The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-02-10
Virgin Wool and Rag Shoddy

Livestock growers, packers and
meat dealers may be counted on to
actively combat anti-propaganda and
to encourage meat consumption. Milk
producers, distributors and condens-
ers have all done excellent work to
their own profit and to the benefit of
the children of the country by their
various campaigns to increase the con-
sumption or milk. These are exam
pies that the wool grower, manufac-
turer and dealers IN wool fabrics and
ready-to-wear could all follow to ad
vantage. Why not talk the merits Of
all-v1rgin wool clothes, underclothing
and dress materials?
We are led to talk virgin WOOL by
little story told by a Wayne county
farmer who has fondness for COM
fortinG, Atwood winter underwear
WELL" he said, after shopping
around lot, bought a couple of
suits. supposedly the real thing, buy
ing rather large size to allow for
the natural shrinkage after a few
washings.
But shoddy that may have been
worked over time or two in it's ca
reer from weaver to ragbag will not
shrink. BY that token | know the
kind of Atwood | am now wearing
stuff costing rag dealers prices at
the shoddy mills and SO or 81 per
pound on the retailers counter, or
else there is world of cotton instead
of shoddy in the garments
Truth-in-Fabrics Bill
The truth-in-fabrics bill, introduced
at the present session of congress. is
designed to protect against such all
wool" sales. for wool shoddy is still
wool, also it is still shoddy, no mat
ter how used or advertised We be-
lieve, too. that many retail merchants
have been almost as badly fooled, at
times, as have their customers in the
purchase of such lines during scarcity
of first-class woolens.
Why Not Advertise Wool?
In the frozen North nature provides
warm furs for comfort and health. In
this climate the warmth and protec-
ton of wool is a measure of health
insurance in winter that is calculated
to prevent pneumonia this year and
rheumatism later in life. Such under
things are not knee length, sleeveless
affairs, as full of holes as a chicken
wire fence. for wear in zero weather.
but of sensible proportions for nat
ural protection and warmth.
The producers of wool, the great
wool handlers and the manufacturers
of woolens might we'll join in cam
paign of advertising the virtues of
wool for all it's natural uses. 1t would
be an educational and paying propo-
sition and of real benefit to the
masses. 1t would conserve the health
and also save the lives of thousands
every winter. notably, perhaps, OF
school children. Men know the mer-
its of virgin wool clothing and all
appreciate genuine. soft wool blan-
kets, for which there are no complete
ly satisfying substitutes. But we need
education rs to the advantageous use
of more wooden fabrics for winter
wear A cotton cap. if at 50 or So.
/ lacks warmth, and to fill the crown
with cloth or paper, as is so often
done, is at best poor makeshift for
honest weight wool cloth.
Raw wool is cheap: it is almost 60
ing a-hegging. The country seems to
be full of it. Even Uncle Sam is
still boarding millions of pounds of
wool. for which the government has
no more use 1n2n mas COW Tor size
pockets. In the meanwhile wool Is
constantly being imported, and the
threat of a tariff or embargo has
stimulated such foreign consignments
while wool is on the free list.
The Use of Shoddy
If the American manufacturer can
make money by the use of SbOddy.
that is his business. Not so in Eng
land or in any important European
country. This simple fact makes
America the dumping ground for wool
en- rags from all creation. Shoddy
and all classes of rags have their uses,
they are and not for what they can
of course. but should be sold for what
be made to appear to be. This is the
contention Of the sheep raiser and
also of the honest manufa ctureI and
dealer who must compete with the
skinned milk which masquerades as
cream. To protect such as these. and
consumers everywhere. is the purpose
CT the truth-in-fa brics bill, which
should become law.
This law would provide that the
selvedge of shoddy fabrics and those