The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-08-29
PresidentSurprises
Simple Spoilers
PROF. BRANDER MATTHEWS
DIDN'T EXCEPT EXECUTIVE
AIp-LEslc ocRARHERs
g LINE.

in ~ ~ e.
NEW YORK Aug 2s-The Sin.
plined Spelling Board replied yestsF.
day to adverse criticism Of its re-
form movement in English neWspas
pers by announcing that DE- James
"A. ii. Murray and Prof Joseph
Wright two noted English lexicc,
graphers, had been added to the
boards membership. 1t also announe
ed that a prominent American would
take his place among the members
soon. but refused to divu1ge this mans
name. incidentally it told how popu.
lar the movement is becoming by call
ing attention to the numerous requests
for information concerning simplihed
spelling that made up the boards
mail.
DR.. Murray is the senior editor OF
the oxford Dictionary, and ardent
advocate of the reform movement In
his letter Of acceptance to the board
he expressed his entire sympathy with
the work the board has undertaken
Prof. Wright is Professor Of Compare
tive Phiioiogy in Oxford University
and editor of the English Dialect Die.
tionary, which has just been com;
pleted after thirty years of work.
"Prof. Skeat. the editor of the Eng
fish chronological Dictionary. became
a member of the board two months
ago." said Prof. Brander Matthews,
chairman Of the board. yesterday.
"The simpIIfied Spelling Board now
includes the editors of the three chief
English dictionaries published In
Great Britain as we'll as the editors
Of the three chief American diction-
aries. Webster's, the Century, and the
Standard.
.aThe adhesion Of the foremost lin
guistic authorities Of both branches
Of the EngIish.spealdng race ought to
be reassurrfng TO those who have
dreaded that the recommendations OF
the Simplifed Spelling Board might
4 work harm to our tongue and etymoi-
Iogy. 1t serves to show that those who
know most English spelling believe II
lougnt 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 happen
ed for our movement than to have the
President stand on hilltop and blow
a v,eorous blast for us. What we want
10 do is to arouse the interest of peo-
pie and make them look into what We
are really proposing, and the Presi-
dents action will do that as nothing
else could.
aThe Presidents order came as an
entire surprise to me. I am sure
that 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 1 supposed, and feel sure that
his Endorsement will be of the great
est possible benefit to the simplifiei
spelling movement"
Assistant Secretary Wharton of the
board said that there were so many
requests for circulars in yesterdays
mail that ''the printer was ordered to
rush OF an edition of from 10000 to
1900 of each pamphlet" He also
said that department stores, short
hand schools, magazines, and CONNER
ciaI 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. 81 have
started to slft down this statement,
So far / have examined our adhesion
list and have found that in three
states seyenty-three professors have
announced their willingness to use
the simplihed forms. In California