New-York tribune., 1911-12-31
WANAMAKER'S|
President Taft Aids in CeIebrat.
ing Great Event in Philadelphia.
MORE THAN $4,000 ATTEND
Famous Merchant Makes Plea
for Return to "Old Fashioned
Business Honesty"
tPy Telegram 70 The Tribune. J

Philadelphia Dec. 30-In the presence
Of more than twenty-five thousand people
President Taft assisted here to-day In the
ceremony OF dedication OF the New House
OF Business OF the John Wanamaker
store which covers the city block bounded
by Market, Chestnut, Juniper and l3th
streets. The occasion marked not only
the completion OF the new store but the
end Of the iftieth year Of the founders
experience as merchant.
The ceremony took place in the grand
court OF the new store building, the SIX
galleries which tower around the main
floor Of the marble court furnishing space
for thousands OF invited spectators. while
on the floor itself a huge platform was
erected where the President and the other
speakers faced the big audience.
President TAFT ended his address, when
was q remarkable tribute to John Wana-
maker as the greatest merchant OF Amer
lea, by reading the following inscription
which will be placed on bronze taolet III
the marble court to commemorate to-day
| ceremony:
| In this Marble Court, the President Of the
| United States, the Goth OF Decsmbcr,
lsl at the close OF the f ,6ptH GElGen nthousan9
| citizens dedicated this building, Lahu
mark Of Labor and signature In stone
| to the power OF concentration ana So
| operation In mercantile pursuits, under
! freedom of competition and the blessing
| of God.
J The President opened his address with
! reminiscence of the time twenty years
| ago, when he first met Mr.. WanamaKer
| II was when he Joined the administration
of President Harrison. I'm which Mr.. Wana-
! maker uaa Postmaster General
1T has been a great pleasure TO me to
know and to feel that the friendship and
mutual respect there begun have continued
until the present day." said the President.
"and 1t has given me the greatest pleasure
to come here and take part in this cere-
mony at the moment of the greatest tri-
/ umph Of John Wanamaker's long and use
! full life" He continued:
! We arc here TO celebrate the completion,
| in its highest type. of one OF the most
! important instrumentalities in modern life
! for the promotion Of comfort among the
! people. The department store, whicA
brings under one roof the opportunity to
! purchase, at the lowest reasonable, con-
! stant and fixed price, everything that Is
usually needed upon the person or IN the
! household for the sustaining OF life, and
| for recreation and intellectual enjoyment,
| except food alone. means q reduction In
! the cost of living and necessary effort that
We 90 not always appreciate.
| Mr.. Wanamaker's genius. the President
went on TO say. could hardly be matched
| anywhere, and with no adventurous aid,
| no combination in restraint Of competition,
| but simply BY d natural growth his great
business had been built up 70 form model
| for all other stores OF the same kind
| throughout the country and throughout
the world. The President continued:
l congratulate Mr.. Wanamaker that he
has been spared in his long and active life
until this moment. when ne can look
around and see, in all its inspiring whole
this enduring monument 10 the clear
sightedness and genius OF his business
career.
No one can stand here in this presence,
in this magnificent structure, without be-
ing awe-inspired. and without thinking that
1t is inspired In this-that II mas oeen
architect Of America In order 10 develop
the genius and show the magnificent work
OF the greatest merchant in America
On the platform with the President be-
sides Mr. Wanamaker and his son. Rod
man Wanamaker, We're three hundred
guests Of the house, whose names included
the wealth and power Of Philadelphia.
Mayor Rudolph Blankenburg presided, and
was presented to the audience by Governor
Tener of Pennsylvania.
Daniel II. Burnham, of Chicago. the archi-
tect OF the building, made a brief address,
at the end Of which he delivered TO Mr..
Wanamaker a large gold symbolic key.
Joseph II. Appel, of the New York Wana-
maker store, presented the greetings from
that city, and with ii the symbols OF new
order, an iron chain end a golden star,
which, he said. were to be handed down.
from leader TO leader as long as this
house endures."
Mr. Wanamaker in response TO the many
tributes offered him, addressed the Prest-
dent and the audience With plea for
return to that old-fdshioned business hon
esty which had built up the 'unsyndicated
business" of the country.
lie asserted that the great bulk Of busi-
ness carried on by other than shareholders