The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-07-17

would follow the wake OF CfllS Dill.
'The intelligent Christian citizens
in this country find no conflict be-
tween religion and the theory of evc-
luton.
''This is as plain an instance of re-
Ggious bigotry as any instance of the
Spanish inqmsition."
Darow then took up the act itself,
reading it, and stressing the words
''to teach any theory of the origin
cf man except that contained in the
divine account as taught in the
Bible"
LEGISLATURE ASSUMED
TOO MUCH"
"That was what was forced upon
the people under a caption which
never meant it. The state of Ten
nessee has no more right to assume
that the Bible account of the creation
is correct than it has to assume that
that of the Koran or Ccnfusianism
or any one of a dozen others is the
correct one.
eff the courts of Tennessee stand
behind their own constitution these
gentlemen will have to arrange their
cohorts and go back.
"Of all the wierd, impossible things,
of all the bigOtry and ignorance, l
cannot conceive Of anything greater
than this law.
"a statue should be comprehensi-
BILE. But does this statute tell what
you shall teach and what you shall
not teach No, no. 1t simply says
you shall net teach any theory Of the
creation that is contrary to the di-
vine theory. No legislature in any
state in the union is strong enough to
say what is divine.
''What is the Bible? In a general
way | know what it is. | know that
there are millions of people in the
world who, lock on it as The divine
book Good. l would be the last Cne
in .i.e rid to tax; any asti2.' tc
take it away. l feel exactly the same
Of any either religious creeds.
"Insteod of fighting each other as
in the past, the people of the different
religious should help each other.
"Who is the chief mogUl," he queri-
ed, "who can tell us Just what the
Bible means? He odsnE to write a
book and tell us ali about it. Differ
ent sects have been disagreeing ever
it through the ages. If Mr.. Scopes IS
to be indicted because he taught a
wrong theory Of the origin Of life,
why not tell him what he must teach p?
mot Good Indictment
Nothing like that was ever known
of until the fEndamentalists made
their brave charge upon the intelll-
gence of the people of Tennessee.
"NOw let's look at this indictment.
The defense attorney then went
into detail concerning the technical
phrasing Of the document. subjecCing
it to ridicule aad speaking with ocatn-
ing sarcasm.
''You might just as well indict q
man for being no good ne SAID.
''This legislation and all similar
legislation that human malice car
ccncoct is void because of sections
10, IL and (of the cOnstitutionl.
Says It Is Unconstitutional
Section IL provides that the STAT
shall protect science, literature ant
learning. / want to say that the con
struction the attorney general gave t.
that section is correct.
"The state by constitution has per
mitted the doctrine of education.
presume that when it is committed t
education, it means the teaching O
the truth. That indicates the pollc
OF the State of Tennessee.
"But we insist that this statute
absolutely void because il conflict
with the right to worship freely.
eff this section of the cOnsUitutlO
of Tennessee cannot be sustained l
the spirit it cannot be sustained
the letter. Free minds don't thin
alike. Of course, they may be caugf
in a trap by the fundamentals. 81
if they are free they may 60 tOgetht
Tr,Ivr WI
conflict along others.
Nothing else has caused the Gil
ference of opinion, the hatred al
cruelty that religion has caused. Thel
are more than 500 sects and Greco
eff the Christian religion. No a.
should ever be passed to lnterfe
with complete religious liberty.
"Many Are EvOlutionists
"a great per cent of the ;htellige
people of Tennessee are evOlutionist
They had not thought it necessary
give up their church because they b
lieved that things had net be'
formed in a unit but that they h;
evolved through various stages UNI
they had reached their present stage
"And then this bill IS forced up
them by the fundamentaists 1t Is
IIdNGSby upOll lang NelSC etAlA ~OAAN7-A
ton to say that any citizen of TIE
nessee shall be tied down by til
statute.
''Your life and mine and the life
every American citizen depends up
the tolerance of his fellcwmen. If m
cannot live and let live no mans Ii
is safe.
"Where is the man wise enough
make people go to heaven if tn
don't want to do it?
''The legislature has the right
say what shall be taught in the pU
lie schools within limits. But tn
FrUJl,yu,,,,u,lrur;