Not Filling from DataSource

<div class="container">
    <input type=text id="test" name="test"/>
    <script language="JavaScript">
        $( document ).ready(function() {

            $.ajax({url: "getDDValues.php?action=getStatuses", success: function(result){
                alert("Here");
                var dat = JSON.stringify(result);
                alert(dat);
                //The alert shows the data below
                //dat = [{"value":"NEW","text":"NEW"},{"value":"Accepted","text":"Accepted"}];
                $("#test").ejDropDownList({dataSource:dat,fields: { text: "text", value: "value" }});
            }});
        });
    </script>
</div>

When I get the json data from the url, it is identical to the dat variable commented out.  I get an error:

Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read property 'slice' of undefined
    at Object._getFilteredList (ej.web.all.min.js:10)
    at Object._showFullList (ej.web.all.min.js:10)
    at Object._render (ej.web.all.min.js:10)
    at Object._init (ej.web.all.min.js:10)
    at new <anonymous> (ej.web.all.min.js:10)
    at w.fn.init.n.fn.(anonymous function) [as ejDropDownList] (http://{mysite}/EJ/Scripts/web/ej.web.all.min.js:10:24083)
    at Object.success (test1.php:69)
    at u (jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2)
    at Object.fireWith [as resolveWith] (jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2)
    at k (jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2)
_getFilteredList @ ej.web.all.min.js:10
_showFullList @ ej.web.all.min.js:10
_render @ ej.web.all.min.js:10
_init @ ej.web.all.min.js:10
(anonymous) @ ej.web.all.min.js:10
n.fn.(anonymous function) @ ej.web.all.min.js:10
success @ test1.php:69
u @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2
fireWith @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2
k @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2
(anonymous) @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2
load (async)
send @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2
ajax @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2
(anonymous) @ test1.php:64
l @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2
c @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2
setTimeout (async)
(anonymous) @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2
u @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2
fireWith @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2
fire @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2
u @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2
fireWith @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2
ready @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2
_ @ jquery-3.3.1.min.js:2

When I uncomment the dat variable it works fine.

Can you please help me fill the list from the URL

Thanks,

JK