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' .' ' '":' ...EVENlTOPTroMO'tEpaEBPHnaBtiraiA', S ATUBDAY V JULY 3, 1820'
Great Opportunities Often
Come Unexpectedly
Those who are not ready can only
stand still while'the chance goes by.
Today Ends the Patriotic
Movement of the Past Two Months
QNE hundred and forty
four years ago at this
time, the eyes of the
world, as far as those eyes
could then read signs,
were on a building on
Chestnut Street in Phila
delphia, the then capital
of the royal colony of
Pennsylvania.
Here the gage of de
fiance to the tyranny of
monarchy had just been
thrown down, with a
force and earnestness
there was no misunder
standing. OnJuly4,1776,
the thirteen American
colonies' Declaration of
Independence of the op
pressive interference of
Great Britain in their af
fairs was passed by the
Continental Congress,
then in session in the
PennsylvaniaStateHouse,
probably the most impos
ing building in the city
at that time. The actual
ceremony of signature,
and the picturesque in
cidents of ringing the
Liberty Bell and reading
the document to the populace assembled in Inde
pendence Square, did not follow until several days
later; but the Fourth is "the day we celebrate,"
although this year the public holiday will be generally
observed on Monday, the 5th.
For a New Store to Declare Independence
of existing commercial methods, whereinever they involved injustice to
the customer, or his cpercion, was as bold a step in its way as for a new and
self -created nation to cast off time-worn conceptions of government.
Yet it was without any precedent for his policies, that have since
become famous and used as a model the world over, that the Pounder.of
the Wanamaker business opened in 1861 in Philadelphia, not only a new
store, but a New Kind of Store. Its original location, by the way, was just
one square East of the ancient building, then still standing, in which
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and just one
square North of the venerable State House, now still standing, in which
the Declaration was passed.
Faith in facts is a force as well
as a terminal.
We believe we have made a
steady advance on a predetermined
plan of potential value affecting
the price rulings of articles and
commodities of living expenses.
In this view, we have received
from almost every direction hearty
approval of the business world of
the position we Have taken to stand
resolutely against any further
advances in rates of merchandise.
Let those who have stored up
their holdings for larger prices
suffer a few losses, which they can
bear, as they have had large profits
for four years.
It will be a profound satisfaction
to labor not to have to lay out more
money for everything its members
need.
It would also encourage
manufacturers to meet the new
conditions upon them if workers
were to find a way, not hard to find,
to increase the production of the
present shortened hours.
... ,We may be depended upon to
Lend a Hand
to meet the exigencies that arise day
by day, of which the past two
months of service will go upon
record.
Signed
July 3, 1920
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In this Store, and in the greater one in Wanamaker Square, at
Chestnut, Market, Juniper and Thirteenth Streets, that succeeded it, the
buying public has never known aught but liberty and fair dealing, and for
two generations has been accustomed to have its interests looked out for
here to an extent that at times has been characterized as quixotic by
those not willing to go the same lengths in the same business.
May, 1920, found the people of these many more than thirteen States
facing a crisis that called for another declaration of independence.
They Needed Deliverance From the Rising Prices
loaded on them in great part by hoarders and speculators quite as much
as the colonists of 1776 needed relief f om the exactions of the Stamp Tax
and from voracious troopers quartered on their homes. "
Everybody was just awfully sorry about it do you remember?
but nobody moved until we did. It seemed time for an old Store to
declare independence.
May Third, 1920, is the date that will stay in many memories. On
that day came the unprecedented announcement which again drew the
eyes of the world toward a notable building of Chestnut Street, Philadel
phia, Pennsylvania:
"For a limited time 20 per cent off prices on practically every
thing in Wanamaker ys. "
This movement now famous as "the Wanamaker 20 per cent move
ment" concludes today with the withdrawal of the universally applying
20 per cent deduction. But with it
We Started the Big War for Fairer Prices
for the People And Are Winning!
Manufacturers said, "Don't shoot, Til come down"; and many were
very glad to come down with their hid-away merchandise and get
cash for it. (More than $12,000,000 altogether; no slight easement of
circulation!)
But that has not been all.
The people of this city and State will not quickly forget that for
two long months they freely satisfied their needs from the splendid, well-kept-up
Wanamaker stocks, and got twenty cents back every time they
bought a dollar's worth even two cents back on every dime's worth!
But that hasn't been all.
Retailers who had the courage and the public spirit to follow us by
sacrificing individual profit to public weal sprang up in every town and
village. The movement crossed the seas. Like an atmospheric pressure,
it made a dent in many a soaring price-balloon.
The trend of prices today is downward at home and abroad.
With some exceptions you can go into either the wholesale or the
retail market and buy your goods for somewhat less than you could two
months ago, when the Wanamaker challenge was flung.
But even that is not all. Day in and day out, the evidences of the
downward trend grow and accumulate.
More evidence will appear. Larger effects will be proved. They
will be proved more outstandingly in the Wanamaker Store than, likely,
anywhere else.
We've Accomplished the First Step That
We Planned Now for the Next!
On Tuesday, July 6th, the Store will reopen with the usual abun
dant, fresh and excellent stocks of seasonable merchandise.
Those entering it will find unmistakable demonstration of what this
Wanamaker war against war prices has already effected.
It has ever been the purpose of the Wanamaker Store to keep up
the worth of living and keep down the cost of it. These efforts have not
come to an end.
John Wanamaker Philadelphia
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