The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-08-05
FEWER BUTTONS;
GARMENTS Hit
Those Worn by Men to BE Scarce
Less Difficulty For Women
May Not Need A. Many
a. Formerly

NEW YORK, Aug. "a certain
amount of controversy has been
sroused by statements made recently
regarding scarcity OF buttons,
which il was said. would cause
rise in the prices of that almost In
dispcnsabIe artNla In order to clear
I'D the points that have been mace
regarding this matter. several ieaa-
ing button manufacturers and dear
ers have been consulted ON the MAJ
ter, and their opinions In regard 70
the several kinds Of buttons now IN
use, particularly for mems wear, ana
generally for womens garments, VIII
give the actual facts in the case
Investigation proves that there ID
tn truth shortage In buttons OF mo
most useful variety, though this may
be offset to some measure by the
fact that labor shortage and Wooi
shortage may reduce to certain ex'
tent the production of the garments
that would need as many buttons as
in former seasons
There are six kinds OF material
used to manufacture the buttons In
general use on the clothing OF men
and women-ivory, pearl, bone, horn.
ceIluloid and composition. These VIII
be taken up in their order and the
various points made about them
Ivory buttons, made from the South
American corozo nut, arc used largo
ly ON mems suits. There Is An en-
barge on these nuts on account o.
the scarcity Of shipping The govern
ment allowed $4,000 tons OF them
to be imported after July I, and these
arrived early in tho month. No moro.
to all appearances, will be allowed
to come in this year. OF that amount,
the government Is to use 10000 tons
for the army, and the waste from the
buttons made for civilian use This
will not leave much to spare The
government demand Is for 100000
gross Of three sizes OF ivory buttons.
Due to the scarcity OF labor and
the fact that many western rivers
ON which the pearl button supply DO
ponds have been closed to mussel
fishing, in order to replenish the
beds. there Is a distinct shortage IN
this commodity, % much SO that the
statement has beon mado that a
ligne buttons may soon go up to
cent apiece. These are tho buttons
commonly used on the better grade
of shirt They are also used ON sum
mer fabric suits.
buttons used on cheaper suits, where
they don't show. Trouser buttons,
on the inside flap OF the garment
and suspender buttons are Of TINS
kind. They are white and are not
suitable for use in places where they
show, unless under the stress OF alb
solute necessity.
Horn buttons are made OF English
horn and are quite expensive. They
are used almost exclusively On mems
suits of the better class. This is the
most expensive button used for mems
clothing, and it is also very scarce
due to the fact that few of them are
being imported at present A goot
many Of them are made in this com
try, but the labor shortage has GU
down their output considerably.
/ CeIluloid buttons are used alto
eether on women's clothes. Thu
suggestion is advanced that the rea
son they are never used on men!
clothing is because of their milan
! inability, which would be dangerou:
! for smokers. They are made in r1an!
/ forms for wonen's wear, and can b'
made decorative to a high degree.
Composition buttons have beer
found unsatisfactory for any but th'
l cheaper grade Of mems suits. Tha'