The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-11
SIMPLE SPOILERS AT WAR.
roo MUCH MATTHEWS AND
THOWAS FOR DIR. JORDAN.



SAN Francisco. Cal, Nov. fO.-Trouble
has broken out in the ranks OF the simple
spoilers. When Andrew Carnegie furnished
the armorplate cash and Brander Matthews
the pneumatic power to launch the cam
paign for -olipt' orthography there was
published a long list OF eminent names
whose possessors were ~nounc al being
heart and soul with the Congratulations
word syndicate.
After that the work went on merrily.
The now famous list OF 300 words, just for
a starter. said Prof. Matthews, was prepared
and made public.
Now it appears that Prof. Matthews
and Prof. Calvin Thomas, both of Column
bia University, have developed the power
Of initiative largely unfettered by the
bonds Of referendum To the other members
of the advisory board. whose names they
ave been ramming down the threats OF
all DIRECTORS TO proposed changes.
Unconsulted member have naturally
objected to this style Of doing business.
DIR. David Starr Jordan, president OF Le-
land Stanford University. is one OF the
principal rebels in the simple spelling ad-
visory board. In fact, his revolt has taken
the fom Of resignation from that body.
He told THE S'N correspondent about it
to-day at Berkeley, where he had gone to
see the first game OF Rugby played be-
tween Leland Stanford and the University
OF California.
Il object he said, ito being placed on
record, by reason Of my connection with
the advisory board, as ~favorinR a lot Of
changes in our photography which have
never even been submitted to me. like the
300 words submitted to President Roosevelt
as representing the views Of the Reformed
Spelling Board. AS a member of the ad-
visory board, I I'M supposed to have APP
proved that list. But l dom approve all
changes it recommends. A number of them
1 regard as decidedly undesirable.
Il never saw the list before l read it in
the papers. l therefore sent in my resig-
nation as a member OF the Reformed Spell
ing Advisory Board. I felt l could not
afford to run any further risk of being
placed in a false position. l stated my
views to Prof. Matthews and received word
that they hoped l would reconsider my
resignation and that my objections would
be met.
IF this means that in future all proposed
changes in words are to be first submitted
to members Of the board, that they shall be
allowed to vote upon them before they are
put out as the choice OF the board, all well and
good, but no man in my position a afford
to have a proposition to alter the aspect
OF the English language put orward. as
bearing his approval when he has not even
been consulted about it.
so far as I know, Prof. Matthews and
Prof. Thomas have thus far done practically
all the reforming themselves. l haven't
heard Of any other members of the adj
visory board who nave been consulted
about it in anything like a systematic way,
though, Of course, it may have been OBJ
vious that a general ballot on the pr opposed
changes is the only way OF getting anything
like fairly representative views.
THAT is the way it is done when the
pronunciation Of words is fixed for
Webster's Dictionary"
President Jordan is particularly stirred
up about the proposition to spell through
thru This spelling was among the
300 changes the President ordered adopted
by the Government Printing Office, sup
posedly on the advice of the Reformed
Spelling Board. DR.. Jordan, however,
declares there is no justification of any sort
for this change.
sin fact, he said, Prof. Matthews and
Prof. Thomas do not appear to ave based
their changes upon any system OF alteration
whatever. There are in that list Of 800
words several cases OF inconsistency. l
have no objection to program in place Of
programme or center in place of
centre but when it comes to spelling
'pygmy' 'pigmy' there is reason for OBJ
lection, because here you get far away
from the Greek root.
However, these are mere details. II I
am TO be a member of the advisory board
l am going TO be a working member and | do
not intend to have any other mans ideas
put forward as mine when they are not"
This detection OF President Jordan leaves
simple spoilers without any strong prop
on the Pacific Coast. President Wheeler
of the University OF California is outspoken
in condemnation Of the changes.
DON'T GREASE ANY PALMS.