New-York tribune., 1918-03-17
Americanizing Dyes
Association Prepares to Meet
German Competition

Financial Editor The Tribune.
Sir: While in no way authorized to
speak officially for the Association of
American Dyestuff Manufacturers re-
Gently formed at the Chemists Club, I
feel that some notice should be taken
of the comment of one of the dealers
who were left out of that association
by reason of its having been confined to
manufacturers to the effect that "the
action taken had opened wide the door
to the German dye interests after the
war"
Before the war practically all of the
dyes used in this country were import
ed from Germany and those few dyes
made in this country were from in
termediates furnished by Germany.
This meant that the great bulk of the
business in dyes was done with textile
and other consumers in America by
dealers only.
The war cut these dealers off from
foreign supply, and while forcing many
of them to become manufacturers, it
ers," who got in by reason of the at
tractive speculative conditions created
by the enormous advance in prices of
dyes, as the few remaining pounds left
in this country changed from hand to
hand without the consumer having
either the opportunity or the nerve to
use up such valuable material in so
prosaic an operation as dyeing cloth.
Americans on Mettle
American industry, manufacturing
ability and chemical engineering being
put upon its mettle and backed at last
by American capital, has finally put on
& manufacturing basis practically ali
the dyes formerly imported, so that,
with the exception Of a few shades, the
use of which was so limited as to rem
der it inadvisable to devote the neces-
sary research to their production, but
which will come along in due course,
practically all the dyes and interme-
dates are now being produced in this
country by American institutions, the
quality and the ultimate price at which
they can be sold comparing favoraby
with anything imported prior to the
war.
These conditions, crystallized as they
will be 10y an Association of American
Dye Manufacturers working on the
theory that true competition, while the
life of trade, is actually fostered by
cooperation without combination or re-
straint of trade, will bring this great
industry to a self-contained American
status where the consumer will be able
to depend upon the highest quality OF
merchandise at prices compatible with
American working conditions.
The only way in which German prod
ucfs can injure this industry will be by
a repetition of their old practices in all
lines of merchandise in which they sue
'cessfully held control before the war,
which consisted in making the price on
any article threatened by American
competition just as low as was neces-
sary to drive the American producer
cut Of business, with the subsequent
advance making good their losses.
That American buyers of dyes or any
other products viii ever again be so
short sighted as to permit such stu
alton to come about hardly seems pos
sible. and the temper of American bust
ness and political leaders seems to in
sure such legislation as will surely
prevent any such repetition.
It therefore seems that such an as
sociation as has been formed is prop
erlv confined in the outset to actual
manufacturers of "Amcrican dyes for
American dyers." 1t goes without say
ing that this association will gradually
be broadcned in It's scope to ultimately
include associate membership for all
consumers Of and dealers in American
dves. as we'll as all manufacturers Of
and dealers in machinery, chemicals
, ana all the manifold lines colatcrally
interested in the ultimate and pcrma,
rent success Of the American dycstuf
industry.
Aiding the Enemy
It is safe to assume that no deale,
or other person who has truly at heart
the gucce4s and pcrmancncy Of that in
duztry will be found trying to bring
aid and comfort TO the German manu-
. facturcrs after the war simply by rea-
son of having been by the propricties
of the occasion left out Of the prclinI-
nary organizations Of the association.
On the other hand, any dealer or
other person or interest who does after
ihc var give such aid and comfort TO
the German manufacturers at the ex'
pense Of the American industry will by
that very act absolutely demonstrate
how fitting and proper it was TO nave