New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-12
PLAN SPELLING REFORM.
We'll Known Men in Organization
Mr.. Carnegfe to GiUe Funds.

Announcement made yesterday that
organization including men OF affairs as well
as leading men Of letters, has been formed to
urge the simplihcation Of English spelling. This
new body is called the simpli1ed Spelling Board.
IT Will appeal 70 all who for educational or prac-
teal reasons wish TO make English spelling
easier. Andrew Carnegie has undertaken TO
bear the expense Of the organization Mr. Car
negie has long been convinced that English
might be made the world-language OF the fut-
ure, and thus one OF the influences leading TO
universal peace; and he believes that the chief
obstacle to its speedy adoption is to be found in
Its contradictory and difficult spelling
The Simplifed Spelling Board contains some
thirty members, living in various parts Of the
Union. Some Of them authors Of wide repu-
taton; some are professed scholars connected
with leading universities; some editors OF
American dictionaries; some are men distIn-
guished in public Hfe and some are men OF
affairs, prominent IN civil life. The member
ship is not yet complete. but It now includes
Chancellor Andrews. Of the University OF Ne
braska; Justice Brewer, Of the United States
Supreme Court: President Butler of Columbia
University; o. c. BlackIner, OF Chicago; An
drew Carnegie, s. l. Clemens Ozark Twain),
DR.. Melvil Dewey, DR.. Isaac X. Funk. editor
and publisher Of the Standard Dictionary; Ly-
man J. Gage, ex-Secretary OF the Treasury;
Richard Watson Glider, Editor Of The Century
Magazine; Dr. William T. Harris, United States
Commissioner OF Education, and editor OF Web
ster's International Dictionary: Professor
George Hempl, Of the University OF Michigan;
Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Henry
Holt, Professor William James. of Harvard;
President David Starr Jordan Of Leland Stan
ford, Jr., University Professor Thomas r. Louns-
bury, OF Yale. Professor Francis n March, OF
Lafayette: Professor Brander Matthews, Of CO.
lumbia; Judge Morrow, of the United States
circuit Court, California; DIT. BENJAMIN e.
Smith, editor. and Dr.. Charles p. @. Scott, ety.
mOlogtCaI editor OF the Century Dictionary;
President H. Il Seeley, OF the Iowa State Nor
nal School, Cedar Falls; Colonel Charles E
Institution; Professor Calvin Thomas, OF Co.
.lumbia; E. o. Vale. lately Editor Of 'IntelIt-
gence'; Dr.. William Hayes Ward, Editor OF the
independent; and President woodward. Of the
Carnegie Institution, Of Washington.
The Sinplified Spelling Board wishes to expe-
dite that process of sinplIfcation which has
been going II English, in spite OF the oppOSi-
ton Of conservatives ever since the invention OF
printing notably in the omission OF silent and
useless letters. Not so long ago, almanac was
spelt almanack, and music was nusick. In the
last few years techniC has been winning accept
ance IN place OF technique, program has been
substituting itself for programme. catalog for
catalogue and tho for though. These shorter
forms are already becoming familiar: they NAV
are no longer strange in the eyes Of the aver
age reader. and they found in use IN books
by authors Of repute and in periodicals of
standing.
The Immediate activities Of the Sir7n1fAaa
Spelling Board viii be directed by an executive
committee, chosen from the members living in
this city. An odice will be opened here to serve
as headquarters for the work; and from this Of
fee the campaign OF education VIII be conducted
by q competent staff Local societies viii be or
gsnized wherever group OF workers can be
Ing mapped out, which viii take years for their
full accomplishment.