Exhibit 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------



     The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of Alco Standard
Corporation ("Alco").

     The undersigned hereby appoints each of Kurt E. Dinkelacker, Michael J.
Dillon and J. Kenneth Croney as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf the foregoing Report on Form 10-K and
any and all amendments thereto for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.


     Dated this 29th day of November,1994.



                               SIGNED:    /s/  J. MAHLON BUCK, JR.
                                         ----------------------------
 

 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------



     The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of Alco Standard
Corporation ("Alco").

     The undersigned hereby appoints each of Kurt E. Dinkelacker, Michael J.
Dillon and J. Kenneth Croney as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf the foregoing Report on Form 10-K and
any and all amendments thereto for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.


     Dated this 29th day of November, 1994. 



                               SIGNED:    /S/  PAUL J. DARLING, II
                                         ----------------------------
 

 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------



     The undersigned certifies that he is Chief Financial Officer of Alco
Standard Corporation ("Alco").

     The undersigned hereby appoints each of Michael J. Dillon and J. Kenneth
Croney as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, to
execute, on his behalf the foregoing Report on Form 10-K and any and all
amendments thereto for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other documents
which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.


     Dated this 29th day of November, 1994. 



                               SIGNED:    /s/  KURT E. DINKELACKER
                                         ----------------------------
 

 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------



     The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of Alco Standard
Corporation ("Alco").

     The undersigned hereby appoints each of Kurt E. Dinkelacker, Michael J.
Dillon and J. Kenneth Croney as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf the foregoing Report on Form 10-K and
any and all amendments thereto for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.


     Dated this 29th day of November,1994. 



                               SIGNED:    /s/  WILLIAM F. DRAKE, JR.
                                         ---------------------------------

 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------



     The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of Alco Standard
Corporation ("Alco").

     The undersigned hereby appoints each of Kurt E. Dinkelacker, Michael J.
Dillon and J. Kenneth Croney as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf the foregoing Report on Form 10-K and
any and all amendments thereto for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.


     Dated this 29th day of November,1994. 



                               SIGNED:    /s/  JAMES J. FORESE
                                         ------------------------------

 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------



     The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of Alco Standard
Corporation ("Alco").

     The undersigned hereby appoints each of Kurt E. Dinkelacker, Michael J.
Dillon and J. Kenneth Croney as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf the foregoing Report on Form 10-K and
any and all amendments thereto for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.


     Dated this 29th day of November,1994. 



                               SIGNED:    /s/  FREDERICK S. HAMMER
                                         ---------------------------------

 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------



     The undersigned certifies that she is a Director of Alco Standard
Corporation ("Alco").

     The undersigned hereby appoints each of Kurt E. Dinkelacker, Michael J.
Dillon and J. Kenneth Croney as her attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on her behalf the foregoing Report on Form 10-K and
any and all amendments thereto for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.


     Dated this 29th day of November,1994. 



                               SIGNED:    /s/ BARBARA BARNES HAUPTFUHRER
                                         ---------------------------------

 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------



     The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of Alco Standard
Corporation ("Alco").

     The undersigned hereby appoints each of Kurt E. Dinkelacker, Michael J.
Dillon and J. Kenneth Croney as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf the foregoing Report on Form 10-K and
any and all amendments thereto for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.


     Dated this 29th day of November,1994. 



                               SIGNED:    /s/  DANA G. MEAD
                                         -----------------------

 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------



     The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of Alco Standard
Corporation ("Alco").

     The undersigned hereby appoints each of Michael J. Dillon and J. Kenneth
Croney as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, to
execute, on his behalf the foregoing Report on Form 10-K and any and all
amendments thereto for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other documents
which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.


     Dated this 29th day of November,1994. 



                               SIGNED:    /s/  RAY B. MUNDT
                                         -----------------------

 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------



     The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of Alco Standard
Corporation ("Alco").

     The undersigned hereby appoints each of Kurt E. Dinkelacker, Michael J.
Dillon and J. Kenneth Croney as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf the foregoing Report on Form 10-K and
any and all amendments thereto for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.


     Dated this 29th day of November,1994. 



                               SIGNED:    /s/  PAUL C. O'NEILL
                                         ----------------------------

 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------



     The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of Alco Standard
Corporation ("Alco").

     The undersigned hereby appoints each of Kurt E. Dinkelacker, Michael J.
Dillon and J. Kenneth Croney as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf the foregoing Report on Form 10-K and
any and all amendments thereto for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.


     Dated this 29th day of November,1994.



                               SIGNED:    /s/  ROGELIO G. SADA
                                         ----------------------------

 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------



     The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of Alco Standard
Corporation ("Alco").

     The undersigned hereby appoints each of Kurt E. Dinkelacker, Michael J.
Dillon and J. Kenneth Croney as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf the foregoing Report on Form 10-K and
any and all amendments thereto for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.


     Dated this 29th day of November,1994.



                               SIGNED:    /s/  JAMES W. STRATTON
                                         ----------------------------

 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------



     The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of Alco Standard
Corporation ("Alco").

     The undersigned hereby appoints each of Kurt E. Dinkelacker, Michael J.
Dillon and J. Kenneth Croney as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf the foregoing Report on Form 10-K and
any and all amendments thereto for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.


     Dated this 29th day of November,1994. 



                               SIGNED:    /s/  JOHN E. STUART
                                         ----------------------------

 
                                 CERTIFICATION



     I, J. Kenneth Croney, Secretary of Alco Standard Corporation do hereby
certify that the following resolutions were duly passed by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation on November 11, 1994, and that such resolutions
are, as of the date hereof, in full force and effect:

             FURTHER RESOLVED, that each of the officers and directors of the
       corporation is hereby authorized to appoint Kurt E. Dinkelacker, Michael
       J. Dillon and J. Kenneth Croney as his or her attorneys-in-fact on behalf
       of each of them each attorney-in-fact with the power of substitution, to
       execute on such officer's or director's behalf, one or more registration
       statements and annual reports of the corporation for filing with the
       Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and any and all amendments to
       said documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable to
       enable the corporation to register the offering of (i) serial preferred
       stock; (ii) common stock; (iii) debt securities; and/or (iv)
       participation interests in employee benefit plans under the Federal
       securities law, and to further enable the corporation to file such
       reports as are necessary under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
       Exchange Act of 1934 and such other documents as are necessary to comply
       with all rules, regulations or requirements of the SEC in respect
       thereto; and

             FURTHER RESOLVED, that any officer of the corporation is hereby
       authorized to do and perform, or cause to be done or performed, any and
       all things and to execute and deliver any and all agreements,
       certificates, undertakings, documents or instruments necessary or
       appropriate in order to carry out the purpose and intent of the foregoing
       resolutions.

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has set his hand this 29th day of
November,1994. 
 
                                         /s/ J. KENNETH CRONEY 
                                     ----------------------------------------
                                             J. Kenneth Croney