The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1906-09-06

Oyster Bay. \. Y, Special-In Z
letter TO Charles 4. Stallings, Public
Printer at Washington. made public
President Roosevelt wrote that if the
changes in spelling advocated BY The
simplitied spelling board and put into
use In official documents meet popu-
lar approval they will be made per
manent. Ii not, he wrote. they will
be dropped. The presidents letter
follows:
Hon. Chas. 4. Stallings, Public Print
er, Washington, ID. c.
Ny Dear Mr.. Stallings:
/ enclose herewith copies of GER
tain circulars Of the simplificd spell
ing board, which can be obtained free
from the board at No. | Madison
avenue, New York city. Please here
after direct that in all government
publications OF the executive depart
ment three hundred words enumer-
ated in circutr No. shall be spelled
as therein set forth. If any one asks
the reason for the action, refer him
to circulars 3, and as issued by
the simplified spelling board. Most
OF the criticism of the proposed step
IS evidently made In entire ignorance
OF what the step is, no less than in
entire ignorance of the very moder-
ate and common sense views as to the
purpose to be achieved, which views
are so excellently set forth in the cir
culars to which | have referred.
There Is not the slightest intention
to do anything revolutionary or mi
tate any far-reaching policy. The
purpose simply is for the govern
ment, instead of tagging behind pop
ular sentiment, to advance abreast
OF it and at the same time abreast
OF the views Of the ablest and most
practical educators Of our time as
well as the most profound scholars
men OF the stamp of Professor
Loundsbury and Professor. Skeat. If
these slight changes in the spelling
OF the three hundred words proposed
wholly or partially meet popular ap-
proval, then the changes will become
permanent without any reference TO
what public officials or individual
private citizens may feel; if thew do
not ultimately meet with popular an
proyal they will be dropped, and
that is all there is about If. Thew
representing nothing in the world but
very slight extension of the I'M
conscious movement which has made
agricultural implement makers and
farmers write "plow' instead of
'plough,' which has made most
Americans write "honor,' without
the somewhat abrupt, superfuous
u, and which is even now making
people write "program without the
me just as all people who speak
English now write "bat.' "set.n
DIM" sum- and "fish." instead
OF the Elizabethan "batte.'' ''sette,n
dimme, - "summe' and "fysshe:'
which makes us write "public. - ..ai-
manac,' "era,' "fantasy'' and
wagon instead of the publick,o
aimanack," aera.' phantasy"
and wagon Of our great-erand-
fathers. 1t is not an attack on the
language Of Shakespeare and Milton.
because 1t is in some instances a 90
ing back to the forms they used, and
IN others merely the extension of
changes which as regards "other
Words have taken place since their
Time: 1t IS not an attempt to do
far-reaching or sudden or
violent, or indeed anything very
great at all. 1t is merely an attempt
TO cast what slight weight can
properly be cast on the side of the
popular forces which are endeavorine
to make our spelling little less
foolish and fantastic.
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.