The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-11
Revengeful Hierarchs Still Try
ing to Make Trouble for
Utah Educator.
CIRCULATE STORIES OF
HIS RELIGIOUS BELIEF
Portland 0regonian RebuIles
Conspirators and Flags
SmOOt Machine.

The Smoot machine, which bounded
Willis ]. Kerr until he was practically
forced to resign the presidency of the
Utah State Agricultural college at
Logan, has followed him TO Oregon,
where he has been elected president of
the Oregon Agricultural college at Cor
wallis, and is trying to make him
trouble there.
Although President Kerr's enemies
in this State are all Mormons of more
or less advanced degree, il appears
from the Portland newspapers that
their efforts to make trouble for DR.,
Kerr in Oregon have taken the shape
of accusations that he is Mormon,
and an effort is being made to induce
the Oregon people to reject DIR. Kerr
and break their contract with him be,
cause he is a Mormon.
This is tacit recognition by leading
Mormons of Utah of the fact that the
outside world does not look with favor
upon the hierarchy, and an attempt on
their part TO use the disfavor in which
their own church is held in order to
pleased the Mormon leaders of Utah.
DR.. Kerr lost his position at Logan be-
cause the Mormon Federal machine,
headed by Reed Smoot had decreed
that he should 60 because he was not
amenable to church control.
Trouble for Kerr.
The effort to make trouble for DR..
Kerr IN Oregon will probably fail. The
Portland Oregonian the largest paper
in the State, in commenting on the mat
ter, fays the Mormon hierarchy editori-
ally, as follows, under the caption,
Mr.. Kerr and the Mormons y:
Credible information comes from Salt
Lake City that the political hierarchy OF
the Mormon church contemplates an at
tack upon the reputation of Mr.. w. j.
Kerr the newlyelected president of the
Oregon Agricultural college. The motive
FOR the attack is the fact that Mr.. Kerr
while at the head OF the Utah Agricul.
tural college, declined TO prostitute his
oihce 10 the service Of the Mormon
church machine. The method of attack
viii be TO try TO create prejudice against
him by exploiting the history OF his early
manhood, II seems that Mr.. Kerr was
born and reared a Mormon but in 1891,
about sixteen years ago. he repounced
polygamy and ceased his active relations
with the church. He was made president
of the Utah college on his merits, and II
Is admitted that his service in that insti-
the hierarchy have constantly consplred
against him and last March they finally
1orced hlm TO resign, 70 the regret of
every dislnterested person in the State.
Now. no man can Justly be blamed for
his birth, his education or his early re-
ligious belief and practice. These things
are imposed upon us all without our con
sent. and we must take them a they
come But whether or not man remains
faithful TO the religion OF his youth in
later years depends upon himself II is
distinctly 10 Mr.. Kerrs credit that ne
broke the bonds which bound him 10 the
Mormon church. His act required great
strength of resolution and unusual cour-
age, for the hierarchy dominates Utah
and decides the business and political
fortunes Of every man whom it cares 10
notice.
Machines Revenge.
Tho machine has revenged itself by
opposing Mr. Kerr'e work and driving
him out of his position. 1, hopes fur
ther 10 ruin his entire life by pursuing
him with calumny wherever he may go.
That a purpose so wicked should sue
ceed in Oregon is incredible. Forewarned
Of the malignant intent OF the hierarchy.
the people OF Oregon will treat their
contemplated attack upon Mr.. Kerr as II
dence that his welcome here does not de-
pend upon his religious opinions nor need
he stuItify his reson with a degraded
superstition in order TO win the conf
dence of our people.
Here in Utah ii is known that DR..
ke.r was recommended to the Oregon
people by some of the leading Gentlles
OF the State, and some of the most
pronounced opponents of the Mormon
political machine.