Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-12-12
JOHN WANAihAKER
DIED EARLY TODAY,
WAS "a YEARS OLD
First Worked I'm Brick Yard.
Continued from page I.


scarcely find anywhere a trace Of the
old practices.
First Worked In Brick Yard.
Mr. Wanamaker was "a years old
when he entered upon his careU. In
partnership with his brotherin law.
Nathan Brown. on n joint capital of
$500. I'm a clothing business at Phil !
adelphia. lie had been born in that
city, July II. 1885 His father and
his fathers father had been brick |
makers. and John Wanamakers first
work was turning bricks" He was
the oldest OF seven children and early
In his boyhood he was obliged to give
up schooling and earn his own way.
His first wages were si.25 a week as
an errard boy ir a Philadelphia book
store, and then as a young man he
was employed for a time AT Towu-
Hall. a famous old Philadelphia cloth
ing house. where his personality and
business ability were developed FOR his
venture In business for himself. The
Brown 4 Wanamakcr store began
business with first days sales ac-
count OF S2i. and ended its fast year
with a rccord OF $4,000 business. Mr..
Wanamaker and his hrothcr-in-law
were. during their first few months of
business. unable 20 afford a horse and
wagon Tor delivery. and Mr.. Wans-
maker himself pushed a two wheel
cart to deliver his goods. Ills part
ner's health failing. most of the details
OF the business devolved upon Mr.
Wanamaker
Acid 81, l.
policy and making shorter business
day. MIR. Wauamakcr established I'm
the new store two systems. one of
sales and the other Of organization.
lie learned IL was cheaper 20 manu-
faCturc some classes of goods than to-
buy from manufacturers and hc he
came one ~ the first retailers 10 do
this He found IL difficult 20 get en-
ploycs who were properly instructed
In their duties AMI he organized train
| ing schools whore his workers were
taught the "Wanamakcr system"
Rccamc Prominent IN 1876.
Mr.. Wanamakcr interested himself
nv many civic activities. Itc was the
first salari,d secretary I'm America of
the Young MEMS Christian Associa-
tion. i'm 1858: ono of the founders of
the Christian Commission during the
. CINil War. and one of the organizers
of the Centennial Exposition in 1876.
/ In tho latter year D, began tho de
Iv,lopmcut 81 his department store.
establishing the house oc John Wana-
maker & Company ON Chestnut ST
Philadelphia. and twenty wears later
established similar business i'm NV
York ass Successor of \. T Stewart II
is estimated that during his entire
business career Mi WanamakCr had
distributed into American homes MGR
ohaudis, reaching nearly a billion dol
lars iu value
lie was known as a great believer
In advertising. M newspaper adNcr'is
INK above an other varieties. tie spcn
millions 90 dollars ia 10. ono of the
features Of his advertising campaign
was his development 81 tho "Stor,
News Page" which ne led with az
editorial over hts own signature. in
Variably written 10y hims n. To Keel
the public In touch with the policic
81 his business. Ills friends often saw
Itfl NAANAlk FAAN TT WI f-'tAAhA AAA f'tA Att
way 90 the store I'm the morning
sCribhling 10 OH the hack ~ an cnVolop
or any odd scrap 90 paper he haa 81
his pocket.
Deeply Interested In His Employees.
lie was always looking f"r he,t,
and newer ways ol doing business am
. aside from providing conVcnieucrs a.
luyers and securing able infringement
- Mr. Wauamakcr paid great attcnuo
b go The welfare az his employees. cstah
=. fishing among them many institution
b. for cultivating "a spirit ~ ,omradcshiI
educating them Co improve their earn
iuc capacity. providing retirement a
y old employees on retired pay. ann or,
- ating court az appeal chosen by cm
F. ployes 60 which any complaints coal
= De- taken.
o. one of thc greatest tributes eve
paid 60 an American merchant wa
: that gwen 90 Mr. Wauamaker in ID
fan Of 1911 on the ntt.eth aUriversar
2 of his business career. Thrice
thousand Of his employees from bot
the New York and Philadelphia store
greeted him IN his Philadelphia stot
n and presented hm wiki the house
which he was born. and % Jubilee boo
4 u which each OF tae thirteen thou'
and had written tnc.r names. \ sim
d, lar tribute Was pad 90 that time
New York where committee repr.
sentiug the merchants ~ t.- Unite
x states. including l30 q his uas us'
associates and competitors met 60 q
lin honor az a luncheon. He ".
presented with a handsome silver lo'
ing cup and heard his rivals laUd hil
as a merchant prince a. Tie Countr
Was Long Active In Politics.
In political life Nj. Wanamak'
was prominent as an independent Il'
publican In 1852 he was offered ~
Republican nomination as congress
man-at-llrEe FOR the state Of Penn
sylvanla. but declined j.. and in lS'
he declined 20 be an independci
candidate for mayor Of philadelphia
lie took an active part in rpost Of tt
presidential campaigns and gave
great amount Of work 10 the Repui
- llcau National Executive Committe
Of which he was member during Oh
Harrison campaign. Upon the ele'
ton Il Harrison. Mr.. Wanamak'
was invited 10 enter the cabinet. an
- although there was much criticis
4 % the effect that a merchant was IN
III for cabinet position. Mr.. Want
o: maker became Postmaster Gener
A. and was acknowledged later by n
critics 20 have worked many desirah
i- reforms in the postal system. Organ
- zation. system. method and businc