Correspondence (incoming): Jordan, David Starr, 1903-1904

LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT Stanford University, Cal July 22, 1904

Mrs. Leland Stanford, Stanford University, Cal. Dear Friend:

I have the following from Dr. Ray L. Wilbur, who is now in London, concerning the Rev. R. J. Campbell:

At the request of H. C. Hoover, who did not have time because of a contemplated trip to South Africa, I went to hear the Rev. R. J. Campbell preach his Thursday noon address to business men. The service was held in the City Temple and the large auditorium was crowded, largely with "City" men. I am inclosing in same mail with this a photograph and a sample sermon. The one delivered today was along the same general lines. There was frequent reference to painting, poetry, to business life, and to ordinary everyday occurrences. The talk was on the "Transfiguration" and was well arranged and logical throughout. The gospel of "Goodness" was the one preached, and the sermon was direct, forcible, and was listened to in the most absolute silence, and evidently moved many of the audience.

You can judge something of the speaker from his photograph. Hs is an old-looking young man. His voice is clear and I could hear every word from the back seat. At times he became oratorical, but as a rule, he depended for effect upon the thought rather than upon its expresssion. In a word, I found him a most sympathetic, earnest, plain, straightforward speaker, reminding me in many ways of Rev. Brown of Oakland. The Hoovers have been able to acquire some information from a mutual friend which they will send you. I trust that what I have written will cover some of the things you wish to know. I also heard him deliver the benediction etc. at the American Independence Day dinner, where he showed much tact.

Very sincerely yours, David S. Jordan

I have received also a photograph of Mr. Campbell - and also a sermon, both of which I send

LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT Stanford University, Cal July 26, 1904

Mrs. Leland Stanford, Stanford University, Cal. Dear friend:

You may be interested in some items regarding the Harvard Law School.

The Harvard Law School is now the best in the world. Its Preeminence is due to:

(1) Its generous endowment; (2) Its high standards; (3) Its large library: (4) The influence of the late Professor Langdell and the use of the Langdell method of instruction; (5) The influence of James Barr Ames, the greatest living director of law teaching.

It has now eight professors and two assistant professors, besides four special lecturers, two instructors, a librarian, two assistant librarians, and a secretary. Its salary roll amount to about $70,000 yearly.

There are 76,000 volumes in the library, and a sum of $11,000 each year for increasing it.

The tuition fee is $150 per year, yielding $100,000 per year.

There are now 738 students.

The Stanford Law School has the same course of study. It uses the Langdell methods, and all its teachers have been students of the Harvard Law School. Some of these, as Hall, Whittier, and Dennis (recently appointed) have been among the most eminent of recent Harvard graduates.

It has now one professor, three assistant professors (one absent without pay for graduate study at Harvard), one instructor, and three library assistants, the total salary roll being $11,500.

There are about 8,000 volumes in the library, and there is , as yet, no permanent fund for its increase.

Tuition is free, yielding no revenue. There are 141 students.

To bring in one or more first-rate men could not reduce the number of teachers. No man, however great, can spend more hours in the class room than the present teachers, and none can teach larger classes. This applies to all other departments equally. Besides, the presence of two or three more first-class teachers of mature experience, men like Ames, Williston, Maitland, would greatly increase the attendance especially by keeping our own graduates here. Most of them go to Harvard after the first year here.

Harvard: Number of teachers 15, Cost of Salaries $70,000, Library 76,000, Number of Students 738, Number graduates to date 115

Stanford: Number of teachers 5, Cost of Salaries $11,000, Library 8,000, Number of Students 141, Number graduates to date 12

I think that I have told you that James Parker Hall, formerly

Assistant Professor at Stanford, is now Dean of the Chicago University Law School at a salary of $8,500, the largest salary paid to any teacher of Law.

I may add further, that there are about six teachers of law of the first rank in the East.

These are, in order of reputation, Professor Ames, of Harvard; Professor Gray, of Harvard; Professor Williston, of Harvard; Professor Wyman, of Harvard. Perhaps our Jack Reynolds, now professor in Columbia, should stand next (there is no better man in Columbia). At Yale, there is none of even second-rate reputation. In England, there are F. J. Maitland, of Cambridge; James Bryce, late of Oxford; and Sir Frederick Pollack, of London.

Of these men, the one who could help us most is Professor Samuel Williston, a young man, who has declined attractive offers in Chicago and Columbia, and who, of all the men under forty, stands unquestionably first.

Our Law School could be raised so as to stand second to that of Harvard, by securing Professor Williston and by adding 20,000 volumes to the Library.

Mr. Ames might come for a short time only. Professor Gray is over sixty years old. Williston, Bryce, and Maitland might be considered; and of these Williston would be of greatest immediate help. All the force of Harvard would be exerted to keep him.

Very sincerely yours, David S. Jordan

LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT Stanford University, Cal. July 27, 1904

Mrs. Leland Stanford, Stanford University, Cal. Dear friend:

Referring again to the matter of the Law Department, I do not think that we could arrange to get Dr. Williston or any similar man for the coming year, and no man of this sort would come until the Law Library is greatly enlarged.

We can strengthen the departments one by one, in the way you suggest, but we must begin our arrangements a year beforehand.

Meanwhile, the most pressing matters are simple ones, which do not cost much, but which are most important to successful work, like oil on the wheels of a machine.

1. We must readjust our salary rolls, paying our best men salaries as large as they have been offered in the East, or as high as similar men are paid elsewhere. We cannot pay new men of the same grade more than we pay the best of those men who have stayed through our hard days at a personal sacrifice from loyalty to the University, to you, and to me. To arrange this involves no great sum, but it is, in my judgment, our most pressing duty, in justice to the University itself. This should take effect at the end of the coming year, as salaries for next year are already fixed. It is on the quiet, steady work of the good, patient