The Washington times., 1922-05-08
NATIONAL cash !.
REGISTER HEAD
DIES SUDDENLY
John n. Patterson, Famed as
Executive, Succumbs
Aboard Train.
BY Universal Service.

ATLANTIC CITY. N. j.. May g.
John Henry Patterson. founder OF
the National Cash Register Com.
pany, died on a train 10 miles from
this city,yesterday OF heart disease.
He was accompanied only by his
valet.
Mr.. Patterson had been Ill for
several weeks at his home in Day.
ton, Ohio, and had intended spend.
ing three weeks here to recuperate.
Mr.. Patterson was talking to his
valet when he fell from his seat
to the floor. DIR. T. F. Trudeau, of
Saranac Lake, was summoned from
another car, but when he arrived,
Mr.. Patterson was dead.
The body was brought to this
city to await advices from Dayton.
Was IS Years Old.
Mr.. Patterson, organizer and
founder of the National Cash Reg
lister Company, and ever since its
establishment in 1854 it's president
and manager. was in his seventy.
eighth year.
His lifelong interest in his home
community and particularly his
spectacular efforts in behalf Of his
neiRhbors during the awful Dayton
floods OF ten years ago brought ad.
ditional fame to that which he won
as a world-known business man.
He was known throughout world
business and Industrial circles for
advocating cooperation between en-,
ployer and employe and had a ma.
tional reputation as a lecturer and
writer on labor questions and muni-
cipal and legislative reform.
For his efforts in behalf Of his
employees he was decorated by the
French government in 1900 with
Associates Shocked.
DAYTON, Ohio. May s.-Dayton
was shocked today by the news
that John II. Patterson, chairman
OF the board OF directors Of the
National Cash Register Company,
had died aboard a train near Allan.
tic City this afternoon.
Mr.. Patterson was the real
founder OF the commission form OF
government In this city in January.
1914.
When the flood of March, 1918.
deluged Dayton and surrounding
territory. Mr.. Patterson became in.
stantly the man of the hour.
While the black waters were still
swirling through the heart OF Day.
ton at a depth OF l3 feet ne or
ganiZed his executives, foremen and
employees. At midnight Of March
25, he Issued orders for boats 10 be
built and they were turned out at
the rate OF nine an hour.
Then came the question Of food
and clothing and medicine. Hun.
dreds of flood victims were cared
for. The y. c. Il. plant became O
great hospital and morgue.
Mr.. Patterson refused to handle
war contracts until after the United
States declared war. Then he imme-
diately placed his entire plant at the
disposal OF President Wilson and
coined his slogan, War first and
business second. II there IS any
time"
Aided in War.
In those stirring days Of 1917 and
1918 placards were upon all the
walls in the great plant. reading:
For Gods sake, hurry up" They
proved a great inspiration to the
workers and they speeded up and
kept on speeding up and contributed
IN a greater measure than the out.
side world knew TO the success Of the
American troops abroad.
Mr.. Patterson and twentv-nine OF
his executives and subordinate Of
ficers we're indicted by the Federal
grand jury on the charge Of violat-
ing the Sherman antitrust law. Mr..
Patterson was found guilty, fined
and sentenced to serve one year in
Jail. He appealed the case and
eventually II was dismissed by the
Supreme Court OF the United States.
completely vindicating the cash
register genius.
Mr.. Patterson and his late brother.
Steven J. Patterson, after selling
their coal business. in 1884, started
west to buy a ranch. In Colorado
Springs they encountered a man
from the East who praised the cash
register then being made in Dayton
by the National Manufacturing Com
pany. Mr.. Patterson and his brother
had used one Of those early-day af-
fairs and found Il a good thing.
They decided TO return to Dayton
and acquire the plant. which was
then employing thirteen workmen
and one sales agent.