i
Page 2
Womble Named Bason, Inc. Acquires Clinton Mills
Thomas Womble
Smith Promoted
To Cloth Room
Superintendent
Textile and Apparel
Imports Hurt Industry
Assistant
Plant Engineer
Thomas Womble has been promoted to
the Lydia Plant as assistant plant engineer,
according to Director of Plant Engineering
Silas Campbell.
Womble joined Clinton Mills, Inc. Febru
ary 10, 1982, and has held numerous posi
tions within Clinton Mills and its affiliated
carpet yarn operations.
He attended Piedmont Technical College
where he earned an associate degree in heat
ing, air conditioning and refrigeration.
“Womble brings to this position a wide
range of knowledge in numerous engineer
ing and maintenance areas,” stated Camp
bell.
John Albert Smith
Clinton Mills, Inc. has promoted John
Albert Smith from assistant Plant No. 2 gen
eral weaving superintendent to Lydia cloth
room superintendent, effective February 1,
1985, according to Lydia Plant Manager Joe
Nelson.
Smith received his BS degree in account
ing and business management from Pre
sbyterian College in 1973. He joined Clinton
Mills on March 11, 1974. He has served in
assistant superintendent and assistant gen
eral superintendent positions in Plant No. 2
weaving before assuming his new position.
On December 20, 1984, Clinton Mills,
Inc. stockholders approved a transaction
whereby Bason, Inc., a local company orga
nized and owned by the senior management
of Clinton Mills, Inc., would purchase most
of the operating assets and substantially all
of the liabilities of Clinton Mills, Inc.
The transaction was closed December 28,
1984, and Bason, Inc. changed its name to
Clinton Mills, Inc.
In his announcement via bulletin board
notices to all employees, Chairman Robert
M. Vance stated, “The new Clinton Mills,
Inc. will continue to operate as the company
WASHINGTON—Government trade fi
gures released this week show that 1984
was the worst year in history for the Amer
ican textile and apparel industry, the Amer
ican Textile Manufacturers Institute re
ported.
Imports of textiles and apparel for 1984
reached an all-time record level of 9.8 bil
lion square yards, up 32 percent from the
1983 previous record level of 7.4 billion
square yards.
In addition to total textile and apparel
imports in 1984, record annual levels were
set in separate categories for textiles (5.1
billion square yards); apparel (4.7); fabric
(2.5); and miscellaneous (1.2).
The 1984 textile and apparel trade deficit
also hit a record level reaching $16 billion, a
53 percent increase over 1983's previous
record of $10.5 billion. The 1984 textile
and apparel trade deficit is 13 percent of the
has in the past with the same management.
Your job and benefits will in no way be
affected by the change in ownership. The
long-standing philosophy, practices and
policies of Clinton Mills, Inc. will not
change. You may be assured of your security
with this organization.”
Clinton Mills, a diversified textile manu
facturer founded in 1896 and headquar
tered in Clinton, S.C., operates four weaving
plants in Clinton and two in Geneva, Ala. It
also operates Elastic Fabrics of America, a
knitted elastics plant in Greensboro, N.C.,
and America-West Industries, Inc., a carpet
yarn manfacturer in Yuma, Ariz.
nation's total merchandise trade deficit for
the year.
“The record level of just under 10 billion
square yards is equivalent to one million
American jobs in the fiber, textile,‘apparel
complex,” said ATMI President James H.
Martin, Jr. who is also vice-chairman of Ti-
Caro, Inc., Gastonia, N.C. “Each month,
more plants are closing or cutting back, and
more jobs are being lost. If employed, these
Americans would be contributng to the na
tion's economic growth and helping to re
duce the budget deficit,” Martin stressed.
“The textile industry has invested heavily
in modernization and product promotion in
an effort to help itself, but the level of im
ports is so overpowering that the government
needs to take immediate and effective ac
tions to stop the import surge, which is
undercutting a basic, national industry with
a gross national product of more than $45
billion,” he said.
Imports Mean Lost Jobs For Industry Employees
A merchant in one nearby town some
months ago started featuring American-
made clothes in his store. He still had some
imported garments around, but he let it be
known that he would much rather sell you
something made in the United States.
Why did he do it? A lot of people asked him
that question. Couldn't he make more
money selling imports?
His answer was rather basic. Most of his
customers worked in textile plants around
the town. He was concerned that if imports
continued to increase in volume, some of
those textile plants were going to lay off
employees or even close down.
That would cost him customers. And, if
enough of his customers lost jobs because of
imports, then he might have to close down
also. He decided it made sense—and dol
lars, too—for him to promote American-
made products.
That actually occurred. It was before the
import situation got as bad as it is now, back
when many of us thought imports were going
to level off at a reasonable percentage of the
market.
The leveling off has not happened. Im
ports just keep growing—25 percent more in
1983 than in 1982, up almost 50 percent in
1984.
And, our exports are way down, thanks to
the high dollar value and trade barriers
raised by our foreign competitors to keep our
products out.
It all translates into jobs—lost American
jobs. Imports today represent about
800,000 American textile and apparel jobs.
And, the problem continues to grow. Too
frequently now we read of layoffs and plant
closings because of imports. Deep down, do
we keep thinking imports keep affecting the
other person. How long will it be before you
and I feel the effects?
Why can't we compete more effectively?
Yes, we have the most dedicated employees,
the most modern machinery. Our productiv
ity and the quality of our products are the
envy of the world.
On the other hand, our wages are among
the highest in the world—five to ten times as
high as some paid by our competitors are
often subsidized. Some disregard trade
agreements.
But, imports are cheaper. Many times
they are because of the things I just men
tioned. Sometimes they are subsidized by
government. But once control is gained of a
market segment, the price tends to rise.
I nterestingly, surveys show that the Amer
ican consumer generally would prefer to
have American-made products. The con
sumer perceives the American-made pro
duct to be of better quality and of greater
value.
The damaged caused by imports plus the
consumer survey information has prompted
companies in the fiber, textile and apparel
industries to promote American-made pro
ducts more than ever before.
We have a selfish interest in the “Made in
USA” program. Clinton Mills wants to stay in
business and we want to make money. That
is the only way we can provide jobs and
continue our support for the good things—
including the good business—of this com
munity.
Now there are importers who do not want
to see us succeed. They make their money
bringing foreign-produced products into this
country, while Clinton Mills survives by
manufacturing in America.
Clinton Mills strongly supports the “Made
in USA” program. Imports do not.
When 1,000 textile and apparel jobs are
lost, a domino effect occurs, equalling a loss
of an additional 1,000 jobs in apparel
shops, food stores, restaurants, gas sta
tions, drug stores, etc.
The best way for this community to ensure
its own future is by us—employees, custom
ers, retailers and manufacturers—joining
together to provide the American consumer
quality and value—products “Made With
Pride In USA.”
// V u.S>
BUYTHEBEST
EURAMERICAN
BUY CLINTON FABRICS
CRA^E^WU^PRIDE
IN U.i
CLINTON MILLS SALES CO.
111W. 40th St.. N.Y.C. • (212) 391-0270