Evening star., 1923-01-07
u. S. Brands Must Mean Quality

honesty, held synonymous with the
identifying brand, name or label
with the ramifcations in the textile
lines witnessed in recent years, II has
been no more than natural. Mr.. Crorn-
we'll points out in his report to the
federal department, that a certain
looseness of description has develop
ed in some directions. This has taken
force mainly in the misbranding and
labelling of certain more or less re-
stricted lines of goods.
To counteract this tendency, which
inevitably would have reacted against
the best interests of the several In
dustries, and particularly in foreign
markets, the representative trade as
sociations have stepped 20 the fore
with the adoption OF well regulated
programs of action which have been
highly successful. Their success has
been in a great measure due to the
assistance and advice of the Federal
Trade Commission, which has lent Its
best Offices to a ready solution OF the
difficult problems at hand. In fact, in
many instances the Federal Trade
Commission has taken the initiative.
The silk Association of America
was the first textile trade association
to develop this line OF work. II be-
gan its program by securing In 1915
an order from the Federal Trade COM
mission to protect the genuine silk
the unfair competition OF cotton
thread.
Along with other trade associations
the silk association Is now working
toward the enactment by Congress OF
Legislation which will protect the
of YQ
providing definite punishment for the
misbranding or Misrepresentation of
such articles. Incidental to the
actual work of detecting and fighting
misbranding the silk association con-
ducts for the use of the textile in
dustry q trademark registration
bureau. where the names OF fabrics
Of all kinds are fled, with data on
date Of first use, description of ma
teriat to which they are applied and
obtained in the United States patent
offioe.
This bureau acts as a. check on
cases OF duplication or conhiction OF
trade names, and in addition serves
as a source of information on the
fling Of misleading trade names.
The Knit Goods Manufacturers OF
America was the next trade associa-
tton to follow the trail toward bet
ter textile labelling offered by the
Federal Trade Commission. The Fair
Trade League carried to the courts
their case against deceptive labelling
and fraudulent advertising. An in-
VeBtigating committee from this trade
association found many mills and
dealers using labels whose literal
meaning was a misleading diescrip-
tion of the goods made and marketed.
A long list OF improper labels was
cited, with q. Recommendation that
they be dropped at once and that
only such labels should be used there
after as were true and exact beyond
any Misunderstanding. This report
was unanimously adopted and O COPY
filed with the Federal Trade Com
mission.
The Nationai Association OF Hosiery
and Underwear Manufacturers also
has been very active in freeing
. hoisery labels and stampings from
words which might deceive the con-
sumer-at home and abroad. The
American Association OF Wooden and
Worsted Manufacturers has for two
years carried. on q spirited Campaign
against rnishranding, It is also
actively interested in current brand
ing and labelling legislation as is also
the National Association OF Wool
Manufacturers, the National Knitted
ouferwear- -. Association and, other
similar textile trade. associations,