Jane Lathrop Stanford Papers

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no personal acquaintance with Mayor Phelan or with any of the Democratic managers, nor any particular interest in their plans. There are countless grave dangers behind the antiChinese agitation, but what he said was neither extreme nor revolutionary. Dr. Ross presented the usual protectionist argument for the preservation of an American scale of living. I doubt the soundness of this argument, but most public men are influenced by it. The same view has been lately developed by Justice Brewer and by Senator Bard.

In any case, Dr. Ross had nothing whatever in common with the anti-Chinese agitators. He has always been strenuously opposed to Socialism as well as to Anarchism; and he is totally opposed to the methods of violence by which the labor organizations are trying to carry their point.

At the University Dr. Ross has been a constant source of strength. He is one of the best teachers, always just, moderate and fair. He is beloved by his students and has risen steadily in the estimation of his colleagues, some of whom were pretty hard upon him four years ago.

In the times of trouble in the University he has been most Loyal, accepting extra work and all kinds of embarrassments without a word of complaint. The sickness of Dr. Warner, the failure of Dr. Clark, and the sudden departure of Dr. Powers, left him on each of three years with half the work of another man in addition to his own. But he took this uncomplainingly

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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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Contd

Exhibit "S"

---COPY---

San Francisco, Cal.

(Date any time after May 21,)

Dear Dr. Ross:

After seven years of association I was able to write of you recently to Mrs. Stanford in the following terms:

''At the University Dr. Ross has been a constant source of strength. He is one of the best teachers, always just, moderate and fair. He is beloved by his students and has steadily risen in the estimation of his colleagues.''

''In the time of trouble in the University he has been most loyal, accepting extra work and all kinds of embarrassments without a word of complaint. The sickness of Dr. Warner, the failure of Dr. Clark, and the sudden departure of Prof. Powers left him on each of three years with half the work of another man in addition to his own. But he took this uncomplainingly and I did not know till it was over that he was in consequence not strong enough to stand up to lecture and had to spend his afternoons in bed. If he had been a selfish man he would not have overtaxed himself.''

He is ''a wise learned and noble man, one of the most loyal and devoted of all the band we have brought together.''

You are at liberty to use this letter in seeking a position.

(Signed)