported until Great Britain agreed TO
let the dyestuffs be paid for in Amer
sc=n cotton.
The present deadlock thus IL identical
with the situation prevailing when the
last shipload OF dyes reached New York
more than a year ago. In the mean
time. however American dyestuffs manu-
facturers already in the business OF max
ing coiors before the war began enlisted
the aid of financial interests, and added
greatly to their former facilities in the
shape Of new and enlarged plants
strenuous efforts were also made by
Thomas A. Edison. and large industrial
corporations such as the United states
steel corporation the Du Pont Powder
company and other interests to get out
the chief Intermediates used in produe-
ing coal tar colors.
Inconvenience to Public.
II seemed 20 be agreed that notwith-
standing the splendid denomination made
by American enterprise TO build up al
most Immediately new industry in this
country intended to be free and indepen-
dent OF European color products, It VIII
he impossible TO carry the project to ui-
timate complete success without at least
temporary period Of Inconvenience 70
the buying public. This period. It was
asserted yesterday. is now at hand, with
the prospect that It will be extended
over the rest of the year.
DR. Thomas II. Norton, the govern
ment's dyestuff expert, said that IN view
of the burdens under which American
manufacturers OF all kinds OF wearing
apparel, and other goods, were lisboring.
ultimate consumers must adopt a sym
pathetic attitude.
Manufacturers. for example," he said.
''are practiclng a most rigid economy in
the use OF color compounds. This IL ex-
empnfied in the use OF pencil lines for
heavy stripes. in the substitution OF OUT
line designs for conventional patterns re-
uuiring extravagant quantities of color.
and in analogous directions. There Is
also a decided tendency TO urge the wear
ing Of white articles OF apparel. Unless
the American public is willing TO see our
textile interests thrown completely out OF
gear, there must be a most pronounced
spirit OF compromise and adaptation on
tho part Of the ultimate consumer.
''whims. fancies and fads OF the past
must disappear This viii take a vast
burden of anxiety from the shoulders OF
taiIors milliners. and dresmakerA They.
in turn. can make more easily their oon-
tracts with the retailer. He can deal
with the greater certainty ana assurance
with the jobber The relations of tho
latter with the manufacturer will bo
vastly simplified and he can with m
creased confidence order supplies 20 be
handled six months or a year hence"
Urge simple ColOra.
AS Indicative Of what can be done in
this direction. the woman's National
Made In Z. s. A. league. with headauar-
ters IN Washington. was cited. Mrs.
James NJ. Thompson, daughter OF Speaker
Clark. who Is chairman OF the executive
committee OF the league. has Just sent
out an appeal to its 10000 members 10
wear simple colors during the coming
spring and summer as solution for the
uncertainties Of the dyestuffa situation" "
Hats now being shown for the coming
season are refiectinR the color scarcity
and are made in light shades. particu-
latly grays and natural mixtures of furs
requiring no dyes. Soft hats which can
be made in the lighter and natural col
orings will. Il was predicted. supplant
very largely the derby hat for which
black dyes are necessary.
The ramificatlons OF the dyestuffs
shortage will probably be felt In the
iaundies. as the Laundrymens Nationa
Association Of America has sent out
warning TO Its members ureing them e
exert pressure on customers TO make al
wido use as possible of white goods th'
next few months.-New York Times.