Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-11-04
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

To the Editor of the Telegraph
Permission has been given to the
writer of this communication to use
as she wishes the address delivered
June 4, 1919, at the annual meeting
of the Illinois Federation of Women's S
Clubs. The new conception of the
leaders of the National Speech Move
ment, that to speak American ard
not Uhmuricun," is the patriotic
duty of the native nd the foreign
born, is making a deep impression
here wherever it is presented.
Inquiries concerning the Speech
Movement, the record of Speech
Week celebrations held in other
places; inquiries from heads of or
ganizations concerning plans for pro-
cedure in permanently raising the
standard of English, have led the
writer to ask you to print this in
formation from Chicago.
The Better Speech Week of Har-
risburg will result in better speech
year. Several principals of the city
schools, citizens in charge of
evening English class work, many
public school teachers, officers of
several clubs, are among those who
from their own thought concerning
speech improvement have determined
to continue the celebration indefin-
itely.
The realization of many, that the
entire city is concentrating on speech
Improvement is achieving q new
civic solidarity of purpose and of
procedure. In working for the cause
of Better Speech For Better Ameri-
cans" Harrisburg, as usual, is a
medium of national progress.
From an address delivered at the
annual meeting of the Illinois Fed
GRAFTON of Women's Clubs, June 4,
1919:
"It is expected that during the
celebration of National Speech Week,
there will be all over the land a
rallying to the standard of good
speech.
Henry James has said that speech
is the one thing in our wonderful
civilization in America that we have
not standardized.
And de bunch cried to beat de
band!" said a poor foreign-born
woman who told how her sons
friends We're affected by the news
of his death in the war. She was
using the sterile vocabulary we had
given her to express her deepest
emotions. Is not out duty plain to
give these people not only more
American speech, but better Ameri-
can speech?" Will the foreign
born citizen have any respect for
the proper use of a language which
he hears so continually misused,
abused and degraded?
Better American Speech Week as
planned by the American Speech
Committee of the Chicago Woman's
Club, was celebrated last fall in 60
clubs. 80 schools in and about Chi
1 L.. IL
through out the state.
In the welfare department of
many of the large business houses,
the Week" was observed in most
entertaining fashion. Later through
our cooperation a class was formed
by the floorwalkers in one of the
large department stores for the study
of hetter speech.
We are looking forward to a time
when all of us shall feel the same
nride In fine speech that we have In
fine clothes.
Better Speech Week resulted in
the formation of clean speech clubs
IN several of the High Schools in
| Chicago.
"The Sanctity of Words" was the
subject chosen for sermon bv =
minister in Chicago inthe celebra-
tion of orr Week"
! The children in one school In
Chicago. in an italian district wrote
an original MAY in each grade on
the Better Speech Movement, and
gave 1t during the week.
Slogans in our splendid exhibit
....... last foil of Retter Sneech
Posters. made nv the school children.
onr~v their lesson not only tn the
To~ei~n- horn h"t IN Won and me"
Sono of tha slogans:
N" "Ht~iot in thought. in deed.
- ~naech
H1e '"""r"~o COR unito1 rnopta.
s'"rn~''' er"e"h hospaalFs n SOL
.'o~iv mind.
r"-+ar speech, better 'oNs. better
citizens.
READER. :