The Washington times., 1925-07-23

L. Haycock. assistant superintend-
ent of schools, today conferred with
Commissioner Frederick A. Fenning
and Mr.. Stephens on the defense
plans.
100 Biology Teachers.
It was stated that there are about
100 biology teachers in the public
schools. According to Acting Super
intendent Walter B. Patterson. no
biology is being taught in the sum-
mer schools now in session.
Congress-and particularly Con-
gresham John w. Summers OF
walla walla, Wash.-was seen to-
day. as the common foe Of moth
parties to the local evolution suit.
A ''joker" amendment tackled on
20 the last District appropriation
bill provided for the suspension Of
salary payments to school autnori-
ties should they condone teachings
tending toward ''disrespect Of the.
Holy Bible" Congressman Sum-
mers was the author Of that
amendment. =
The Hateful ''joker" was offered
on the floor Of the House on May
8, 1924. Not more than twenty
sleepy Congressmen were present.
Among them were Congressman
Tom B1anton, and Tom Connaliys
both. Of Texas.
Amendment Slips Through :,
The two Texas solons and the
gentleman from Walla Walla slipped
through the amendment with but
little discussion, although Congress
man Connally first assured himself,
by the statement of the amend.
ment's author, that the Bible was
being subjected to disrespect in the
local schools at that time. I'm
eventfui. apparently unimportant,
the Joker" went by, and for once,
no one bothered TO insist on the
presence OF q quorum.
The Bible amendment /slumbered
until yesterday, when Wfttner filed
his petition in the District Supreme
Court, threw the District Govern
ment into turmoil, filled the papers
Of the country with new evolution
stories and brought a throng Of re-
porters and photographers to his
door.
Clarifying Ignorance
Congress Is glorifying ignorance,
intolerance, and bigotry," Wittner
'eaid today at HIS rooming house,
205 A street southeast. Congress
IS uniting State and church. Con.
gress is combining education IN the
Washington schools to the teachings
of the Holy Bible, written by men
Of immature beliefs who had no
conception Of, and knew nothing
about natural science"
He declared that "disrespect to
the Bible is being taught hereby
the teaching OF natural science
which denies miracles and pseudo
scientific theories Of the Bible"
Admitting the possibility Of a set
back next Tuesday, when Justice
Siddons has ordered District Of
ficials to appear and show cause
why their salaries should not be
withheld, Wittner said: IF we lose.
through to the Supreme Court and
get a final decision"
Sees Quicker Decision
He has brought suit, he said, in
the hope that it will reach the Su-
preme Court before the Scopes case
can come up through the more de-
vious channels Of the State courts.
THE Injunction process Is faster"
said Wittner, land l think it may
get into the Supreme Court early
In the winter.
1.-THE question here is much
broader than in Tennessee. The
ouestion before the court will be,
briefly, this:
Has Congress or any State legis-
lature the right constitutionaIly to
narrow school curricula so that the
LII oh ~
cepted as the true scientific
theories?
''If Congress is permitted to con.
tinuo to pursue that course, the
Holy Bible will be the only book Of
science that can be taught in the
schools"
Admits He Is Atheist
"I am an atheist-a pure athe-
list. I believe religion is detrimen-
tai because 1t teaches dependence,
and one can never achieve indie
pendence if one is dependent"
By the Summers clause, he
stated. Congress is setting up a
definite religion in the country"
The "disrespect" proviso, he de-
clared. violates the fundamental
principle of church and state, and
Is
Anything that conflicts with
the Bible,'' Wittner said. ''is dis
respectful. The fanaticism Of men
Of the ilk of William Jennings
Bryan has crept into our schools,
hating liberal education"
The remedy for this condition lies
in the power of Congress, but first
the courts must rule against the
mention Of religion in legislation,
in Wittner's opinion.
Education" he declared, must
be 1oosed from the letters of intoler-
of liberalism"
1t was deemed unlikely today that
either Clarence Darrow or William
Jennings Bryan will actively par
ticipate in the local case.
Sent Wire to DarrOw.
Nevertheless, Wittner said today
that he had sent a telegram to
barrow, explaining the purpose OF
the case. and stating he would
appreciate suggestions from you
Dudley Field Malone and Arthur
Garfield Hays in my suit"
It was Wlttner's hope that Oar
row and Bryan might be pitted
against each other on local ground
w. P. Hay, biology teacher ac
cused in the suit of teaching the
theory of evolution. said he was
paid to teach biology" and he did
SO, that IL never told my students
that evolution was a fact--I pre-
scented the whole system to them
as Q theory-they could take it Of
leave it."