Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-09-01

1 is no Hnal standard OF OrthOEraphy.
| Nowhere is there any authority to set
| up such a standard All that the ac-
| cepted dictionaries can do is to record
| the varying usages. Their editors
have received no charter to decide fin
ally between conflicting forms, much
| less to propose improved forms. The
| board, on the other hand, seeks to
| change what is bad and to introduce
improvements. 1t wishes to establish
and extend good usage, to make it ma
| tional and. International
| 9. The board believes that the ar
guments against simplification are so
weak that the expression of them will
,help the cause 1t is confident that the
more the matter is considered the
| larger Will be the number Of converts
| and the swifter the advance. Circuln-
stances well understood by students of
| the subject have prevented many in
telligent persons. even many men of
! letters, critics, journalists, and others
connected with the public prints, from
! coming into contact with information
| upon the true nature and history of
| English spelling.
| 10. The board expects and welcomes
i
| cisms shall be made after, and not be-
/ fore, the critic has read the publica-
tons of the board or has otherwise
acquired the necessary information.
! The board does not wish to be consid-
cred responsible for proposals which it
! has not made for views which it does
not hold, or for things with which it
| has no concern. The board has many
/ things to say and to propose, and must
! not be expected TO state its whole case
in the compass Of one paragraph or Of
| one pamphlet
! II. The board recognizes that the
! progress of the cause of simplihcation
| depends upon the continuous spread
| ing of information. The work re-
/, quires time and patience. New circu-
| lars and other documents will be sent
out at intervals, but the board mu st
| not be expected to furnish something
new every week. All persons interest
ed may rest assured that the work will
i go on steadily until the main object is
accomplished.
IL. The board has among its menu
bers not only scholars and educa tors,
not only men of letters and men of at
fairs, but also specialists in linguistic
| science, including the editors of the
three chief American dictionaries.
Perhaps, therefore, it has a right to be
credited with some knowledge of thu
English language, of the history of
English orthogra ply, and of the diff
culties to be overcome in the endeavor
to- simplify 1T. But the board makes
no claim to authority" and it's pro-
posals must stand on their own merits,
each for itself.
49, The board accepts the RESPONSE
bility for its recommendations, present
and future, because it knows that if
there is to be progress, the initiative
must be taken by somebody. The sim
plification of spelling is no unconsct-
Gus process, newt table without human
effort. Without human effort, it would
at once cease. Every one of the sim
Publications. now accepted by all of us
was once the overt act of a single in
dividual, who was followed at first on
ly by small minority. If there is to
be improvement in the future as there
has been in the past, somebody must
be willing to poi1tt the way, somebody
! must set the example, somebody must
4 venture to propose the next step in
1 duVStIlCe. IL OILY tel ii.Sli lill1ih ~,
they should join and try to convince
the rest. But the dissatisfaction with
the present cumbersome and wasteful
photography is SO widespread that
thousands Of men and women have al
ready joined the movement and signed
the promise to use simplifed spellings
recommended by the board. And the
board has been gratified to find that
many of these adherents express their
disappointment that the recommends :
lions so far made are not more num-
/ erous and more radical.
IA. The board invites and will well
come the cooperation of any individ-
ual or of any organization who may
wish to aid in the good work, in any
! direction. Difference of opinion will
help rather than hinder. The more the
| subject is DISGUST the clearer the way
| will become, and the reader the public
will be to take the next step in adj
vance. The board will receive with
| pleasure all suggestions that may be
sent to it, and it will forward it's docu :
ments of information, free of charge,
to all who will ask.