Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-03
EDWARD w. FRANCE
On philsdelphia in Textiles

On Ph1lodelphia IN textiles
DHILADELPIiIA is the largest diversi-
1 fed textile center ir :he world without
any question. says Edward W. France,
director Of the textile department OF the
Pennsylvania Museum md School Of In.
dustrial Art.
Textiles" said Mr.. France. '.nre the
second necessity of mankind, and OF all the
industrials 1t Is the only one OF when
men, women and children in the civilized
world are both critics and consumers. Ana
yet. OF all these industriuls. 1t IL the least
known to the average person.
'Philadelphia's place In this most I'M.
portunt industry is unique. As have SAID,
Il il the largest diversified textile center
in the world, although we do not nave the
largest mills here BY any manner OK means.
hut It would b. we'll for Philadelphia to Keep
her own unique distinction. for the further
diversified types. the less there Is OK enc
and embellishment in his product, and con-
seauently the more he loses IN aistlhc,,
tivoness. 1t is far better for the city ana
for the trade to have the diversified product
than to have the largest plants.
Establishment Means Much
"Why is II that Europe II looked upon
m the place Of originality and style In tex
tiles? Simply the fact that they know now
TO use establishment and decoration to the
hest advantage. 1t Is a common saying that
textiles and that France does. but this IL
not wholly true for we are just AZ distinc'
tive on this side OF the water as Lonaon.
But to achieve this distinetiveness, there
must be some sacrifice In size.
"Over here there is large employment Of
persons. and great amount OF machinery IL
n necessity, a point which has not been
reached in the French textile centers. Here,
too. we have higher wages and better liv.
ing conditions than the textile workers OF
Enrope enjoy. and for these reasons large
consultations have been necessary 10 reduce
overhead and to bring out the product ut
a cost which can successfully meet foreign
competition. Our generally higher education
and better living conditions have brought
The American workers to demand TOR their
ordinary mode Of living conditions which the
foreign workers consider luxury.
"But, II we pay higher wages and have
better living conditions. we must hnd some
be able to compete with foreign goods.
Europe lacks quantity production, and,
therefore, the cost per unit Is considera6iy
In advance of what 1t Is here. This holds
in all lines OF manufacture, for moderate
nriced automobile will cost abroad about one.
iack Of quantity production. At the same
time we must admit that there is consider.
ahiv moro handwork on their goods than
We have, but most Of 1t could be done just
as well on jis.saw
Make Everything Here
.srhere IL nothing In the line Of textiles
which we do not make right here IN Phil.
ndelphia; carpets. mems and women's wear,
knittings Of all kinds, tapes. bindings. glng.
hams-the list IL almost endless. 1t is true
That We make them in relatively small guam
titles. but this very fact enables the maker
IN nut an individuality into his work which
il Impossible In the case Of the great pro.
ducer.
"3ut for all Of this we have not missed
.bs mark. Go back few years and remem.
bsr M how siddy and gandy the materials were
at that time and they were then hailed
n little Of this kind Of material today and
much Of this change for the better IL duo
~ the training Of men who have gone through
ths textile schools. have no hesitation In
saving that our own school IL better known
an The other side than 1t 10 in Philadelphia,
and the schools Of Manchester, Bradford
and Leeds admit that We are far ahead Of
snything which they have.
Better Basis Here
..Ths CHIEF reason for this condition prob.
ohly lies In the fact that the American, boy
,vho takes up textile training has q better
sdMcationsl basis than the English boy in
~. sams line. We take the tEsnty .Esar- >
s6 boy, one With Z. COED NduaNtle1 6Ssk:
i S-Sasnd 20 bull4 upe0, ~ IN ~ ySVtk