The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-18
SPEAKS
A'TOPEN|FlRUN.
Interesting Discussion on on
Honesty in Business
Held on Sunday.

HElu VII Sulludys
---------
Can a Man Make a Success in
Business and Be Absolutely Hon
That was the question that was
discussed yesterday afternoon, at
an open forum meeting at the Y.
N. 9. A. building. Prof. Joseph
Roster, head OF the Fairmont
State Normal school. presided aud
J. NJ. Hartley opened the discus
sion with a paror on John wana.
maker, great mercantile leader
who died last week.
Nearly everybody took the az.
firmatiye side OF the case. But
Professor Roster finally got one
or two men on their feet who were
willing to do little talking from
the negative angle. The presiding
officer stated that an open forum
should not be a one sided discus
sion.
These little Sunday afternoon
meetings will be a feature Of the
Y. N. G. A. program from now
on. There will be. no meeting next
Sunday but the following week
there will be a session. It Is likely
that the next topic discussed will
be. what Constitutes Real suS-
cess?"
The Billy Sunday Club quar-
tette, composed Of G. ". Swigor,
E.. G. Musgrove, n. E. Mason and
L. E. Gainor, sang several num-
bers at the opening Of tho meet
ing.
In opening his talk, Mfr. Hartley
said: Your Mr.. Ludwig wants 10
teach a boy so years old to make
speeches. and I hope he can, but
you know the old saying. It's
hard to teach an old dog new
tricks"
Then he continued 1.-THE sub
1ect today Is. Can a Man Make a
Success in Business and Be Abb
solutely Honest
~ am to try to tell you sope.
thing about John Wanamalfer who
died last week at the age OF 81
years, who was not only an hon.
est merchant, but through his
honest methods Of conducting his
business did a lot OF good.
"fhe Wanamaker family did
not have much money. John. born
In 1898, educated in the public
schools, his father a brlcklayer
and his grandfather a farmer
John wanter to get into business
His first job was an errand boy In
a store at $1.25 a week. Then he
got a position as salesman in a
retail store at $3.50 a week, and
In time saved 800.
This was the foundation of his
fortune. He only had 800, but
he had learned to save.
!. .'In 1855 .ihe was elected the
first paid secretary Of the Y. NJ
6. A. He enlisted in the Union
Army in 81. but was not passed
on account OF, Ill health. In 1851
he opened his first store, history
tells us-a small clothing store at
Market and Sixth streets-the
day Fort Sumter was fired on.
i'He inaugurated shorter bust.
ness days, the one-price system.
Before this they had had an asking
price and the best haggler got the
best bargain. The first days sales
brought $24.67. They had used $24
for advertising and kept the 81
cents for change.
''He inaugurated the first Satur.
day half holiday. Up to that time
1t was customry 10 open the store
at $3.50 and close at 7:30-Satur.
days at 10:30.
From 1889 TO 1898 no was Post.
master General and inaugurated
many reforms. He was considered
one OF the best Postmaster Gen.
erals the country ever had,
"ln 1877 he opened a new kind
OF store-sa department store where
great quantities Of merchandise OF
all kinds was kept In stock.
"Mr. Wanamaker has been be.
fore tho public since 1877 as an
honest merchant and Christian
gentleman of the highest type. He
was a great church man. He built
up the largest Sunday school in
this country and when Postmaster
General would go,from Washington
nearly every Sunday to be in his
place as superintendent.
This brings us to the subject,
Can Man Make Success in
Business and Be Absolutely Hon.
est,
"Mr. wanamaker enjoyed the
greatest success in business and
was honest with his customers as
Ia'