The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-09-30

"SAINT" JOHN.
How He Worked an "Ad." Among the
q. A. Il. Veterans.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27.-The latest
enterprise of Honest John Wanna
maker, President Harrison's Postmas-
ter-General, conceived for the purpose
of taking advantage of the recent pres
encein Washington Of the Grand Army.
was quite in line with his attempt to
advertise his bargain counter among
the delegates to the Pan-American
Conference when they were making n
tour of the country as the guests of
the Government.
Mr.. Wanamaker's agents put into
the hands of every Grand Army veter-
an whom they were able to reach an
advertising prospectus of book of
hymns complied by Mr.. Wanamaker
himself. and, of course, sold for the
joint benefit Of the Postmaster-General
and his publisher. The work is styled,
Living Hymns q Casket of Song
Gems, by Hon. John Wanamaker,n
les of Sunday books entitled,
Little Blossoms in the Garden of
Home . Pretty Pictures for Out Lit
tie Pet" Little Lads and Lasses,"
Perfect Jewels, Literature of Life,
Love and Religion" &c.
Mr.. Wanamaler's publisher also ad-
vertises large line of Bibles and
hymn books, published III half-dozcn
languages.
The attention of the Grand Army
was called by Mr.. Wanamaker's print
err to a work entitled "Knapsack and
Rifle; OR War as Seen from the Ranks"
which is declared to be full and vari-
ed picture of army life in all its phases,
including complete chronology of the
late war and digest of the pension
laws of the United States.
These prospectuses have been distri-
buted to the veterans by men and boys
standing on the corners of the princi-
pal streets. The name, John Wanna
maker" appears on every page of the
advertisement in capital letters, and
has undoubtedly served its purpose to
draw customers for the Postmaster
Generals Album Of Sacred Songn
This is all disgraceful enough but
the real scandal is yet to be told. From
the manner in which these advertise
ments have been prepared 1T is evident
that their distribution in their present
form to veterans Is an after-thought.
They were prepared as bait to catch
the postmasters who are appointed by
Mr.. Wanamaker to handle the peoples
mails. They are now being distributed
in the very envelopes intended for their
Transmission to the postmasters. The
printing on the outside of the envel-
opes makes the whole scheme plain
This legend appears on each envelope
in large type:
Living Hymns, compiled by Hon.
John Wanamaker, Postmaster Gener-
al, assisted by John R. Sweeney, Mus.
Doc.
Part of the address is also printed.
and is as follows: "To the Postmas-
ter 10y
With each batch of advertisements
sent to the postmaster is enclosed a
letter, printed in imitation of type
writing.
Of course many postmasters who re-
ceived these advertisements will con
clude that the shortest way to Mr..
Wanamaker's favor is to purchase this
book. The advertising literature is so
cunning prepared that every postmas-
ter who receives it will observe, first.
that the advertised work is compiled
by "Hon. John Wanamaker," and.
second, that it is forwarded in printed
similar to those used for
sending out department circulars to
third and fourth-class postmasters.
The scheme is likely to work in a large
of cases, and TO rebound great
ly to the advantage of those who peck
ct the proceeds of NJ Wanamaker's
book.