Memorials, 1905

were started against Judge Torrence. Briefs had been in his hands about two months when he went to San Bernardino with the Com. of the Senate who were taking evidence. The district attorney of San Bernardino Co. is a brother-in-law of Davidson and was extremely active in Judge Torrance's behalf. Though the Davidson case had been pending so long in his hands, on the second day after Judge Tarrance's return he called up our attorneys and notified them that he had decided the case. They were not even summoned to court. He ignored at least two important points of the case and decided simply that Mr. D. had a four year's contract, and could collect his pay for that time. As the suit was for a single month's salary and less than $300.00 we could not appeal.

Next month we shall hold a city election, the Republican Convention took place day before yesterday. Mr. D. was able to pull the power of the machine, and the eleven men nominated for the Board of Education are straight Davidson men. So far as we can see, no one of them can be defeated. This with our old member holding the same views gives twelve out of eighteen. They go into office the first Monday in May, and their already expressed

opinion is that they will immediately reinstate Mr. Davidson and I have little doubt will re-elect him for another four years a year from May. The worst of it is that the schools of San Diego are again in politics after ten years of immunity. The new board can stop all litigation and there is no processs by which we can demonstrate what I believe to be beyond doubt, that the Supreme Court would have ruled Mr. D. out of office.

It is very probable that Dr. Small will resign at once, though I shall make an effort to keep him till the end of April, for he is doing great work. He said he should go east as he has had enough of California and California methods. He lost his position at Los Angeles through no fault of his own and really by political methods.

I am of the opinion that Dr. Small is one of the remarkably strong men who have come to this coast. His four years of post-graduate study at Clark with an unusually sane and strong mind have developed him broadly and evenly, and his early farm training has given him a practical turn of immense value.

It has occurred to me, and I am writing without the knowledge of anyone else that by some lucky accident you might have use for such a man in Stanford. I

believe that if he goes east, it will be a very distinct loss to the educational forces of the state, and I should be immensely pleased should a way open to keep him here. With the prejudice he has gained, surely not, without cause, it seems certain that employment must seek him, for I am sure he will seek nothing on the coast.

I know you will not think this suggestion presumptuous on my part, for I know you want big, clean men with those characteristics which build up the Stanford spirit - and I am sure Dr. Small will fill the measure. The fact that I am largely responsible for his being in a false position, and my desire to lessen his possible loss from this situation, does not, I am sure, lessen the reasonableness of my writing this letter.

We are greatly shocked at Mrs. Stanford's death. I am holding that unless some member of her household should prove to be insane, the poisoning theory will not be demonstrated. There seems to be no room for any other hypothesis. Dr. Charlotte's Mother died in our house from Angina Pectoris which we had not suspected, during an attack of acute indigestion. Mrs. Stanford's case as reported suggests some such condition.

Very sincerely, Fred Baker

Robert U. Burdette Clara B. Burdette March 10th 1905

My Dear Mr. Clark

Replying to yours of the 6th--No; the change in the arrangements for the observance of Founder's Day made necessary by the death of Mrs. Stanford made no confusion in my own plans. I was confident that some such change would be unavoidable, and so communicated with the President at once. The great sorrow that made the change dwarfs all our individual troubles into the merest trivialities. All my heart goes out in sympathy to you who were privileged to live so near, in the University life, to this loving, great-hearted woman.

Sincerely Yours, Robert J. Burdette

THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY

11 Paid RECEIVED at Stanford University, Cal. Dated San Francisco 3 To President David Starr Jordan Stanford University, Cal.

Accept my heartfelt sympathy in the sad loss you have sustained Lockwitz Ky