Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-04-22
THE TAMPA IDEA"
KEEPS SPREADING
Mayors, Judges, Bankers, Doc.
tors, Lawyers and Others
from Maine to California Ap.
pear in Overalls

Tampa. Fla, April is.-whether the
wearing of overalls and calicos instead
of blue serges. native palm beaches. home.
spuns voiles and other expensive cloth.
Ing will bring down the high cost OF
dressing Is an experiment frst started
here. now spreading throughout the ma
ton and characterized as The Tampa
Idea"
Mayors OF cities, judges, bankers, doc.
tors. lawyers. business men and others
from Maine to California have Joined
overall Clubs" and have appeared in
public IN blue or khaki denim as a pro-
test against the high cost Of clothing
Many women have Joined the crusade
by wearing Bingham and calico gowns
Broacway and Fifth avenue, In New York
city, have been invaded by wearers OF
denim and even staid United States sena-
tors have discussed the possibility OF
donning it.
The new style movement, its origin
ators say, is dictated in the sp.yi. of
public duty and necessity ari docs not
indicate any lessening of desire on the
part of either men or women for good
and stylish apparel. They think, how
ever. that 1t is worth while to try to
popularize overalls for men and calicoes
and ginghams for women and 1t is no
secret that the feminine experimenters
are still looking for the return Of silks.
satins, organizes and the like to the
limitations Of their purses.
So it came about that Hafford Jones,
secretary of an insurance company,
started the Overals' Club Of Tampa.
Each member pledged to wear overalls
as a regular thing until clothing prices
tumbled. Hundreds have joined and many
are making good. Others say they are
keeping the pledge Just as faithfully by
taking advantage of the clause which
'allows them to wear old clothes in lieu
OF overalls-just so they do not buy any
new stuff
When the men organized the women
took up the battle. the New Thought and
Unity Club. headed by Mrs Clara Law
ton Metcaf. pledging its membership to
calico dresses. All of this had its first
public demonstration on Easter Sunday.
Men and women, correctly CARRIED to
harmonic with the new idea, gathered in
the court house square. Addresses were
made. new pledges received, and petitions
signed asking city. State and national Of
ficials to take notice and give aid Mer-
chants looked on and frowned, and later
announced that their sales had not fall
len off bit. They are not the only ones
who smile knowingly at the movement
and predict that just as the foregoing of
the lucious porterhouse steak and choice
rib roasts increased the cost of brsket,
chicken soup and rump. the abandonment
of beautiful silks and all wool garments
will raise the cost Of denims and calicoes.
This overalls business is only a fool
joke" says one Of the leading clothiers.
Just as long as folks who work for
wages demand SIS silk shirts. 50 silk neck
tics and $3.50 silk socks. they will get
them. And while they're buying that sort
of stuff you may lay your heaviest bet
on their also buying the best suits of
clothing the market affords"
The overall club, however. insists
that the war has only begun and that
they'll stick 1t out and are gaining
recruits in punches.
The movement is being taken up all
over the State. Clubs have been or
ganized at Jacksonville, Lakeland,
Center Hill and other places. If some
one would come along with a carload
of sabots the folks might buy and
take revenge on the booksellers.
A part of the Easter Sunday pro-
gram was for the denims and calicoes
to pair off and go to church. Only
few couples had the nerve to stick
it out and they presented odd Darby
and Joan contrast to besilked and be-
feathered women and tailor moulded