The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-08-29
PresidentSurprises
Simple Spoilers

1850 49, - -
PROF. BRANpER MAT lEsvs
DIDN'T E&cERT ESEcslTlNE
AID LE2lcoeRAP HERS 8
LIN
NEW YORK.. Aug. The Sim
plifed spelling Board replied yesters
day to adverse criticism Of its re-
form movement In English newspa7
pers BY announcing that DR.. James
AZ al, Murray and Prof Joseph
Wright two n6ted English lexieo;
graphers. had been added to the
boards membership. Italsc announc7
ed that prominent American would
take his place among the members
soon, but refused to divulge this mans
name. incidentally 1t told how popu,
lar the movements IS becoming by call
ing attention to the numerous requestst
for information4 concerning simpltaed
spelling that made up the boards
mail.
DR.. Murray is the senior editor Of.
the Oxford Dictionary, and an ardent
advocate Of the reform movement In
his letter OF acceptance 10 the board
he expressed his entire sympathy with
the work the board has undertaken,
Prof. Wright is Professor Of Compare
live Pathology in Oxford University,
and editor Of the English Dialect Die
tionary, which has Just been com.
pleted after thirty years Of work. n
"Prof. skeat. the editor Of the Eng.
fish chronological Dictionary, became
member OF the board two months.
ago" said Prof. Brander Matthews,
chairman Of the board yesterday.
.'The sImplified Spelling Board now
includes the editors OF The three chief,
English dictionaries published in.
Great Britain as well as the editors
of the three chief American dfction-
aries. Webster's, the Century and the
Standard.
@The adhesion Of the foremost lin.
guistic authorities of both branches
Of the Englfsh.speaking race ought to-
be reassurring to those who have
dreaded that the recommendations Of
the simplifed Spelling Board might
work harm to our tongue and etymol-
ogy. It serves to show that those who.
know most English spelling believe II
ought to be improved.
"sooner or later what we propose
to do is bound to go through. All:
thinking people already realize that.
and nothing better could have happens
ed for our movement than to have the.
president stand on hilltop and blow
a vigorous blast for US. What we want
to do is to arouse the interest of peo-
Die and make them look into, what we
are really proposing, AMI the Presi-
dents action win do that as nothing
else could.
"The Presidents order came as an
entire surprise to me. am sure
that 1 did not even send him any OF
The documents published by the board,
and did not have any idea that he was
interested in the subject, even, until
a request for our list of recommended
spellings was received from Secretary
Loeb.
"The next / knew was the announce
ment Of the order in the papers. ! am
very glad to find that the President
was more interested in our efforts
than | supposed, and 1 feel sure that
his Endorsement will be Of the great
est possible benefit to the simplifled
spelling movement"
Assistant Secretary Wharton of the
board said that there were SO many
requests for circulars in yesterday
mail that 'the printer was ordered to
rush OF an edition of from 10000 to
15. 1000 OF each pamphlet" He also
said that department stores, short
hand schools, magazines. and CONNER
cfal enterprises had sent letters In
dorsing the movement.
"The opponents Of the movement
have said that many professors OF col
leges and universities have not in
dorsed it" said Mr.. Wharton. II have
started to sift down this statement.
So FAR have examined our adhesion
list and have found that in three
states seventy.three professors have
announced their willingness to use
the simplffed forms. In California
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