Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-25
BRADLEY c. AlGEO


DHlLADELPHIA has always been rated
L as a city Of contented craftsmen and of
marvellous manufacturing resources, said
Bradley c.. Algeo, Of the Philadelphia Tex
tile School, but he forcsees grave losses to
the spirit of co operation among wcavers,
dycrs, knitters and spinners if something is
not done TO lift them above the level of being
mere sdjuncts to the machines they tend.
"What Philadelphia boasts by way of out
city city in ' the World" said Mr.. Aiseo, ''and
by no two other cities in America. We
manufacture here woolen and worsted goods
in enormous quantities, using one -hfth OF all
the wool America produces or imports.
THE Chamber of Commerce reports show
that of cotton piece goods $50 900 900 yards
were produced In one year employing more
than 10000 people in that industry alone.
In 1918 we made more than 24O.OOOOO0
pairs of hosiery, two pairs for every person
in the country.
.'Here in the museum we are showing n
special exhibit of cottons, woolens. yarns
and knitted fabrics. examples Of what We arc
now able to do with American dyes. This
is only recent phase In the great strides
made by Philadelphia in textile production.
There is nothing worn by man or woman,
practically nothing known to the textile
world which this city cannot and does not
produce. And the making of textiles Is
bound up in its history with the growth OF
this community.
Craftsmanship Failing
but the spirit Of craftsmanship, upon
which so much. depends, is failing Many
mills can no longer boast q personnel built
"p 'f for re- generations. In some, grandfather,
father and son work together. Theirs is the
old time heritage Of patient skill, of delight
in the beauty of humble but a very neces
ssry calling,
spirit out Of the laboring mans conscious
ness. Ccaseless agitation has snarled the
skein Of his content. He may have gained
new visions of the dignity of labor and of its
rights On the other hand, he may only have
lost his sense of proportion and of the value
improve.
II wonder sometimes how much Philade-
phia textile men appreciate and how much
capital as whole can discern the value Of
the workman who is craft conscious rather
than class conscious. Philadelphia pro
duces more felt hats-many times over
than any other city In the world. It is no
mean thing TO place becoming hat on a
man, yet il takes strenuous planning, close
co operation, to convince any considerable
norton Of the personnel of factory that
What they do, day In and day out, is worthy
of having its own traditions fit to confer
a heritage Of skill and patience and repu
tation for integrity upon generations TO
come.
Short Cut to Efficiency
'"The fight for the open shop is tending
10 uproot the old idea that man must con
sumo decade in apprenticeship before be-
coming worthy workman at skilled trade
Whether such an industrial movement wins
She whole trend of industry il toward the
short cut to efficiency; happy indeed the
worker II. while taking that short cut he
acquires a real, comprehensive conception
of the combination Of brains and Drawn
without which no manufacturing enterprise
may succeed.
SHEER luck cannot carry craftsman to
success in his work any more than II can
keen a manufacturer off the rocks of bank
ruptcy. Each must have purpose, mn
intelligent plan and an enthusiasm born of
pride In the work undertaken.
1.-The Philadelphia Textile School of the
PENNSYLVANIA Museum and School of Indus
trial Art has a difficult task, but it is over.
coming the obstacles. II has 10 make mon
believe in themselves and in the thing thov
seek to achieve each day, without rnnniny
counter to the new spirit of interest in The
relation between the days work and tLs
actual (not dollars and ccnts) reward of tbe
toiler. BY this mean We must make good
weavers and dyers and knittcrs of mon
without detracting from that enthusiasm
which only man of open mind and of hone
ful outlooks can give TO his tasks.
Hosiery Big Feminine Factor
This may seem rather a light aside. but
the fashions have made of the hosiery knit
ter ono OF the most important craftsmen In
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