Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-09-08
SIMPLIFIEDSP Spelling.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT LEAVES
IT TO POPULAR APPROVAL.
The Simplified Spelling Advocated by
the Board and Put in Official Docu-
ments Is Up for Argument-He Says
Drop It if not PopuIar-His Letter
to Public Is Printed,

Oyster Bay, N. Y, Sept. An let
ter to Charles A. Stillings, public prin-
ter at Washington. made public re-
Gently, President Roosevelt wrote that
if the changes in spelling advocated
by the simplihed spelling board and
put into use in official documents
meets with popular approval they will
be made permanent If not, he wrote,
they will BE- dropped The presidents
letter follows:
Hon. Charles A. Stillings, public
printer, Washington. d. C.-My Dear
Mr.. Sullings; ! enclose herewith cop
les of certain circulars of the simpli-
fed spelling board, which can be OBJ
tanned free from the board at No. 1
Madison avenue, New York city.
Please hereafter direct that in all gov
eminent publications Of the executive
departments the above 300 words emu
merated in circular No. 5 shall be
spelled as therein set forth. If any
one asks the reason for the action re-
fer him to circulars 3, 4 and as is
sued by the simplified spelling board.
Most of the criticism of the proposed
step is evidently made in entire igno-
rance Of what the step is no less than
in entire ignorance of the very moder-
ate and common sense views as to the
purposes 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 initiate any
far reaching policy. The purpose sim
ply is for the government, instead of
tagging behind popular sentiment, to
advance abreast of 1t and at the same
time abreast of the views of the ablest
and most practical educators of our
time, as well as of the most profound
scholars-men of the stamp of Profes
sor Lounsbury and Professor Skeat.
"If the slight changes in the spell
ing Of the 800 words proposed wholly
or partially meet popular approval
then the changes will become perma
men without any reference to what
| public officials or individual private
citizens may feel; If they do not ulti
mately meet with popular approva
they will be dropped, and that is al
there is about it. They represent
nothing in the world but a very Sigh
extension of the movement which hal
made agricultural implement makers
and farmers write pillow instead o.
| plough, which has made most Amer
leans write honor" without the some
what absurd superf1uous ~ and which
Is even now making people write pro
gram without the me- just as all PEG
pie who speak English now write bat
set dim sum and fish instead OF
the Elizabethan bate, 'sette,' "dm.
me- 'summe' and 'fyshe'; which makes
us write public, almanac, ERA fan
| tasy' and 'wag H. instea f 'pu3lick
'alrianack, 'aera.' 'phantasy' and 'wag.
gon' of our great grandfathers.
ut is not an attack on the language
| is in some instances a 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 not
at attempt to do anything far reaching
or sudden or violent, or, indeed, any
thing very great at all. 1t is merely
an attempt to cast what slight weight
can properly be cast upon the side of
popular forces which are endeavoring
to make our spelling little less fool
ish and fantastic. Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"