The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-06-21
SM00T CAMPAIGN
AGAINST KERR
Politicians Back Of Turmoil IN Agri-
cultural College.
MANY CHARGES EXPLODED
OPPOSITION KEEPS CHANGING
ITS BASIS OF ATTACK.


Logan. June 20--The friends Of Pres
ident w J. Kerr of the Agricultural col
lege have been much wrought up of late
over charges in the public press as to
his manner Of conducting affairs at the
Agricultural college, He has been charged
with being tyrannicai and dictatoriai IN
his treatment Of those under MIN; OF
having forced more than a dozen COM
petent men and women out OF the IN
sllluLlOns Oh neglecUng Jne ASTiCtutuI al
side of the school, and various other
things detrimental to the interests OF
education in Utah
without foundation by those At All VerSed
in college affairs here. but the knOwledge
throughout the state has caused them 90
demand a Tefutation Of 10 by MI Kerr
lie has satisfied his friends that there
Is not d color Of truth i'm the charges
made.
A Sample Csnard-
Recently salt Lake paper named a
number Of professors who had been dis
missed by Kerr because they refused to
endure his tyranuical rule. The story
had not been out dozen hours before
these men. or most of them, began Wiz
ing OF writing dcnialS of it, and at the
college may De seen today messages from
Professors q. J.. Swondsen George Thorn
J. W FaTis. W d Beers. James Dry
den. +. a. BUTchell. +. r, Linfield, w.
y. HUT J. p Griffin and DIT. L q.
GCWans, which emphatiCally deny the
lurid tales told of President Kerr and
insist that their relations with him were
entirely satisfactory and harmonious.
Just what desperate need Of facts kerr'S
enemies are in must be apparent TO
those who have read the articles referred
TO and who now learn of the emphatic
denldls OF the men named.
Equally false is the charge, say Kerr's
friends. as tC his neglect of the agricul-
tUTal side Of the school When he went
there the school had. according to the
college reports. 10 agricultural students
uht OF q total of 80 Today it has lis
3u5 Of 81. The following figures taken
from the registrars report for 1864 Will
MAKE NJ TINS matter palmer than words can
Students enrolled i'm agricultural de-
PaTtment: In 1892. 2. 1898. a. 1894 -: 1855.
=: 1896. p 1897. Il, 1SgS g. 1899 10: 1900, II;
L8l . 1892, -: 1893 a: 1904, lis.
Quoted Against Himself.
Professor l. a Merrill recently sent in
q resignation To the board of trustees. in
which he charged Mr.. Kerr with not hav-
ING advanced the agricultural interests
OF the school Yet he knew of these fig
uTeS- and he knew that in his biennial
report for 1912, he (MerriID used this
language;
ton OF your cordial encouragement TO
this department tthe agricultural depart
ment IS here referred tor. To the sup
li'tL ou nave given us. and to your rec
oEnitIOn of the Importance of scientific
INSTRUCTION IN agriculture. IS largely due
the healthy growth of the school
state against Professor Kerr Il has been
charged that he has filled the school with
eastern men TO the exclusion of Utah
men Reference 10 catalogue viii prove
this statement to be utterly without fouu-
ddtloH- In the faculty there are more
than three local OF home people IN
each caSteTneT- In the college council
proper. the Utah men predominant. and
while the eastern men in the council draw
an average salary of about 81 500 per
year. the local members receive approx
mately $ll0o each. so IL can readily he
seen that Utah talent has not been dis
Criminated against or discouraged at the
college.
Congressman Joseph Howell and some
OF MS HeutenantS are making the aSSer-
ton that Kerr is trying To build un A
Democratic machine at the college Dur
ing the time that he has occupied the
presidency, Professor Kerr has not at
tended political convention or primary
of any kind. The professors that he has
secured from the east have been almost
without exception Republicans and his
friends dare anyone to point to a sub
stantial fact indicating any desire on his
part to mix politics with the affairs of
the school