The morning call., 1892-01-22
PROFESSOR JoRDAN,s BLuNDEK.

When Professor David Starr Jordan
came TO this Coast to assume charge OF Sen
ator Stanford's University he was appar-
entity seized with the Idea that many
worthy person from east of the Rockies has
entertained before Kim that he was to be to
Californians special dSpensation Of Prov
idenee TO enlighten their Ignorance upon
all topics under the sun.
In a number of speeches made by him the
Professor has undertaken the instruction of
the people on certain economic questions
that have greatly perpleXed them of late.
Coming to an agricultural State, whose prin-
cipal industry is the victim Of one OF the
worst mOn0polies this country has ever
known, a monopoly the prime instigator OF
which is the man to whom he owes his pres
ent position, lie has given voice to certain
utterances on the subject Of the followers
Of this industry that have naturally
awakened their deep resentment and moved
them to public protest. 1t is not likely that
Professor Jordan was moved by desire to
insult the farmers of California, as they
evidently deem he has done, but his is
difficult position. He has come to the State
at a time when the farmers are keeDly alive
to the fact that they are being, and have
greater share OF tie rightful reward Of their
labors to swell the Golfers of a few men Of
whom Leland Stanford is the leader. They
see the people OF this State impoverished,
its commerce handicapped and its govern
ment debauched by the agents OF the rail-
road company. and are demanding as
measure of relief from this condition that
the Federal Government take possession
and control of this great engine which 1t and
the people Of California have actually built
and actually own, but which has all along
been controlled by few men for their own
enrichment and the impOyerishment oil the
people.
1t is more than probable, human nature
being what it is, that his relation to Mr.
Stanford has partially blinded Professor
JoIdan's eyes to the real state Of affairs
This beng the case, he might honestly hold
the belief that the people are the victims Of
a deluSion 10 this matter, and TO rid them OF
this delusion he has certainly labored faith
fully. The report is that he has told US
that the people earn their poverty and the
distress Of the farmers is due, not to tie dis
advantages under which they labor, but To
their own negligence, idleness and lack Of
thrift. II they now worked as hard, he is
reported as saying, as they did thirty or
forty years ago there would be no hard
times.
The farmers of California, than whom no
more intelligent, clear-headed aud har4-
working class Of men Will be found any
where 10 this country, very naturally resent
such utterances from a man in Professor
Jordan'5 position. HIS words have been
widely discussed among them, and in sew
eral instances have been made the subject
Of resolutions Of a severely denunciatory
character such as those published in yes
terday's CALI, that were adopted at recent
meetings Of two different sub-ailiances Of
farmers in Napa County.
Possibly these resolutions are unduly Sc
we're. Professor Jordan is stranger on
this Coast. and tits but fair TO him to sup
pose that his object in speaking as be did
was not to offer insult to the class that
makes up the great mass Of our population,
but bis utteranceS as reported certainly
come with i'll grace from a man in his posi-
ton, and must on the whole be character
lied as a serious blunder They stamp the
speaker as being either wholly ignorant Of
the subject lie has attempted 10 discuss or
determined 10 ignore the truth in relation TO
our farmers and their wrongs, and ready to
believe that they themselves are ignorant
enough 10 De deceived by such attempts to
blind their eyes TO the real issues in this
matter.
In either case the result is bad for PROBES
scr Jordan, in that it destroys the coat
dence the farmers Of the State may have
been inclined 10 place in him as the nom!nal
head Of SJanford's Institution Of learning,
ana tends to mar among them the hopes of
personal advancement through them which
Stanford IS supposed to entertain, as well
as to hinder somewhat the usefulness Of the
University itself.