The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-13

compete unlOJInlty III WoHldn uTesS
ready under way. The clothing trades
revolution in the word standardized
ton This is the master word Of the
war.
Applied to automobiles. it has proved
the master formula for success in
times of peace. Applied to airplanes.
it may win the war for America. APP
piled to clothes, well. business Is GER
tainly going to be anything but usual.
Then the question comes, will mi
lady stand for the change? A few
years ago one would have answered
Yes. when the sun ceases to shine
not before" But the war has changed
all that. Women are now working in
overalls in thousands Of munitions fac
tories. They are ringing up fares on
street cars and wiping engines In rail-
road yards. They are struggling for
the privilege OF wearing the Red Cross
nurses UNIFORM.
In Other Countries.
Germany has successfully eliminated
the woman's dearest privilege-shop-
ping. Bargain sales are prohibited and
one must wear old clothes until the
longer. While 1t Is not pleasant to
cite anything German as an example
for ourselves, yet If the war lasts long
enough. what has come to that coun-
try may and will be applicable to us.
France has struggled to hold onto
her great dress- making industry for
its after-the-war value, but the leather
shortage has driven the French women
to uniform footwear If the struggle
goes on, uniformity In other wear will
become an economic necessity-and to
none has feminine finery been more
sacred than to the women of the great
European republic.
Standardization in Britain.
Great Britain has already started
upon the road of national STANDARDIZED
ton in the matter of dress for her
women. A director of wool texture
production has been appointed, and
already. he proposes to cut down the
number of weaves and patterns and to
put on the market only a few standard
lied cloths. They are to be all Of one
type, with n very few patterns. These
are to be furnished to the manufac-
turers of ladies' suits and cloaks at
fixed prices.
He is to sell to the retailer at fixed
price AMI the retailer. likewise. will
dispose OF his stock to the consumer at
fixed price. In this way Britain ex-
poets to put all Of her population in
warm, we'll made sl2 suits.
Wars Most Effective Gun.
This is going To the extreme. you
say, and you protest volubly. Yes,
il is the extreme. but the war must
he won. and as was said before. eco
nomic efficiency Ia the largest caliber.
most effective and destructive gun we
can train upon our adversary in this
conflict OF world dimensions.
But. women Of America--women Of
Montana-women OF Missouia-did you
ever stop to think that you have uncon-
seiously become the greatest camou.
flage artists in the world-you and
the French? Remove the eamouflage-
rob your dresses Of their eolors and
strip them Of their furbeiows and their
lines would remain straightfron.. or
hipiess. or hourglass, or bouffantly
hustled, according to the date of max
ing.
Change Should Be Easy.
Woman has always insisted OH wear
ing her skirt long or short, scant or
full, tast as the design .rs decided for
her. She has left il to the corset
makers to decide whether her waist
should be wasp or natural, high or low
She has put on silk or wool. cotton
or linen. velvet, fur or chiffon. exactly
az the commercial interests Of the
country have dictated. Therefore any
lightning change should be easy for ner
even to a national uniform. sh ,uld war
impose that duty.
Women are no less patriotic than
men,. They are willing to make the
sacrifices that are necessary and IL :,
comes to tine showdown. where they
see that to standardize their garments
they are going to contribute to the sue
cess of American arms. little persua
SION will be necessary to accomplish
the STEP
efficiency Will Decide.
Government control of railroads a
year ago seemed one of the thing.
farthest from accomplishment Toda,
that control Is here. II the war coN-
tinues long enough to demonstrate tina
efficiency Is more nearly attained will