The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-29
Do 1t NoW
and Why

NOot VI WOOiCh SOOAo, eAs$
dalously vile authorizations now
taking place in the Clothing in
dustry. In every instance the
advice has been to buy now for
future needs.
still say so-and, if possible,
more emphatically.
Listen to this:
Last week l visited what will
perhaps be one of the largest
army environments (nOt Fort
Riley in America. CHARTERED
there were hundreds of enlisted
men and officers, drilling and
performing military duties
getting ready for the fray in
France-WITHOUT THE SEM
BLANCE OF A UNIFORM.
The reason: The government
has no clothing ready for imme-
date delivery.
The cause: America, in the
past three years, has sold to the
Allies every pound of surplus
cloth, blankets and clothing.
America has NO SURPLUS.
More than this, we face the con-
dition as follows:
America annually uses $50
million pounds of raw wool. We
only produced 40 million in the
country in 1916. We have, here
tofOre, imported from South
America and Australia enough
raw material to make the differ
ence. Since the war begun, our
imports from the two countries
named, declined steadily, for two
reasons. At the beginning of
the war, England placed an en-
barge on shipments of Austria
liam wool to America, compelling
her colonies to sell the wool to
England in order that the West
of England factories might
continue uninterruptedly the
making of cloth. America has
had no Australian wool for two
years, until last week when Eng
land released Is million pounds
FOR u. S. ARMY PURPOSES.
Do you get it?
Then begun the submarine
warfare, and destruction of ship
ping. English vessels were busy
carrying food stuffs to Europe,
and our South America imports
fell as England's need for food
increased. Consequently we have
had only small consignments of
South American wool since Kais-
er Bill begun his undersea cam
paign.
can hear you say, why don't
America use it's ships?
America has no ships-to
speak of.
If America had to depend on
American bottoms for it's food
supply, you would not be reading
this-yOu and / would have long
since gone the way of all flesh.
know this is long story, but
read it.
Believe me, it's worth while.
Here is where YOU come in.
The government has comman-
deered every ounce of wool pro-
duced in this country in 1916.
Our boys at the front cannot
fight in Khaki in winter-and
there is no substitute for wool.
Military necessity knows no
law, except to GET it.
Therefore, our American fac
tories will make military cloth
and blankets instead of fabrics
for civilian clothing. 1t means
that we fellows at home must
give way, lay aside our "style"
instinct, and accept the newt
able of wearing "what we can
get" Every dollars worth of
new goods produced henceforth
for civilian consumption in this
country must of necessity be
made of old wool shoddy, mixed
with cotton and inferior woods
not suitable for the army.
Some prospect!
Two years ago / bought
enough yardage to take care of
our trade for this year and part
of next. l oWn this cloth at the
old price. 1t is in the store made
up into "Collegian" Clothes
and in nearly every instance AT
THE PRICE YOU USED TO
PAY. If you are wise, you will
take time by the foreIOck and
come here whilst you may yet
buy them from a RELIABLE