Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-02-25
JORDAN'S STATEMENT.
He Gives the Reasons Why Prof. Ross Was
Dismissed from Stanford,
No Committee Of Three Was Author
ICED by the American Econ-
omic Association.

Stanford University, Cal, Feb. "a
DR.. David Starr Jordan, president of
the Leland Stanford, Jr., university,
discussing the report of the committee
on economics on the dismissal of Prof.
Ross from the university, said.
1.-The statement OF Profs. Seligman,
Farman and Gardner Is not, as might
be inferred from the newspapers, the
report Of an authorized committee of
the American Economic association. II
We are correctly informed, this body
declined to appoint a committee of In
yestigation. These three gentlemen
form self-constituted committee or
represent only minority Of this as
ISOLATION.
THE facts at their disposal were none
other than those already made public
by Prof Ross and his friends and the
attitude they hold in regard to these
matters Is evidently that Of partisans.
1T may be regretted that they did
not see fit TO publish the letters which
they obtained from the president and
the committee at Stanford. The fol-
lowing is the last communication sent
by the president and states the chief
essential facts In the whole affair:
"'Ofilce Of the President, Leland
Stanford. Jr., University California,
Feb II, 9Ol:-Profs. Edwin II. A. Sc.
lgman, Henry w. Farnam, Henry Il.
Gardner, Gentlemen:--Your letter of
January 3Oth Is at hand asking further
for no Ia
dismissal Of Prof Ross. When | eX-
pressed my willingness to answer fur
Their questions, | did not mean to indl-
cate that ! would enter into any cir
cumstantlal description Of events lead
ing to or following from Prof. Ross
dismissal. Nor do | consider 1t expe-
dent or proper to go into discussion
Of extracts from my letters or CONVEX
satlons, or OF my statements or alleged
statements, or those Of others, as pub
lIshed in the newspapers. There are,
however certain assurances which II Is
within the privilege Of the public to ask
and which II is my desire to furnish,
that the public may be assisted nform-
ing Judgment as to the position OF
the university upon important ques-
tons. 1t seems to me that | shall an
swer these questions best by certain
plain statements which involve the i'm
portant facts concerning the position
Of the university
cit will be necessary for you to as
sumo my knowledge of all the facts,
also that the Interpretation herewith
presented Is authoritative from the uni
versity standpoint
'First--Prof Ross was not dis
missed on account OF his views on or-
entail immigration nor on account OF his
opinions on any economic questions.
'Second-Prof. Ross was dismissed
because in the judgment Of the univer-
sity authorities he was not the proper
man for the place he held. The respon-
sibillty OF the correctness Of this judy
ment belongs to the university authori-
ties and to them alone.
'Third-No grounds exists for any
Interpretation OF his dismissal reflect
ing on his private character OF which
your letter seems 10 imply fear
'Fourth-The judgment that Prof.
Ross was not the proper man for the
place he held is not Incompatible with
my appreciation Of many good quail
ties he possesses nor with my wishes