The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-20
TIE GERMANS
Still IGTETING
Germany Has Perfected Plans
to Destroy the American
Dye Industry
eBy Dir. Charles H. Herty in tt

Dye INDUSTRY
fBy DIR. Charles H. Herty in The
Manufacturers Record.)
fDr.. Eerty has recently returned
from Europe, where he went on a
mission, approved by President Will
son, to ascertain what could be done
tosmake enough vat dyes available to
meet the needs Of American consum-
erS He also acted as a technical ad-
s.iser for Reparation Commission in
Paris. DR.. Herty was in touch with
the dye situation fre:n various angles,
aad came into direct contact with the
heads OF several Of the German color
plants. He had the good fortune to
set in touch also with Mr.. Irving A.
Keene, chairman of the Advisory Com
naittee on Drugs, Chemicals and
Isaestufs of the American Chamber
s Commerce in London. Mr.. Keene
had given out statement in which
hes declared that he had visited the
German factories and had found that
they were not manufacturing dyes II
SUFFICIENT quantities to be a menace to
the industry In the United States. Dr.
Herty discovered that Mr.. Keene was
not familiar even with the names OF
important standard dyes; that he had
no definite data; that he had never
heard OF the Badische plant; that he
had not gone through any ware
houses at all, and that it would have
been Of no benefit if he had, as he
.s.would not have known dye from
soap box" Yet the Keene statement
was given wide. publicity, as such re-
ports usually are, and the correction
is only now being made.
on dye matters DR.. Herty speaks
with authority. and there is no Amer
iean better acquainted than he is
swith the German plans for destroying
the, American dye industry. The fol
towing article is part Of an address re-
Gently delivered by. DR.. Herty before
the Washington section Of the Amer
lean. Chemical Society.-Editor Of the
Manufacturers Record:
Germany stands ready to seize
again the dye trade of the world and
TO stiae American competition unless
adequate legislation is passed. The
threat to the American dye interests
that is, to both the dye consumers and
the dye producers, lies in the fact that
until American manufacturers can
take care of all the American needs
Germany can charge extortionate
prices for those dyes which we do
not manufacture. She is manufac-
turing dyes on a large scale, and be-
cause OF the present low valuation OF
the raark. she. will be able to under
bid the american, dye. producer in an
open. competitive market. The only
solution OF this problem is legislation
shr congress and the introduction Of a
license. system until the American
Manufacturers are able to supply all
our, needs and to meet the competi-
ton Of. Germany. Congress before it
adjourned adopted a resolution ex-
tending, so far as dyes are concern
ca, the license control of the Var
Trade Board until January Is. This
act would, lapse with the announce
ment OF peace, and in the meantime.
without passing the Longworth BILL
tie American dye industry would be
at the mercy Of the Germans:
When 7 visited the Badische plant
recently smoke was issuing from II
OF the IA chimneys OF that gigantic
chemical and dye. mandatory, and
the executives at the plant We're in a
very comfortable mood. In the first
fey, minutes Of our interview with
those officials Director Krell volun-
teered the information that already
sthe lines had broken at home and he
had in hand orders from individual
consumers with the authority from
the United States government to
ship supplies through their American
agents to the consumer.
..Yes," said Director Krell, 1--WE are
going to get back our old business in
America. and through the medium of
our former agencies"
we sat listening to this statement
In the Offices of the chief plant Of that
great combination of manufacturers
whose former control Of our dyestuff
supplies had led Won Bernstorfff to
suggest to the Kaiser that through
shutting OFF these supplies he could
throw 4,eeo, 600 Americans out of
employment; perhaps in the very
room where millions had been voted
to- corrupt American industrial life;
and near the spot where tons Of ma
ter:al had been produced for poison
gas by whose fatal action many gal
liant douhgboy had gone Vest and
now sleeps beneath the soil Of France.
Everywhere there were signs Of ac-
tiyfty. The industrial war was on.
The words of Director Kren left no
Doubt about that.
The same confidence characterized
the industrial German as had been
recorded by the military German III
his first advance through Belgium, the
same utter contempt shown Of Amer
ican capacity to do things as was re-
yealed during 1917. But 1918 show
sea. that the German had missed his
guess, and make the prediction that