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Page 10 Pnnnroeemi W w I I^TvvwTTr 1 I w I I Br , r m K^ J I i i Ai . ?. ?y. HHRm. i tgp*&? /,t Congressman John Spratt. Senator Davirf S. Taylor, left, reviews J.R. Swetenburg, the important contri industry makes to Laurens County. FOOD AND FELLOWSt (left to ri, port, Josh Hamilton, were among nume Laurens County Chamber of Commerce on Spratt Pi W LISTENS ATTENTIVELY? Mayor David Tribble listens attentively to Congressman Spratt. D / * j? : V ML 1 with Vice President of Manufacturing butions Clinton Mills and the textile Li JW ght) Sam Williams, Bill Hill, Ted Davenrous Clinton textile officials honored at i Textile appreciation night. raises Texti Appreciation of textiles provided the topic at Textile Appreciation Banquet at Lakeside Country Club on Oct. 24. An overflow crowd ? the largest in the five-year history of the Chamber of Commerce? filled the room to hear Fifth District freshman Rep. John Spratt talk about the present state of the textile industry. On the subject that brought hundreds together, Spratt was clear: The textile industry is a key part of life not only in the South but in the entire nation as well. "It's hard to imagine the region where we live without textiles," Spratt told the group, noting that textiles employ one out of every eight working Americans (2.6 million people), he said the industry deserves a better reputation and better politics. He advocated "simple fairness in our trade practices," meaning a reduction in V mrm WW ^^1 hL GREETINGS? Rep. John Spratt (lei president for marketing of Clinton M Banquet at Lakeside Country Club. H about textiles, including 16 officers an< Mills, Inc. FASHION LEADER? Albert McAli her role in presenting "Made In US Clinton Mills as Tom Begley adds hi ployees make to the area. Gail has be< the area as she presents Clinton ma< le Industry foreign imports which have hurt the American textile industry so badly. "Textiles are not a declining industry but they are an industry in peril," he said, speaking of imports. Noting also that the industry is remdustrializing ? putting more capital into equipment and expansion and increasing productivity ? Spratt called for continued attention to the needs of textiles. "We ought to be determined to support and nurture its future," he said. The annual dinner kicked off Textile Appreciation Week in Laurens County. Attending the dinner were civic, political, industrial and business leaders from around the county, including many in the textile field. Promoted, too, at the banquet was this year's theme, "Made in America." ? ' Mm I ft) shakes hands with Steve Warren, vice lills, following the Textile Appreciation lundreds turned out to hear Spratt talk d managerial staff members from Clinton ster, center, praises Gail Begley, left, for >A" garments from fabrics produced by s prdibe tor ine comriDuuons lexiiie em?n a recognized fashion leader throughout :le garments.