Evening star., 1925-07-12
BATTLE ON SCIENCE
GRIPS SCOPES CASE
Admission of Evolution Ex-
perts' Testimony Is to
Be Fought.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
DAYTON. Tenn, July 11-Spokes-
men for each side in the Scopes evo-
luton trial tonight gave out lengthy
statements on the result of their legal
conference today in preparation for
the forensic battle over admissibility
OF scientific testimony next week.
Court was adjourned last night un-
til Monday at the request of defense
counsel, while the lawyers searched
for ammunition in their law books
and the jurors scattered to their
homes. Presiding Judge Raulston
watched with interest the prepara-
tions in the courtroom for broadcast
ing the trial. starting next Monday.
The prosecution, prepared TO resist
vigorously an announced effort by the
defense 10 introduce testimony that
the theories OF evolution and the
teachings of the Bible are not in con-
fiict. spent much of the day in the
study of the law.
State to Fight.
1t was no secret that the State will
submit to the court that scientific
testimony in the case would be irreIe-
want and inadmissible.
row. announced yesterday that II was
their firm conviction such testimony
would be entirely competent and
every effort made TO get II into the
record.
In a statement this afternoon VIII
liam Jennings Bryan suggested that
IL a law like that which furnishes the
issue in this case were passed in New
York and witnesses from Tennessee
fn rirR,n hAyr
presence on the witness stand would
arouse objection.
THE statement given out yesterday
by Attorney General Stewart repre-
sents the views of the counsel for
the State said Mr.. Bryan. THE
trial is a bona fide case in which tie
State is enforcing law serious in it's
purpose and passed deliberately.
THE case will be tried, according
to the rules of evidence with the pos
sibility of appeal to higher courts. If
improper evidence is offered by the
defense. objection will be made to it
and l doubt not that the defense will
object to any testimony offered by the
prosecution If it thinks that testi-
mony improper.
Statute Not Ambiguous.
Attorney General Stewart has
being enforced is perfectly clear and
free from ambiguity. 1t forbids the
teaching OF doctrine that denies the
truth of the Bible record of mans S
creation, and that there may be no
misunderstan nding of the law. 1t inter
prets the language used by specifying
the Objectionable thing as the doc
trine that man is a descendant of
some lower form of life. There is no
.H~
descent from some lower form of life,
and no scientific specialists could
change the law or it's meaning. no
matter who these specialists might
be or how many there might be.
"If the people of Tennessee have a
right to pass laws for the protection
of the religion of their children. then
they have a right TO determine for
themselves what they consider in
furious and dangerous TO their chill
dren. No specialists from the out
side are required to inform the par
ents of Tennessee as to what is harm
full The testimony of such experts.
therefore, Is not only incompetent but
would be offensive.
IF a law like this were passed in
New York and witnesses were called
from Tennessee to assure the people Of
New York that they were unduly
alarmed, and that there was nothing
to fear, their testimony would be OBJ
jected to as offensive as we'll as i'm
proper.
Hits Foreign" Witnesses.
'If it would be absurd for Tennes-
see experts to advise the people of
New York and Illinois as to what is
helpful or harmful. why is 1t not alb
surd to call experts from New York
and Illinois to challenge the right of
the people of Tennessee to legislate as
they please and according to :heir own
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column ~