Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-02
ANTI DARWIN BILL
RECOMMENDED BY
HOUSE COMM TEE

Passage of the so-called evolution
bill, which. proposes to withdraw all
state funds from any Georgia school,
college or other institution where
the Darwinian theory or any other
doctrine which has to do with the
idea that man is descended from a
lower order of life is taught was
recommended by the house commit
tee on education at a meeting in
the Kimball House Wednesday
night.
The vote was 13 to 0, no commit
teeman voting against it, although
Representative Hyman, of
Washington, and Representative Cal
laway, Of Putnam-oppOsed it from
the floor.
Representative Hyman based his
objection to the measure on the
ground that it establishes a dan
gerous precedent to legislate on re-
ligious matters and brings us dan
gerously close to the mixture of
church and state" He said he
agreed with the bill "in principle
Representative Galloway said he
favored the measure in SO far as it
applied to elementary and high
schools, but opposed it as it applied
to colleges and universities.
CalIaway's Contention
ct question the wisdom" he said,
"of attempting to dictate what
grown men and women shall be
taught by the professors of the uni
Versities of the state. 1t is all right
to prohibit such teachings during
the early formative years, but / tell
you that unless you teach a child
the fundamentals, of Christianity be-
fore he leaves home he will never
get them. You can't legislate them
into his life"
He offered an amendment pro-
posing to strike the word colleges
from the bill, but this was over
whelmingly voted down.
Representative Pope, of Walker,
the author OF the bill, appeared be-
fore the committee in it's behalf.
declaring it to be a 'damnable out
rage and a stigma on Georgia that
a rotten doctrine like this should
be taught in the schools of the state"
The representative reiterated sew
eral times that he was mot excited"
about the matter, but said he be-
lieved "in my mothers Bible" and
considered it a "mOnStrosity that
taxpayers have to dig until it hurts
to support schools that teach a doc
trine such as this"
Representative McCrory, of Schley
declared he hoped that there is no
man in Georgia who will oppose the
measure" adding that he would be
ashamed of it if he thought he was
descended from an ape. He said
the bill is a william Jennings Bry-
an measure" and urged it's passage.
COvingtOn Supports Bill
Representative Covington, of Col
quit, supported the bill, declaring
the motive behind the Loeb-Leo-
pold murder in Chicago lay in the
teaching by schools Of Just such
doctrines as this
That is the reason behind this
horrible murder" said Mr.. Coving
ton, and all these alienists have
missed it. We want to avoid such
things in Georgia. We war.t the
schools and colleges to leave our
children alone when it comes to these
matters. 1t costs the state money
to hang boys like Loeb and Leo
pold."
The representative then declared
he did not believe that a load of
mud could by evolution get to the
point where 1t could dress itself
up and run for the legislature"
do you think it would have TO
evolute very far?" asked Chairman
Elders, and, amid laughter. Repre-
sentative Covington took his seat
without answering the question.
Several other committeeman spoke
briefly in support Of the measure.