The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-12

and Bagley and Mrs. Richards voting for
Mr.. Kerr.
Just as soon as the election had been
declared, Messrs. Merrill and McAlister
both made violent attacks on Mr.. Kerr.
No response was made to them, how
eve-.
For director. G. W. Shaw of Corvallis.
Ore, and John A. Widtsoe were named,
and Mrs. Richards deserving her former
allies, voted for WidtsOe, thereby elect
ing him.
Cornick remarked as soon as the vote
was announced: well, that ought to be
One-sided enough to suit most any one.
The charge has been made that the Nor
mon church dominates this institution,
and it certainly appears So
Merrill and MCAiisteT resented this and
q stormy time followed. Colonel Adams
pointed out WidtSoeS lack of expert
ence and executive capacity, and Nc
COrnick warned the Mormon members
that they would regret the action taken.
Merrill then assailed Professor Kerr,
charging that he was eXtraVagant and
strife-breeder and without ability save
as a mathematician, all of which was
answered by Mrs. Richards retOrt that
his record as president or the Il. y col
lege was sufficient evidence OF his abll-
ity. There was quite an exciting time for
minute or two, several members trying
to talk at once.
The salary of the president was txed
at s., ZOO per year and that OF the director
at s., 000
Other business done was the employ
ment of S. b. Milton as musical in
structOr. The salary of Charles Bait,
the general utility man, was increased
from $50 to $50 per month. The team
sters were given $40 per month, instead
of 13 cents per hour. as heretofore
S45 per month Burton z. Fleming was
appointed assistant to Professor Swend-
sen at a salary Of $40 per month.
Sketch Of President Kerr.
William J. Kerr, the new president of
the Agricultural college. was born at
ceived a common school education in his
native town, attending school during the
winter months and working on his IA
theirs farm during summers. From "A to
IS he was engaged IN railrOadins-kept
books and otherwise assisted his father
who was a railroad contractor. He at
tended the University of Utah from 1872
to 1884, taking the normal course He was
clerk and bOOkkeeper in a store, 1SS4-S5
Was principal of the Smithfield schools
during two years, 1887; delegate to the
constitutional convention in Salt Lake
City, 1881, instructor in physiology, ge-
ology and physics, Brigham Young col
lege, 1SS7-SS, instructor in mathematics,
Brigham Young college 1SSS-90; attended
Cornell university, 1S90-9l and during the
summers of 81. -. 80, was instructor IN
1882; professor of mathematics and as
tronOmy, University of Utah, 1S92-9t. He
has been president OF the Brigham Young
college since 1884, member of the Amer
lean Mathematical society since 1892. He
founded the Utah Mathematical society
in 1893 and has been president of this
society since its organize top was a dele
gate to the constitutional convention in
1895; president of the Utah State Teach
ers' association. 1S97-9S In 1891 he ae-
companied the Cornell party through the
eastern states, visiting the leading edu-
cational institutions and manufacturing
establishments, studying particularly
college and university work and the APP
plcation of scientific principles in en-
cheering. In 1898 he spent six weeks
in the east, visiting the leading colleges