Ross Affair: Notebook containing D. S. Jordan's statement with exhibits and ptd. report of Committee of Economists

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Besides his writings the other things to judge a man by are his teachings. Now I wish, Mrs. Stanford, you could talk with the boys who have graduated from my department, and really know what I am doing in the class room. Some people suppose that I have no better sense of the proprieties of my position than to fill up students with my personal opinions. Four years ago an eastern man inferred that because I was known to have opinions on the wrong question I must be rubbing these opinions into my students. I was able to tell him in the summer of 1896 Mr. O. G. Hopkins, a student who had taken my course in ''Money and Banking" the year before, asked ''What is Dr. Ross' opinion on this silver question anyway?''

The teacher has indeed a great advantage over the student, and can enfect that student with his own personal opinions, unless he has the Teacher's conscience. Only Dr. Jordan and my old boys can tell you whether or not I have this teacher's conscience, whether I present the facts and let the boys form their opinions.

Now I want to say something of my work which you may not know, but which Dr. Jordan can confirm in every particular.

The Economics Department has had more misfortunes than any other in the University and brunt of them has fallen upon me. Shortly after I came here in the fall of 1893, Mr. F. E. Clark laft [sic] us, and I took over half of his work on top of my own. The result was a nervous breakdown in February, which compelled me to go away for a week. The next fall Dr. Warner gave up after a few weeks, and pieced out one of his courses

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besides shouldering all the Department responsibilities. In the spring Dr. Willoughby had to leave five weeks before the end of the semester and I took one of his classes. Through all this year I was in such a condition through over-work that the least excitement sent a nervous shock through me.

In the fall of 1897 four of us began work and things looked bright for the Department. But on Oct. 10, Prof. Powers left and Dr. Warner gave up a little later. I took one of Prof. Powers' classes and took over so many students from the interrupted courses that I had 335 students or one third of the University on my hands. After six weeks of this crushing burden I broke down, as Dr. Wood could tell you, with heart over-strain and for two months and a half lay on my back except when I was teaching. Yet I kept up my work though I could not lecture standing. At the end of the year I was so collapsed that Dr. Jordan was reluctantly complled [sic] to let me have my Sabbathical [sic] year.

In short, I have four time[s] taken upon my already loaded shoulders work that was not mine, that I had not allowed for, and every time my health has suffered under the strain.

Now why, Mrs. Stanford did I do this? No professor is responsible for the class of another, and if I had let these abandoned students shift for themselves as best they might, no one would have blamed me. I will tell you why, it was because I loved this University and for her credit's sake could not bear to see students turn away dissatisfied. Rather than see a class go to pieces I have drawn upon those reserves of strength which a young man has, but which he must not draw upon too often.

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Through the hard times when the students increased in numbers but not the teachers I worked harder than I ever did in any other institution and harder than my fellow economists in the East ever tried to work. And why? Because anybody required it? No, but because it was my pride to have my department here just as good as it is in Universities with two or three times as much to spend on teachers. I could not bear to see this University behind the best, and so because there were only two or three of us I spent myself freely to make our courses as many and as strong as in Yale or Harvard where they have four professors to do the work.

There is not one of the men that graduated with me from Johns Hopkins University nine years ago who has not besides teaching published one or two books, and so built up his personal reputation. But I have published no book yet. Why not? Because I can't write one? No, but because I did not take time from my classes and give to private work.

If anybody had said then "You will be sorry you gave up a fine position and chances of promotion at Cornell and gave yourself up to Stanford University. You will regret you did not write your books, and thereby better your chances of getting a place elsewhere. As soon as the hard times are over for the University and the good times come all the loyalty you have shown will be forgotten, all the struggles you have made will be ignored and you will be dropped ignominiously without warning and without cause and assigned" If anyone

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had prophesied this, I should have exclaimed "Impossible!"

Here then is the situation as I see it. I have been unselfish. I have not thought of myself as having a welfare or success apart from the welfare of the institution I have. I have completely identified myself with the University you founded. I have devoted my whole soul and strength to the glory of Stanford trusting that Stanford would look out for me. The thought that this University would not be-have as other Universities and employers and look after my interests in turn has been so far from me that I had not even noticed that all my colleagues had been re-appointed, while I had not been reappointed.

Mrs. Stanford I do not want to stay unless you can give me that degree of confidence which I deem my just due for faithful service, and without which I can do no good work here. I am loyal to you, and out of reverence for you as mother of this University will conform to your wishes in every way I can. I will do everthing [sic] but sacrifice my self respect.

But I hardly know how to be more discreet than I am. I have no dealings or acquaintance with politicians. I identify myself with neither party, being at once protectionist and anti-imperialist. I refrain from the public discussion of all economic questions that have become party issues. I devote nine tenths of my energy to the class room. I have spoken but three times outside during this year. Now if after taking all these things into consideration you can reach no settled confidence in me as can support me in my work here, I should prefer to know it now rather than later.

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With apologies for thus trespassing on your time, I remain,

Very respectfully yours,

EDWARD A ROSS.

P.S. Dr. Jordan has not seen this, but should be glad to have him see it if you think best.