Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-10-17
SH0DDY ATTACKED
BY WOOL EXPERTS
Speakers at Better Business
Meeting Argue For and
Against Wool Substitute.
SAYS SCIENCE is NO TEST
If You Want to Know How a Suit
Will Wear, Wear It; Don't Send
It to q Chemist!

A lively debate on the merits OF
the FrenchCapper truth-in-fabric
bill featured this mornings session
of the Better Business Commission at
the Washington Hotel
Alexander Walker. president of the
National Sheep and Wool Bureau,
vice president of the Strong Hewitt
Company and a representative of the
virgin wool interest. spoke In favor
of the bill. while Alfred A. Whitman.
chairman of the legislative commit
tee, OF the American Association of
Wooden and Worsted Manufacturers.
addressed the convention in favor OF
truth in fabric legislation but op-
posed the French Capper bill.
Mr. Walker vigorously advocated
legislation which would prevent
shoddy wool being sold as virgin
wool.
"Shoddy is secondhand WOOL" said
Mr.. Walker. 1T is the chief substi-
tute for virgin wool 1t is sold I'M
identified. 1t is a fraud to sell shoddy
as virgin wool. This is what the
French -Capper bill goes after 1t pro-
vides for the Identification of mate
rial in fabric, the same as the pure
food and drug acts makes identifica-
ton of materials in pure food and
drugs compulsory.
Public +. Misled.
'-Shoddy is sold because the public
misunderstands 1t. The public thinks
1t is getting virgin wool. when shod-
dy is all 1t gets. Shoddy should be
sold for what it is; then the public
will get what it asks for.
Legislation is the only protection.
The public needs protection in this
matter as much as they do in food.
The French -Capper bill does not at
tempt to appraise or value goods. 1t
simply makes it compulsory to iden-
tity materials in fabric"
Mr.. Whitman. who spoke in opposi-
ton to the French-Capper bill, said
''shoddy" Is a term that has been
"Shoddy." said Mr.. Whitman. goes
through almost precisely the same
process as raw wool. Shoddy in the
wooden trades, as understood in the
mills. 10 pure wool. Shoddy. as well
as virgin wool. has all sorts of grades
is no more q certificate of high-grade
wool than shoddy is an indication Of
low grade. The only effect this CAM
paign will have is to enable dishon-
est manufacturers to turn out poor
grades Of goods with the magic label
virgin WOOL ana EEL luSm 1OI
enormously high prices"
The legislative committee OF the
better business commission. of which
r. X wholley is chairman, will an
nounce its decision on the French
Capper bill on Thursday morning.
All better business bureaus through
out the country are expected to back
mittee.
Warns Against Science.
Henry Traphagen made an inter-
scientific analysis of bureau work.
He warned the delegates present not
to depend too much on science In de-
the quality of merchandise.
There are five things" said Mr..
which form the whole
network of our mercantile world.
ton and wool. If the stores did not
handle materials made from these
basic products. they would all close
up"
various forms Of misrepresentation
which may be made in these prod
c-ses scientific analysis will not dis
CLOSE. He spoke particularly OF
chemical tests between wool and
cotton. Tho speaker asserted that
wool can be wool within the techni-
cal term and not be worth any money
Many factors enter into this con-
said Mr.. Traphagen. 1T
might be either the water the sheep
drinks or the class Of the mother
and father Of the particular sheep
Both are dependent on the forces of
nature. In the silk industry we are
dependent on worm.
Some worms make good silk and
others bad. set technically they are
both silk
Try IT First. He Says.
Mr.. Traphagen gave an interesting
with two pair Of shoes,
both Of which. he said, were made
Of real leather. One sold at 81 and
the other lat $14. He demonstrated
that while both were
there was the widest, possible
difference in the service rendered by
each class Of shoe.
Don't get an overdose of science
he said. 1T you wont to find out
II q rubber ball will bounce don't
send 1t to q chemist for a test to see
what kind Of rubber 1t contains. If
you want to know how the mate
That's the only way to find out what
class Of material il in it. Science will
make a monkey out Of a man In no
time. II crooked merchants knew
that stun they sold was being ac-
tually worn to hnd out how 1t would
last they would be q little more care
full about what they sold"
Speakers for Today.
Papers will be read at the after
noon session dealing with furniture,
clothes and 1ewelry. Tomorrow the
will be devoted to fraud
ulent financial schemes. The follow
ing speakers viii address the con-
Howard Coel, Cleveland. "Women's
Ready to Wear; Hugo Swan, Dallas,
Tex, Real Estate Advertising; AL
fred J. Pitts. "Automobires and Ac-
r. S. Wilson. Toledo.
"Women's Ready to Wear Accessories
Gloves. Wells and Millinery; George
M Husser, Kansas City. "RaIncoats" .:
Harry W. Riehl, Louisville. KY. Fiber
Silk and Silk Piece Goods: Elwood
Russell, Philadelphia, Hats; r. AL
len Gibbons. Correspondence School
]. F. Eggers, Terra
Haute, Imitation Pearls": F. F. Teb-
belts, Portland, "Blankets"; Phil
Akron, Tires and Rubber
s. @. Leasing. Providence,
Mems Clothing. Including Raincoats";
e. ]. Maegher, Boston. "Jeweiry."
The. sessions today were presided
over Jointly by r. X. wholley, dfrec-
tor of the local Better Business Blu
rcau. and E. J. Kenner Of New York.
when angry. tackle a woodpile."
says, q Harvard professor. Now you