Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Page 2 Quality is the most important product we have to sell. Without a superior quality product, we cannot compete successfully with imports. When I shop, I want American-made products. When I’m working I want to produce the best. Teresa Aired, Geneva weaver For the past 2V2 years, I’ve inspected a lot of cloth. I want us to produce the best fabric possible so we can compete better with imports. American-made products are always tops on my shopping list. Quality is job one in our depart ment. Shirley Dady, inspector Our Government Leaders Need to Know How We Feel About Textile Imports Willie Green writes letter to Congressman Spratt about imports. With textile imports on the rise, the threat to American textile jobs continues to in crease and the necessity for a freeze on tex tile and apparel imports becomes impera tive. Clinton Mills officials and other leaders in the textile industry are in frequent contact with the lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and have voiced their opinion. But what would probably pull more weight with politi cians than a handful of leaders is the opinion of a multitude of average rank and file em ployees, the people who put them in office. If there was ever a time for employees to be heard, that time is now. It is important that employees let government leaders know how they feel. Write to your congressman. Write to your senator. Write others in responsible govern ment positions. It doesn't have to be a liter ary masterpiece. Write short, simple letters. Tell them your job is threatened by the flood of textile and apparel imports. Remind them that thousands of American citizens have already lost their jobs because of the imports and that thousands more are working only for short periods of time. Don’t you think it's unfair that the future of many people are threatened by imports? If so, tell them. Ask your representative and other govern ment officials to support a freeze on textile and apparel imports so we can keep our plants operating and Americans working. Here are the addresses for your represen tatives in Washington as well as others in government positions: Alabama The Honorable Howell T. Heflin United States Senator 728 Hart Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Heflin: The Honorable Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr. United States Senator 516 Hart Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Denton: The Honorable William Dickinson U.S. House of Representatives House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Dickinson: South Carolina The Honorable Strom Thurmond 218 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Thurmond: The Honorable Ernest F. Hollings 115 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Hollings: The Honorable John M. Spratt 1118 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Spratt: National Figures The Honorable Ronald W. Reagan President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: The Honorable Malcolm Baldridge Secretary of Commerce Washington, D.C. 29230 Dear Mr. Baldridge: Special Tips on Letter Writing 1. Write a personal letter. A handwritten has much more impact than a form letter. 2. Be polite and courteous. Close your letter by thanking the person you write for his time and attention. 3. Identify yourself as a concerned textile employee at Clinton Mills, Inc. 4. Give your personal view of the import problem—the effect it has had on you, your family and friends, your company, your com munity and your country. Let the letter's receiver know how concerned you are about your job security and the future of the Amer ican textile industry. 5. Please use this letter as a guide. Do not copy it, but use your own words instead. Dear • The textile industry is one of our nation's most basic and vital industries. Many of us who depend on textiles for our livelihood are concerned about the rapid growth in textile imports. Our families, friends, communities, as well as the nation are feeling the effects imports are having on the manufacturing complex in this country. Please do whatever you can to protect American jobs. I appreciate your efforts in bringing textile imports under control. Sincerely, (Your Signature) 6. Sign your name and be sure to include your address so that a reply may be sent to you.