The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-09-05
RoosEvELr's SPELLING.
Issues instructions 10 Public Printer
in Regadr to Spelling Reforn-If
New Method Becomes Unpopular
it Will Be "Dropt."

Oyster Bay, L. l., Sept. 2.-ln let
ter to Charles A. Stillings, pubic
printer at Washington, made public
today, President Roosevelt wrote that
if the changes in spelling advocated
by the simplifed spelling board and
put into the use in official documents
meet popular approval they will be
made permanent. If not, he wrote,
they will be dropped. The Presi-
dents letter follows:
Hon. Charles A. Stillings, Public
Printer, Washington, D. c.
My Dear Mr.. Stillings: I enclose
herewith copies of certain circulars
of the simplifed spelling board which
can be obtained free from the board
at No. l Madison avenue, New York
city. Please hereafter direct that in
all government publications Of the
executive departments the 800 words
enumerated in circular No. shall be
spelled as therein set forth. If any
one asks the reason for the action
refer him to circulars 3, 4, and 5, as
issr>d by the sirnplifed 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 moderate and common sense
views as to the purposes to be achiev-
ed. which views are so excellently set
forth in the circulars to which I have
referred. There is not the slightest
intention to do anything revolutionary
or initiate any far-reac ching policy.
The purpose simply is for the gov
ernment, instead Of tagging behind
popular sentiment, to advance abreast
of it and at the same time abreast OF
the ablest and most practical educa-
tors of our time as we'll as Of the
most profound scholars, men of the
stamp of Prof. Lounsbury and Prof
Skeat. If the slight changes in the
spelling of the 800 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 they do
not ultimately meet with popular ap-
proval they will be dropt and that is
all there is about it. They represent
nothing in the world but very slight
extension Of the unconscious move
ment which has made agricultural
implement makers and farmers write
..plow' instead Of plough which
has made most Americans write hon
orr without the somewhat absurd
superduous "u'' and which is even
now making people write program"
without the '"ne" just as all people
who speak English now write 'bat,"
"set," sum and fish" instead OF
the EHzabethan forms "batte, y
.sette,'' ''dimme," "summe' and
'.fysshe,'' and which makes US write
public" almanac" ERA fantasy"
and wagon instead of "publick,"
"almanack," "aera," "phantasy," and
Wagon" of our great grandfathers.
1t is not an attack on the language
of Shakespeare and Milton, becaue it
is is some instances going 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
snot an attempt to do anything far
reaching or sudden or violent, or in
deed 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 endeavoring TO make Our spelling
a little less foolish and fantastic.
Sincerely yours,
Theodore Roosevelt.