The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-12
WILL WORK TO MAKE
SPELLING EASIER
Prominent Men Are Interested
in the Movement
PROGRESS WILL BE SLOW
EnqIsh Language Is Spreading More
Rapidly Than Others and SPELL
ing Is Said to Be More
Illogical

Now York. March 11.-Announcement
was made today that an organization
including prominent men of affairs as
well as leading men of letters, has been
formed to urge the simplification OF Eng
fish smelling. This new body is called the
simplifed Spelling Board. 1t VIII apepai
- an who for educational or practical
,oasors wish to make English spelling
caster 10 acquire Mr.. Andrew Carnegie
has generously undertaken to bear the ex-
pense Of the organization. Mr.. Carnegie
has long been convinced that English
,,,ieht he made the world-language of the
fnfnre. and thus one of the influences
leading to universal peace; and he be-
lieves that the chief obstacle to its speedy
adontion is to be found in its contradic-
tory and difficult spelling.
The simplifed Spelling Board contains
some thirty members, living in various
narts of the Union. Some of them are
authors of wide regulations; some are
protested scholars connected with lead
ing universities; some are editors OF the
foremost American dictionaries; some are
men distinguished in public life; and some
arc men Of affairs, prominent IN civil
life The membership is not yet complete.
hut if now includes Chancellor Andrews
Of The University of Nebraska. Justice
pre,ye, Of the United States supreme
co,rt President Butler of Columbia uni
versitv. O. C. Blackmer of Chicago, An
drew Carnegie, S. l.. Clemens CMarR
Twain. Dr. Melvil Dewey, DIR. Isaac H.
Fink. editor and publisher of the stand
ard Dictionary;" Lyman ]. Gage. ex-sec-
rotary of the trasury; Richard Watson
Glider. editor of the Century Magazine;
Dr William 7. Harris, United States com
missioner of education, and editor OF
.'Webster's International dictionary
prof George Hempl of the University OF
Michigan Col. Thomas Wentworth fls-
einson. Henry Holt, Prof. William James
of Harvard. President David Starr Jor-
dan of Leland Stanford university, Prof.
Thomas r. Lounsbury of Yale, Prof.
FRANCIS A. March of Lafayette, Prof.
Prander Matthews of Columbia, Judge
Morrow of the United States circuit court,
California; DR.. Benjamin n. smith, editor,
and DR. Charles p. 6. Scott, etymologlcal
editor of the Century Dictionary" Pres
idant IT IT seerley of the Iowa State Nor
nal school Cedar Falls; Col Charles E.
enrague president of the Union Dime
Savings institution; Prof. Calvin Thomas
of Columbia, Mr.. E. o. Vale lately edi-
tor Of ..Intelligence:' Dr. William Hayes
Ward editor of the independents" and
President woodward of the Carnegie in
stitute of Washington
The establishment of the Simplied
Smelling Board is the result of an effort
made within the past year to secure the
use. by men of position of certain SIM
plified spelings adopted some years ago
nv the National Educational association
and now used by several important pub
lications. The response to this request
was very cordial. Hundreds of sigma
TIRES We're received pledging the writer's
to use these simpler forms in their per-
sonal correspondence. The membersN of
the Simplfed Spelling Board believe that
the time is now ripe for a forward move
ment They have learned the nature and
the strength of the opposition to be over
come They will not advocate change
merely for the sake of change. They
do not intend to urge any violent alter