The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-27
PROF. ROSS A SIl.vERIrE.
THINGS WOW UNPLEASANT FOR HIM
AT STANFORD UNTTERSITF.

ne mas Been Transferred from the Chair or
Ecohomics 10 That or social Science-The
writings ANA Lectures During the Bryan
Campaign That Gave aim Much Notsr,, ~.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 26.-Stnnford Univcr-
sity has a case on It's hands somewhat similar
to that Of President Andrews OF Brown. Prof.
Edward A. Ross Of the chair of economics has
been shifted to the chair Of social science,
mainly b%ecausc. during the last campaign, he
came out flat-footed for free silver. wrote a
letter on the subject, and delivered several Ice
lures.
The first in,iuatirn Of this action came in .
despatch from Chicago, In which Prof. Wood
OF that city said he had received a letter from
Prof. Ross saying he mad been dismissed be-
cause of his free silver views. When dis was
shown TO President Jordan to-day he sad:
Il have not seen Prof. Ross since May, and he
certainly has not been dismissed. With the
return of Prof. Warner the work in economic
science here has been readjusted in accordance
with the original plan, Warner, the major pro-
fes or, taking applications Of economics and
social pathology. Powers theoretical economies,
and Ross social science. Tho work in admins
tration and finance will fall to DR.. Durand, now
absent in Europe. Personally l do not trust
nor approve Of the methods by which certain
views of DR.. Ross are reached, but ! believe in
academic freedom within the bounds Of com.
mon sense"
Prof. Ross Is on his way from Lake Tahoe
here. His friends think he will not submit to
degradation In rank, but will resign. While
the reply OF DR.. Jordan shows that there is still
q place open to Prof. Ross. it clearly shows that
tho action OF, the professor durirg the heated
campaign Of last fall wa not approved and did
not reach the dignity, in DR.. Jordan's mind. Of
being within the bounds of Common sense.
Prof. Ross is a young man who has the cour.
age OF his convictions, but his juG gmont Is per
haps not Of tho best. He has expressed sew.
erai times strong sympathy with strikers and
socialists. and turing the heat OF the last cam.
paign he surprised every one by sending 10 a
local free.sllver paper q tour-column letter writ
ten in question and answer, in which the all.
swers were all favorable TO free silver. 1t was
a kind OF catcchism for the free.silver voter,
intended to educate HIM 80 he might answer all
objections to the double standard. Among the
4.-Does the gold standard injure sometimes
debtors. sometimes creditOrsf A.-No. All its
hard ships fall on the debtor.
Further on IL was declared: The gold
standard gives US no hing but extortion. With
free coinage the effect on existing debts would
S be slight das, e 6i slight reputation and a
Prof. Ross went deeply into the effect, as he
conceived it, Of free silver upon the monetary
fusion: "A Text Book on Money, dedicated to
all honest and reasonable inauirers" 1t was
lowed by speeches delivered by the professor in
SUPPORT Of tn. position he had taken.
These things placed Stanford University In
an awkward position for an educational insti,
tuition expecting TO draw its patronage from all
people. and Prof. Ross gained wide pread no
1 %Gs t6r s phH ls slsSi1Sn the shP Pro;es. .h"t on 6n the s. side
ished the public, but It did not win. i It was a
not called to account at the time. The episode
had the effect OF determining the faculty to re-
adjust the economic work, and the removal OF
part of the plan.