Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1918 — NATION SEIZES WOOLEN MILLS [ARTICLE]

NATION SEIZES WOOLEN MILLS

MANUFACTURERS TOLD TO HOLD LOOMS FOR GOVERNMENT— CLOTHE SOLDIERS. Mr. Hilliard of Hilliard & Hamill has received word from the government to the effect that Acting Quartermaster General Goethals has notified all woolen mills located in the United States to hold their looms at the service of the government from now until July Ist in order to insure adequate supplies of cloth for uniforms. . This means that manufacturers of , civilian clothes will have to get ’ ‘special government permits before :they can obtain any cloth of any 'kind.. No comment was forth-com-ing as to the amounts of cloth the government might release to private manufacturers. But it is probable ithat this commandeering order will make cloth scarce in the fall, as well as very high priced. Trading in wool was completely stopped in Boston by the government and all unsold stock was taken over at pravailing values. Albert W. Elliott, representing the War Department, told the Boston wool trade association that there was a decided and urgent need by the government for more wool and that nex twinter’s uniforms will be made out of 20 oz materials in place of 16 oz cloths. ' Mr. Hilliard suggests that this commandeering order will unquestionably cause Fall Suits for men to be from edght to ten dollars higher than they are now, as well as actually cause a shortage in the latter part of the season of all wool clothes.