The sun., 1891-06-10
Tho Two Wanamakers Identified.

Those who are interested in the psychology
OF humbug will remember the theory set up
nearly two years ago In behalf OF MIR. JOHN
WANAMAKER OF Philadelphia.
The theory that there were two JOHN WAN
AMAKERs was originally invented by tho
Philadelphia Press, a newspaper subsidized
by the bargain counter. Whenever any
thing ridiculous or undignifled appeared in
the advertisements OF the retail estab-
lishment which bears the Postmaster
Generals name, or whenever the striving
OF that concern for trade, publicity. and
profit took turn that was scandalous
under the circumstances and disgust
ing to the public sense OF decency.
the Press. or some other subsidized journal,
promptly explained that the Hon. JOHN
WANAMAKER, Postlnaster-General OF tho
United States under President HARR1soN's
Administration, and the JOHN WANAMAKER
OF the bargain counter were separate and
quite distinct entities. JOHN WANAMAKER the
individual, the statesman, and the Christian
philanthropist was not to be held responsible
for the performances of JOHN WANAMAKER
of the great emporium Of cheap goods and
astonishing bargains. The latter JOHN
WANAMAKER was not . person, but merely a
trade mark.
So far did the Philadelphia Press carry it's
zeal and ingenuity in defending Its largest
advertising patron against the assaults Of
ridicule or the protests Of honest indigna-
tion that 1t accused The Sun OF deliberate
dishonesty In refusing to recognize the
wholly impersonal character OF the JOHN
WANAMAKER trade mark 1t even pointed
out that the autograph Of tho individual and
statesman JOHN WANAMAKER, as attached
by him to personal communications or off,
clal documents, differed from the signature
employed by the trademark JOHN WANA-
MAKER in pushing the business Of the bar
gain counter. Speaking Of the scandalous
circular sent out from the bargain counter
at the time Of the visit OF the Pan-American
Congress. the Press remarked:
1.-THE autograph Of Jous wAsAxAKrR a. An individual
and Postmaster-Genera, 10 always written 'Jyo.
WAEAnAKxR' Tho signature attached to tho card 10
'JoHs WAsAMAKER, and 1t was made twelve years ago
In that odd with tho capital in tho middle of the
JoHN. ~ trade mark to stamp whore trade mark II
needed. and It has been used such during all thss
tina Those who are conducting tho business OF the
nrm used 1t hero they wherever there
sion to. Mr.. WANAxAkxR personally had nothing do
with It"
Thus, whom the South American and Gen.
trail American delegates were towed into the
shop by the venerable father-in-law of tho
President, and entertained by the head floor
walker with speech of welcome delivered
In the name OF JOHN WANAMAKER, the Hon.
JOHN WANAMAKEn of Gen. HARRIsoN's
Cabinet had nothing to do with tho absurd
ceremony; 1t was the enterprise OF the
trademark JOHN WANAMAKER-the JOHN
with the big H.
When the representatives Of our sister re-
publics were scandallzed by the receipt Of
copies OF the bargain counter price list,
printed in gold ink and accompanied by the
request that they would coll the attention OF
tho Governments and people Of their respec-
tive countries to the Market street estab-
lishment, JOHN WANAMAKER the trade mark,
and not JOHN WANAMAKER the person. was
responsible for the extraordinary impudenco
OF the proposal.
When JOHN WANAMAKER sold to the
United States Government for use by the
heroes of the War Department, thirteen
brass cuspidors at forty cents apiece, the
JOHN WANAMAKER who laid away the $5.20in
the money drawer behind the bargain coun-
ter was the trademark JOHN WANAMAKER.
not the Postmaster. General.
And 80 whenever the country was dis
gusted or amused with new turn In the
never-ending combinations OF the bargain
counter kaleidoscope. the escandal was loaded
upon JOHN the trade mark. the impersonal
WANAMAKER, the WANAMAKER with the big
H In the middle Of the JOHN.
Day before yesterday Postmaster General
WANAMAKER knocked this theory of the two
JOHNS higher than a bargain counter bal
loon. In the course Of the investigation OF
the affairs OF the Keystone Bank In Phila-
delphia, In which his name Is 80 curiously
and lamentably involved. the Hon. JOHN
the trademark JOHN
was summoned before the committee Of tho
City Councils. One OF the circumstances ex-
hiblted as showing Mr.. WANAsiAKERs pccu-
liar relations with the management Of that
and thieving concern was the fact
that Mrs. WANAMAKER had been permitted