Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-01
Mr.. Wanamaker's Sturdy Faith
In Americas Business Future


TT is peculiarly reassuring when so great
a captain of commerce as the veteran
N John Wanamaker Declares ST have more
faith in America today and more expectation
for the future than at any time in my sixty
years as a merchant"
These are not the words Of strolling
piper Of optimism, but Of a keen and prac-
ticed observer, whom responsibility makes
cautious and whose eminent success wit
nesses to the soundest of good judgment.
There will be plenty Of work for ALL he
adds, 'tif we show our faith, not by relaxing
our efforts, holding back in fear, putting
on blue glasses and keeping our money in
our pockets, but by making needed improve
ments, starting to build and rebuild, buying
and selling-putting to work our energies,
for the good of the country" So heartily
does r. Wannamaker believe in this advice
that he is practicing it in his own vast bust
ness. Instead of curtailing our advertis-
ing" says he, 1--WE are charging 1t. Instead
of standing pat on our stores as they have
been, we are refitting, rearranging, re-
building and improving them. To do this
we have given employment to large bodies
of mechanics and others, day and night"
Such precept mated to such an example
should give courage and initiative to bust
ness interests the country over. It is faith
like this that will remove altogether that
mountain of depression which has weighed
upon industry and commerce The man who
believes strongly enough in his community,
his commonwealth, his nation to go con-
structively forward when times are not the
best is the true prosperfty-maker, and he
It is who will profit most from the return
ing tides of activity. Assuredly, too, there
Is good reason for faith in Americas bust
ness future. Her primary resources are as
rich as ever, and as manifold; the needs Of
her own people for the products of her fac
tories and fields wax continually greater;
and the wide worlds need for them is i'm
mense. These conditions are basic, and they
are constant. They may be obscured for a
season by this or that cloud of circumstance;
and by foolish politics or by the ignoring of
economic laws they may be kept from yield
ing their due benefits; but they remain,
nevertheless, and so soon as they are free
to operate they bring prosperity as natural
~ as warm sun and shower bring vegeta-
ton. It is the superficial, shortsighted view
that causes pessimism; to look deep and far
In to gain faith. And it is they who, like
John Wanamaker, act forth their faith that
hasten and assure the return of good times.
To merchants, bankers, manufacturers and
citizens generally Of his foresight and cour-
age we owe, in large measure, the nation
wide brisking up of business in recent weeks;
and largely through their attitude and their
effort will recovery be pressed to completion.
Sagacious Ben Franklin, observing that
there are croakers in every country, always
boding it ruin" tells of such a one who lived
in Philadelphia, "a person of note, an elder
ly man, with wise look and very grave
manner of speaking" 'This gentleman
Franklin relates, ga stranger to me, stopt
one day at my door and asked me If were
the young man who had lately opened new
printing house. Being answered in the af-
firmative, he said he was sorry for me, be-
cause it was an expensive undertaking and
the expense would be lost; for Philadelphia
was sinking place, the people already half
bankrupts, or near being so; all appearances
Z to the contrary being to his certain knowl-
edge fallacious. And he gave me such de-
tail of misfortunes now existing, or that were
soon to exist, that he left me half melan-
choly. Had I known him before I engaged
In this business, probably I never should
have done it. This man continued to live in
this decaying place, and to declaim in the
same strain, refusing for many years to buy
a house there, because all was going to de-
struction; and at last / had the pleasure OF
seeing him give five times as much for one
as he might have bought it for when he first
began his croaking. ..
In many town today are those who will
be wishing a few years few months
hence they had gone sturdily forward in.
stead Of hanging back in drop-jawed doubt
Not to them will come the goodly rewards OF
re-invigorated industry and trade, but tc
those who now have faith in America and
who put their faith to work. This, as Mr.
Wanamaker sees it, is the best cure for un.
employment and the speedest solvent Of
! kindred problems-"not by relaxing our eff
forts, putting on blue glasses and keeping
our money in our pockets, but by making
needed improvements starting to build ant
: rebuild, buying and selling, putting to work
our energies, our brains, our moneys"