The Cordova daily times., 1922-12-12
GREAT DEALER IS DEAD AT
 ADVANCED AGE

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 12 - John Wanamaker, the world famous mer- chant and former Postmaster General of the United States, passed away at his home here at eight o'clock this morning, aged eighty four years. MT. Wanamaker had been confided to his town house since early in November with heavy cold, contracted at his country estate "Lyndenhurst" at Jenk- inton, in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Though at an advanced age, MT. Wan amaker was active in all his business affairs up to the time he was stricken with his last illness He is survived by son, Rodman, and two married daughters.
 John Wanamaker was born July II, 1888, in Philadelphia County, Pa. His father, John Nelson Wanamaker, was a brick maker and his paternal grand father a farmer. His ancestors were among the earliest settlers under Will iian Penn.
 Until he was fourteen John Wana- maker attended the public school, then entered the employment of a local publishing house, at salary of s1.25 a week.
 John Wanamaker led in the crea- tion of the department store as an in- stitution in American life. In 1861 when he began business for himself in a humble way in Philadelphia, retail merchandising in this country was in a disorganized state. There were in those days no fixed selling prices for goods. Business then demanded IS hour day from all it's employees. Gus toners spent hours price-haggiing with salesmen. MT. Wanamaker was impressed with this waste of time and to eliminate it he became pioneer in fixing selling price for goods.
 Aside from establishing his one price policy and making shorter bus mess day, MT. Wanamaker established in the new store two systems, one of sales and the other of organization. He learned it was cheaper to manufac- ture some classes of goods than to buy from manufacturers and he became one of the first retailers to do this. He found it difficult to get employees who were properly instructed in their duties and he organized training schools where his workers were taught the "Wanamaker system"
 He was known as a great believer in newspaper advertising. He spent millions of dollars in it. One of the features of his advertising campaign was his development of the Store News Page" which he led with an editorial, invariably written by him. self, to keep the public in touch with the policies of his business.
 He took an active part in most or the presidential campaigns and gave a great amount of work to the Repub- lican National Executive Committee, of which he was member during the Harrison campaign. Upon the election of Harrison, he was invited to enter the cabinet, and although there was much criticism to the effect that a merchant was unfit for cabinet po- sition. MT. Wanamaker became Post master General and was acknowledged later by his critics to have worked many desirable reforms in the postal system.
 Early in his career Mir. Wanamaker married Mary B. Brown, who cooper ated with him in much of his phil anthropic work. He founded the Pres byterian Hospital in Philadelphia, the First Penny Savings Bank there, as sisted in erecting many Young Mems Christian Association buildings, and contributed toward college missionary institutions in India, China and Japan. At the outbreak of the European war he was one of the first to assist in the relief of the Belgians, equipping two shiploads of foodstuffs which were sent to the invaded country.
 lRIsH SENATE SWORN