Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-22

Gov. Pinchot of Pennsylvania has at
tracted attention in his effort to re-
move unnecessary and stupid but ira
ditionaI phrases from official letter
writing under his jurisdiction. Hearty
concurrence with the Governors sug-
gestions is recorded, but some fear is
expressed that in some instances cleri-
cal originality will become subject to
great strain.
1.-THE Governor, being disciple Of
the strenuous Col. Roosevelt" suggests
the Pasadena Star-News, "inherits some
of the strenuoSity of the lamented colonel
as he goes after the cumbersome, old
fashioned and archaic phrase" That
paper agrees that there Is very little
diversity in personal letters in the early
days of this country, but the coming OF
the typewriter, evolution OF shorthand
and perfecting Of stenography nave
brought great changes; that the per-
sonal letter today, whether on business,
or sentimental, or whatnot. is direct,
trenchant and to the point.
More power to the Governors pig
blue pencil, and may the movement be
more successful than the late Theo-
oore Roosevelt's attempt to Simplify
spelling!" says the Harrisburg Telegraph,
with the advice: IF Gov. Pinchot sue
ceeds in taking all the waste words out
of State correspondence, be may very
we'll extend his reform TO business at
large. Indeed, it would not be surpriS-
ing that the elimination OF unnecessary
words and phrases from all business
letters would net a larger saving 10 the
country than the reform Wnlcn ne
hopes to bring about in the regulation
of utility corporations. OF all the
dreary. uninteresting collections OF
yerbiaRe to be found anywhere. the
average business epistle Is the worst.
'sThe Governors protest has been
read and contents noted" remarks the
Albany Evening News, and In reply
we beg to advise that We are glao tnaG
his favor of recent date is at hano anu
we hope that letter writer's VIII take
note thereof. The average business let
ter and dictated letters in particular,
are altogether too hackneyed and clut-
tered with useless phrases like those
the Governor mentions. 1t IS pleasure
to receive a letter that Is different, that
is original in form, that expresses some
individuality. a letter that goes to the
point without the usual phraSeology. II
Gov. Pinchot can effect this reform In
his State, maybe it will become Ma
tion-wide."
"The Governors campaign" thinks
the Kansas City Star, III SucceSSIuI,
should make his reelection certainty,
provided he desires the post again. But
if he will broaden his program to IN
clude two other items and can put the
whole reform across. the reward should
be Mr.. Pinchot's elevation to the pres1-
dency-not earlier than 1886. which
ought to be satisfactory to him. Inc
two to be included-and here is chal-
lenge to Mr.. Pinchot-are the damnably
reiterated same and sell, the latter
used with reference to an idea or prof.
ect or town. Contents OF same or
similar expression is abominable, while
men have been urged SO often to go
out and sell this plan to the public that
rebellion and resort to arms soon Will
be inevitable unless relief Is given. In
the interest of peace, order, good Will
and plain. sensible language, something
should be done forthwith. The cause
demands leadership. The Governor
seems to have the courage TO assume
the task"
'While he is about it." comments
see what he can do to revive the lost
art of private correspondence. Any
way he has appointed special COM
mittee to recommend desirable changes,
simplifications and authorizations in Of
fetal letters He would have them |
courteous, of course, but he insists
that they also should display common |
sense and candor. If they were written |
in good, clear grammatical English the |
change would be little short Of revo- |
lutionary. The cruSading Governor has |
been wen advised On appointing COM
mittee to wreStle WITH. the question. |
Left to mselves. public officials and
employees IN public offices would waste |
more time and more public money than
they could possibly save irik trying to
reform their respective epistolary styles. |
For they would have TO t. their |