In 1908, Charles Lummis, a former Los Angeles Times editor and outspoken regional booster, launched a public campaign to stop English speakers - as he saw it - butchering the pronunciation of Spanish place names, especially Los Angeles. He summarized his case in a brief rhyme, which publications across the nation printed with some amusement:
"Our Lady, The Queen of the Angels" The Lady would remind you please, her name is not Los Angie Lees, nor Angie anything whatever. To spare her fit historic pride. The G shall not be jellified. O long, G hard, and rhyme with "yes" and all about Loce Ange-el-ess.