Page 2
Impressr
Business and civic leaders from throughout
Laurens County assembled at Clinton
Mills to raise a new flag symbolizing the
company's continuing efforts to combat the
rising tide of imports.
Clinton will be flying the red. white and
Diue stars at eacn plant location.
Claude A. Crocker, Vice President of Industrial
and Public Relations, reminded
those attending of the need to support the
industry's program. "About a year ago, the
question was how best tap the preference
Americans have for American products in a
market flooded with imports. The answer
was 'Crafted With Pride in U.S.A.' Once
again the American textile complex made
history. For the first time ever, an entire
industry mounted a nation-wide campaign
to stimulate consumer and retailer awareness
of the quality of American textile products
and the need to buy American-made
goods rather than imports," noted Crocker.
"The primary focus of the campaign is to
remind everyone ? textile employees, their
famlies, suppliers, merchants, the press
and governmental officials ? that buying
American makes good shoppers ? good
citizens," he added. '"Crafted With Pride in
U.S.A.' is the vehicle and voice to the nation
telling the story for survival for the 2.4 million
men and women who work in our industry."
As retail merchants, invited guests, and
members of management listened attentively,
and with concern, Crocker noted, "as part
of the 'Crafted' campaign, Americans have
been learning about the damage of imports.
For example, if textile products made in the
U.S.A. were purchased instead of imports,
750,000 job opportunities would be ere
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be held by women and one of four by minorities.
"What sets 'Crafted With Pride' apart from
the typical industry promotion is that it is not
a passive campaign; success depends on
involving the buying public.
"It stresses that the buying of Americanmade
garments and textile products is not
~
Recent
A v* m m a. i
Aimivei
5 YEARS
James R. Cothran No. 1
Linda F. Davis No. 2
Ricky W. Howell Lydia
LeanderT. Clark Lydia
James E. Jackson Lydia
Joseph J. Carr Geneva No. 2
Linda S. Lyerly Geneva No. 2
Billy L. Childress Geneva No. 1
John I. Henson Geneva No. 1
ye Flag Ri
only an investment in quality but also in the
communities where textile and apparel industry
employees live and in a healthy economy
for all Americans.
"It encourages consumers to look for the
'Made in U.S.A.' label, and if it is not there
... then to ask for it.
"Textile employees are reminding merchants
that if our industry goes under, their
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uujii icoo, mrin ouiici gicauy.
Crocker's remarks were supplemented by
an 80-slide presentation which emphasized
the history of creative craftsmanship since ?
colonial times to the present. %
Clinton Mayor David Tribble and Laurens
Mayor Bob Dominick presented Chairman 3
Robert M. Vance with a resolution which had
been adopted by the city councils of both
towns.
A highlight of the pre-flag-raising activities
was the cutting of a special "Crafted
With Pride" cake that was baked, decorated,
and served by Sue Gann, a technical service
employee.
The group then moved to the flag pole in
front of the main office where Frank Boland
and James Werts had positioned the
"Crafted With Pride" flag below the Amer
ican nag.
President George H. Cornelson told those
assembled around the pole that this program J
serves as a reminder of the industry's efforts
to the 2.4 million men and women who earn S
their living in the textile and apparel industry a
and to those whose livelihoods depend on jj
the industry that the textile industry in many ^
parts of our nation and certainly in South {
Carolina is a vital way of life.
"Until the American public realizes that I
the influx of textile and apparel goods into
our marketplace is displacing American j
jobs, how many shoppers will take the time
to ask for and to insist on those textile products
bearing the labels and hang tags
'Crafted With Pride in the U.S.A.?' Consumer
polls tell us that given the choice, shop
perb preier apparei diiu nume lurriibmngb i
that are made in America. The labels, hang <
tags, flags and other means of displaying 1
|
Service
rsaries
i
15 YEARS
I
Gracie Mae Martin Bailey
20 YEARS
Charles F. Gann No. 2
I
25 YEARS
uiyaia d. i ucker No. I
30 YEARS
Ruth H. Lark Lydia
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a i si rig C
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[his new theme of the American textile industry
will clearly identify these American
textile products.
Employees Can I
Made in U.S.A.'
Individuals often feel they can have no
impact on issuesof national and mtprnatmn
al dimensions.
However, in connection with the current
textile import situation it will take the
cooperation of many individuals to get the
message into the proper places to achieve
the desired effect.
Consider the buying power which you have
and then tfimk how much that would be
when it is multiplied by ten times or 100
times or 1,000 times. That can have a substantial
impact.
There are several things which individuals
can do to achieve this.
Many people are unaware of the amount of
imported textile goods which are coming
into the United States and the detrimental
economic effects created in the way of plant
closings, lost jobs, and the like. You can tell
them. Your neighbor may not know. Or your
doctor, your grocer or other retailers. They
may not realize that loss of textile jobs in
their community can have a direct detrimental
effect on their businesses.
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4
To conclude the program, Chairman
Robert M. Vance raised the flag to its posi- 4
tion on the main office flag pole.
Help Tell
' Story
If each of the 2600 Clinton Mills employees
would tell 10 people about the bad
effect which imports are creating in the United
States, the message would reach
26,000 people, which represents substantial
buying power.
We should buy American-made products
while encouraging others to do the same. It's
important to let retailers know your feelings
too. Ask them where the American-made
textile goods are and impress upon them the
importance of providing them to customers.
Surveys continue to show that Americans
prefer American-made products if price and
quality are equal.
Another way you can spread the word is to
talk to a civic club, the PTA or garden club
about the situation. Each member of those
organizations is a consumer and may feel as j
strongly as you do about textile imports if he
or she knew the full story.
These are a few of the ways an individual
can have an impact on the situation.
J