Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1925-07-09
WILLIAM J.BRYAN
AIRS HIS VIEWS
Ready for Scopes Trail. Say. 'sChris.
fianity and Evolution are Enga.
ged in Duel to the Death"

Dayton, Tenn, July THE con
test between evolution and Christian
lty is "a duel to the DEATH" William
Jennings Bryan declared tonight i,
an address at a dinner given in hi
honor by the Progressive Dayton
Club in the dining room at the Ho
tel Aqua.
1T has been in the past a deatl
grapple in the dark" said Mr.. Bryan
who arrived here today in prepare
zion for the trial of John T. Scopes
who is charged with violating the
Tennessee statute against teaching
evolution theories in the schools OF
Tennessee.
From this time on it will be a
death grapple in the light"
Mr.. Bryan, who is associated with
counsel for the prosecution of the
young high school instructor, was
guest of the club which two weeks
ago entertained Clarence Darrow of
defense counsel in the same dining
room The fundamentals leader
was introduced tonight by Wallace
Haggard, member of the prosecution
counsel. A welcome to Dayton was
extended by John L. Godsey, local
member of the defense counsel.
One issue of the coming trial which
is scheduled to begin next Friday
is whether the people shall rule in
the United States, the speaker asser-
ted. The people are the only source
OF the power he said, and will in the
end control
The dinner ended a day which for
Dayton has been one of the busiest
since the coming Of Darrow, Balm
bridge Colby and Dudley Field Ma
lone. The arrival of Mr.. Bryan short
1y afternoon followed the return Of
John T. Scopes and DR.. John Neal
chief defense counsel, from Cooke
vile where yesterday they filed q
petition for injunction to remove the
case from the state to the federal
courts. -.
Mr.. Bryan, from the train, was
escorted to the home Of Richard
Rogers where he will make his head
quarters, During the afternoon, he
held brief conference with Sue X.
Hicks, Wallace C. Haggard, Judge
j. G Mckenzie and Herbert Hicks
local, members of the prosecution
staff.
He viewed the court room in which
the trial will be held and visited the
newspaper club room. Mr.. Bryan
told newspaper men he was "pre-
pared for the trial"
Mr.. Bryan spoke following the din
ner which was attended by John T.
Scopes, member of counsel for both
parties to the suit, leaders in Day
toms civic life, and newspapermen.
He avoided details of the Scopes
case, saying the case would not be
tried in the newspapers, but in the
courts. Three points, he said he could
discuss with propriety.
Referring to the size of Dayton
Mr.. Bryan said that "some of the city
papers, have spoken disparingly of
the town "as if it were too small
a place in which to hold to great
trial"
"Why should the size of the town
be matter of Importance in the trial
of religious case," asked the speak
er. "Christianity began in a small
town. whether we date the beginning
with the birth of Christ in Bethle-
hem or with the youth of Christ in
Nazareth. Why should not this peace
full community furnish a fitting en-
vironment for the trial of case
that involves the two greatest sub
jects that interest mankind-educa-
tion and religion.
''The newspaper critics who have
been making fun of Dayton should
read the front page of the book
which gave rise to this trial
"The biology which the defendant
was teaching has as its frontispiece a
picture of crowded city street and
just below it the picture Of a farm
house on a quiet country road.
Beneath the pictures is suggestion
upon which the city editors might
reflect with profit. This is the COM
ment that the author Of the book
makes upon the two pictures con-
trasted: Compare the unfavorable
artificial environment of crowded
city with the most favorable environ
ment of the country"
"What is the secret Of the worlds
interest in this little caAe?" tho
speaker asked. "It is found in the
fact that this trial uncovers an at