South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-31
TO HAVE MARK FOR
AMERICAN GOODS
National Trade Mark viii
Protect Manufacturers
Combat Enemy Goods.
Associated Press Service

Associated Press Service
WASHINGTON. May A ma
tional Trademarks for protection OF
American goods abroad and 10 in
sure a high standard of quality will
/ be available for the use OF manu-
facturers in the United States when
congress agrees on bills now pend
ing 10 authorize the department OF
commerce TO design such an emolem
and regulate its use.
Made in Germany" goods and
the insidious propaganda accom-
panying that notorious mark Will be
combatted after the war by the
American sign. standing for an hon
est product and square dealing 10
all.
The trademark viii be pictorial
or symbolic. recognize bic in ali
countries regardless of the language
spoken. The printed mark Made
in L. ). A. which some manufac-
turers have been using, was round
10 mean nothing TO millions of for
eigners. TO Chinese for instance,
VINO speak only their native tongBe.
American consular officials fre-
quently have urged that Made in
L. S. A" should be written on the
/ goods also in the language OF the
country where they were TO be sold
Another objection to the printed
mark has been that it was subject
TO misinterpretation in British
countries. where it might be taken
10 mean Made in Union of South
Africa" or Made in United States
| OF Australia"
Must Meet Standards.
While the first necessity for such
a trademark is to protect Ameri-
/ can goods in foreign countries.
very important effect of its use will
| be TO insure that manufactures sold
| in interstate commerce are kept up
20 standard and are in fact what
they are represented 10 be by sales
men or by advertising 1t is the
present intention Of the department
of commerce TO restrict the use OF
the proposed national trademark 10
such manufacturers and in connec-
ton with such commodities as will
meet certain standards of trade
practice as well as of quality
The proposal for a national trade
mark has the endorsement of Pres't
! Wilson. TO whom Sec'y Redfield sub
mitted the first bill for suggestions
! before it was introduced in con-
gress Sec'y Lane and Sec'y Hous-
ton also have been actively inter-
ested in the bill Numerous com
mercial organizations. private citi-
zens and trade papers have ap-
proved the idea.
Aid Small Manufacturers.
Many small manufacturers are
unable TO enter the export market
because they cannot afford to go TO
| the expense of protecting their
trademark in the foreign markets.
To these manufacturers permission
to use a national Trademarks at a
nominal fee would be a great boon.
| if such mark was protected by the
government throughout the world.
er manufacturers who have had
/ their own trade marks pirated in
/ one or more foreign countries In
such countries these large manufsc-
turers need only place the national
/ emblem upon their products. The
/ foreign consumer, therefore, will
soon recognize that even goods
bearing an American private brand
are not necessarily American. UNI
/ less such brand is accompanied oy
the national trademark
Small manufacturers are now at
quite a disadvantage as compared
with large manufacturers because
of the inability Of the latter TO ex-
! pend huge sums in nationally ad-
vertising their products. The quasi
monopoly secured in this way by
large manufa cturers will be TO a
very large extent vitiated by per-
hitting small manufacture of in
tegrity TO use upon his goods Of
recognized quality the national SYM
Dol which. will be freely advertised
/ throughout the world 10 far
greater extent than any private
trade mark ever could be.
American goods rather than
Americans and their persons. are
TO be the correct means of winning
| friends for this country" in the
opinion Of officials The national
trade symbol if properly exploited
and used should enable US 10 reach
markets and people as We have