The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-07-06
MCCORMICK WILL
DECIDE THE ISSUE
Logan Much Interested in Agricul-
tural College Trouble.
CASE OF PROF. WIDTSOE
MAY BE RECOMMENDED FOR DIS
MIssAL BY PRESIDENT.
CASE OF PROF. WIDTSoE
Especial to The Herald)

Especial to The Herald)
Logan. July 4-The keenest interest
In the return from abroad of President
w. s. Mccormick of the Agricultural
College board Of trustees is evidenced
here, as upon his decision hangs the
fate Of the big school President Kerr
and his superiOrs have made no eff
fort To influence Mr. Mccormick. sim
ply cOnteuting themselves with de-
mand that he hear both sides of the
question before committing himself. 1t
Is stated here, however, that T. r. cut
Ter, n brother of Governor Cutler, met
Mccormick I'm New York for the pur-
pose of going over the college situa-
ton with him before anyone else could
get chance to influence him.
There is a strong probability that
when the board meets President Kerr
will recommend the dismissal of Pro-
fessOr WidtsOe. the director of the ex-
pertinent station Up to this time Kerr
has preferred no charges against Widt-
soc, but instead has endeavored to ad-
just the differences that arose on ac-
count OF WldtSOe'S unWiSe actions and
attitude, but it is believed that KerT's
patience has been quite exhausted and
that he viii now bring WidtsOe to an
account
Kerr will not say what his inten-
tons are, but all indications point to
Widtsoe's dismissal, for the old mem
bers OF the board are thoroughly dis
guSted with the directors Inconsistent
attitude.
An incident occurred about the time
OF commencement that caused the old
board members some vexatiOn. Widt-
soc came up from Salt Lake on the
same train with Chairman Pro Tenn
McAltster, and the latter heard Widt-
soc say to member of the legisla-
lure that he had resigned because The
had worked in hell long enough" As
a matter of fact he had not resigned
II all. and 10 the members of the board
had insisted that his relations with
Kerr were satisfactory.
McAlister took him TO task about il
later when WidtsOe asked him for
favor. Said McAHster:
NO man who makes such unwar-
Tanted statements as the one 1 over
heard you make a short time ago can
obtain favOrs from me-"
Widtsoe was embarrassed upon learn
ing that he had been overheard, and
after long talk with McAlister, du-
ring which the latter pointed out to the
professor that he CMcAlister) had nom
mated Widtsoe for president of the col
lege. against Kerr. five years ago and
mao nae oetriended him in many other ways,
Wtdtsoe finally agreed to accept Nc
Alisters advice as to his future con-
duct
Then" said the chairman. stand
on your own merits and let Merrill do
likewise Go to President Kerr and
adjust your differences with him and
the board will stay with you from first
20 last" Widtsoe said he would.
McALster arranged a meeting with
president Kerr for Widtsoe and they
met and talked over such differences
as existed between them. When Widt-
zoe came out he was asked by the old
BOARD members whether he had adj
Iusted matters and desired to remain.
hie said Yes to both questions, vet
q few hours later he repudiated what
he had said and blatantIv announced
That the board members lied when they
said that he had met Kerr and straight
ened out things. AS a result of this
the old board members have but lit
tie faith in DR. Widtsoe
another somewhat amusing incident
occurred more recently. On the even
Ing that the alumni banquet was held
the new members of the board and the
faculty recalcitrantS held a secret
meeting in the experiment station
building. and the next morning a col
Iege catalogue was found lying upon
a table at which they had sat II
was marked up in a way that gave
the plans Of the recaICitrants as TO
the faculty. For instance. the names
Of professors that they desired dis
missed were marked TO indicate that
tact, and the salaries they desired to
pay others were placed opposite their
names, and so on.
\ great many people inspected this
curiO. and finally some one walked off
WIN II w tdtSoe learned of this and
AT once commenced a search for It. He
Couldn find it. At last he went to Mr..
stephens private secretary to Presf-
dent Kerr, and charged him with the
possession Of il.
Il haven't seen it," said Stephens.
-'but I have heard Of it"
WidtsOe insisted that Stephens had
=, that Professor Mclaughlin the
government drainage expert. had told
him so. Mclaughlin was in ROzen1aD
Mont. but stephens at once tele-
Sraphed him. He received a reply oe-
nytng the truth of Widtsoe's state
ment. He took II To WidtsOe and the
only reply was
We'll, what can I do when people
talk two wayS2"