New-York tribune., 1919-09-16
Vat Cofors
To the Editor of The Tribune.

Q the Ed1tOr OF 1 ne rl9une.
rIR: The attention Of this committee has
been called to several articles appearing
in the press referring 70 the posi-
ton taken by the shir. manufacturers in
their recent appeal for relief OF the vat
dye situation on shirtings made to tn 81
War Trade Board.
At the meeting IN Washington August
% the dye manufacturers were repre-
sented by Mr.. Poucher, of the Dupont
company, and Mr.. Watson, of the National
Aniline Company, also Mr.. Garvan. Alien
Property Custodian and president Of the
Chemical Foundation, present
1t was the unanimous opinion Of all pres
ent that there Is critical shortage of va1
dyes, and the War Trade Board formu
lated the plan Of sending DR.. Herty to|
Europe to arrange for the importation Of
a SIX months supply, thereby sustaining 3
tho appeal and views Of the snrt manu-
facturers.
This committee respectfully recommends
that the Philadelphia gentleman who sugs
gests hidden motives in the shirt manu-
facturers' appeal published in .hrI
Daily News Record Of September Q. traIs1
fer his remarks 20 Mr.. Garvan. who was|
present at the meeting and who Is con-
versant with the shortage of vat dyes and
recognized the Importance Of immediate red
lief.
Perhaps the Philadelphia shirt buyer ID
ignorant Of the fact that the majority of
the better class Of cotton shirts manufact-|
ured at present and during the period
havo German colors employed in them, asj
the industry has been Kept running by 81
supply on hand when the importation en-
barge took effect, supplemented by small
lot brought in by the German subnlarins|
Deutschland before this country entered
the war, and few from Switzerland. III
is this supply that has given out and the
need Of replenishirg same until the Amert-
can manufacturers have produced thol
needed vat colors is the reason for the
shirt manufacturers appeal.
Referring TO the article appearing in the
Daily News Record September i. first para
graph of which read: "1n further contra
dlction of the position taken by shirt manu-
facturers that American dyes are not fast
interests behind the Fifth Annual Exposr
tlon Of Chemical Industries have issued al
statement to the effect that dyes have been
produced to meet practically all demands,
that they fast as the best of German
dyes, and superior to the German product
in some respects"
Mr.. Poucher, Of the Dupont company
in his remarks at the Washington meeting
stated that the American dye manufactur-
ers' product was equal or superior, type for
type, to the German dyes, but that vat
colors were not yet ready IN suitclens
quantity for commercial use. Mr.. wilson
concurred in this. stating that vat colors
were IN process Of preparation by the Ma
tional Aniline Company Mr.. Poucher sup
pemented his remarks II referring TO type
r type, stating that his meaning was
American color of thae same class, and
that the experiments with American vat
colors proved them equal to the German var
colors. but, as stated above none OF "nicn
are obtainable at the present time IN SUI
ficient quantity for commercial purp
This committee has gone on record ssI
being in sympathy with the American dys
manufacturers, and wants fabrics with
American vat dyes employed just as soon |
they are ready. They feel that mor
should be used in statements to the
press and to the public, whereby the !eav-
ing out Of descriptive terms, such as type
for type stating what the meaning was
is misleading to the reader. doing an 10
justice to all parties concerned.
R. HUNTER.
Chairman Dyes Committee. the Nationa
Association Of Shirt Manufacturers.
New York. Sept. l3.