Jane Lathrop Stanford Papers

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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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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.

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contd.

Exhibit ''S''

---COPY---

San Francisco, Cal.

(About Nov. 19 or 20, 1900)

Dear Mr. Clark:

The matter of the letters seems to me to be very simple. I want the clearance paper to which I am entitled after years of faithful work. Dr. Jordan wants the letters to which he is entitled. I am willing enough to give up the letters if I have the clearance paper. I can conceive of no reason why he should object to giving me the clearance paper.

The most valuable clearance paper to me is not an estimate of my work addressed to me but an estimate of it addressed to the personage I have been serving these years.

Is there any reason, then, why I should not receive tomorrow a letter like that on the enclosed sheet?

I should return at once letter dated May 21, and May 26.

I know nothing of any carbon copy of the Eliot letter. If I find such a letter I shall let you know. I know of no reason which I should not return it. I have a letter received from Pres. Eliot which I shall, of course, return when I get back to Stanford.

I can only add that I shall keep no copies of any letters returned.

Please understand that this has nothing to do with the check episode.

Sincerely yours,

(Signed) Edward A Ross.

Report of the Committee of Economists on the Dismissal of Professor Ross from Leland Stanford Junior University

The committee appointed at the meeting of the economists in Detroit, December 28, 1990, to enquire into the causes of the dismissal of Professor Ross from Leland Stanford University, have earnestly endeavored to learn the fact of the case. In addition to a careful examination of the statements made in the newspapers, we have asked Professor Jordan for a full and frank statement of the causes which led to Professor Ross's removal, and have obtained the replies printed in the appendix, in which Professor Jordan declines to give specific information in regard to them. We have also in our possession copies of letters bearing upon this case from various persons, including letters from Professor Ross, as well as from President Jordan, not only to Professor Ross, but also to others.

The following facts are, we believe, undisputed:

It is customary for professors in the Leland Stanford University to be reappointed early in May of each year. Professor Ross failed to receive his annual reappointment early in May, 1900. He was, however, reappointed on June 2. On June 5, he handed to President Jordan his resignation as follows:

''Dear Dr. Jordan: - I was sorry to learn from you a fortnight ago that Mrs. Stanford does not approve of me as an economist, and does not want me to remain here. It was a pleasure, however, to learn at the same time of the unqualified terms in which you had expressed to her your opinion of the work and your complete confidence in me as a teacher, a scientist and a man.

While I appreciate the steadfast support you have given me, I am unwilling to become a cause of worry to Mrs. Stanford or of embarrassment to you. I, therefore, beg leave to offer my resignation as professor of sociology, the same to take effect at the close of the academic year, 1900-1901.''