The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-07-02
By WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON.
International News Service.

international News Service.
DAYTON, Tenn, July "A host
of Americans, by using Uncle
Sans malls, are rallying to the
defense of John T. Scopes, who
goes on trial next week for
alleged violation of Tennessee's
anti-evoIution law, it was disclosed
here today by his counsel.
From all sections of the nation
an army of scientists, educators,
college professors and even min
listers, as well as laymen, are
writing letters of encouragement to
the defense. Some offer funds,
others their services.
One personal note is sounded
time and again in Dayton's mail
bag. 1t is heard as often in the
letters sent to Scopes as in the
even greater number forwarded to
the State authorities who will
prosecute him. It is opposition to
the two great figures brought into
the trial-Clarence barrow and
William Jennings Bryan.
EVOlutiOniSts seldom fail to de-
nounce Bryan in their letters to
Scopes, while fundamentalists just
as often condemn barrow in writ
Ing the prosecutors.
Letters Are Serious.
To read some of the letters. 1t
seems the distant writer's believe
the trial here will be a physical
battle between barrow and Bryan.
BEAT barrow, God is with you, !"
cry the fundamentalists. Make a
monkey OUT Of Bryan" shout the
evolutionists.
Most Of the letters received by
Scopes and his counsel are serious.
One written to Judge John L. God
sey, chief of defense counsel, by
a Spokane, Wash, educator. said:
IT do not see how any one can
teach geology, botany, zoology or
astronomy without violating the
Tennessee law. Call on me If i
can help you to wipe this vicious
law off the statute books"
From Banning. Calf, another
wrote: "The entrance of Bryan
into the case means that the most
powerful influences Of reaction are
to be arrayed against you. How
can I help you beat them?"
A Chicagoan wrote: Bryan re-
sorts to the usual tactics Of fraud.
1t is the last stand of the funda
mentalists against evolution"
A Georgia editor wrote George
w. Rappleyea, who initiated the
test case: ~ trust Tennessee
through the courts will throw Oft
the yoke placed on its neck by the
legislature and be free to grasp
the truth wherever it is found.
One of the greatest proofs OF
evolution is the slowness with
which people, supposedly intellI.
gent, grasp new ideas. 1t is an
evolutionary process in itself"
A Philadelphia wrote: "I am glad
to see that you and your friends
have the courage 20 fight bigotry.
/ am also glad to see Bryan against
you-he Is always wrong"
Many Offer Services.
A Midland, Ark, minister, eighty
four years old, wrote: Il am an
enemy of ignorance. Your cause is
attracting worldwide attention. /
hope you will win
Educators, editors and ministers
have offered their services as wit
nesses. Those accepted already in
clude Doctor Henry f'airchild Os-
born, of Columbia University: Doc.
tor Edwin Grant Conklin, Of Prince
ton; Professor Michael Pupin, of
Columbia; Professor Kirkley +.
Mather, of Harvard; Professor l.. r.
Rettger, Of Yale; Professor May.
nard NJ. Metcalfe, If Oberlin Col
1ege; Doctor Edward L. Rice, Of
Ohio Wesleyan and Professor Henry
Higgins Lang, of kentucky Uni
versity.
So great was the task Of read
ing his mail it finally forced
| Scopes to take a vacation. Now
the young teacher is reported "rest-
| ing" in a mountain retreat in Ken
lucky. He will return here late
! this week.
Dayton meanwhile takes things
calmly. She has her hour in the
sun, and she is willing to have
the sun so bright 1t will dazzle
! all the rest of the world.