"WOULD BE AN ILLEGAL INVASION OF RIGHTS"

ANTI-EVOLUTIONISTS SEEK FEDERAL STATUTES THAT MIRROR TENNESSEE'S ANTI-EVOLUTION LAW

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On July 26, 1925, The Sunday Star reports that "there is...no disposition...to take seriously" a lawsuit filed with the court of the District of Columbia to "restrict payment of salaries" of D.C. school officials who have permitted the teaching of theories which...'disrespect...the Holy Bible.'

There is also a proposal to have Congress...write into the Federal statutes the substance of Tennessee's Butler Act*.  The hope among the anti-evolutionists is to have it eventually apply to land-grant and Federal aided colleges.

The Star reports also that it has conducted a survey among newspaper editors which indicates this proposal "would be intolerable (and an) illegal invasion of rights."

*Butler Act (1925), introduced in the Tennessee State Legislature by John Washington Butler, prohibited teaching humans evolved from a lower form of animal.  

BA passed the TN legislature 71-6 & TN Senate 24-6 & was signed into law by Gov. Austin Peay.  The BA remained on the books until 1967 when it was repealed.  In 1968, the USSC ruled anti-evolution statutes unconstitutional. 

SOURCES

"Congress Lacks Power to Ban Evolution, Aroused Editors Say," The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., July 26, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"Understanding the 1925 Butler Act of Tennessee," ThoughtCo, www.thoughtco.com/

The Scopes Trial

Tennessee Historical Marker

Dayton, Tn (2014)

Photo by AP Class

Carter High School

"IN ORDER THAT DAY MAY TRIUMPH OVER NIGHT"

DARROW GIVES OPINION OF EVOLUTION TRIAL ADVERSARY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN

New York City (JFK+50) On May 18, 1925, famed Chicago lawyer Clarence Darrow, who joins in the defense of Tennessee public school teacher, John T. Scopes, who is charged with violation of "the law forbidding the teaching of evolution", gave his opinions on William Jennings Bryan* who will be his adversary for the prosecution.

Mr. Darrow said...

"Nero tried to kill Christianity with persecution and law.  Bryan would block enlightenment with law.  Nero failed as will Bryan.  More persons are studying evolution in Tennessee now than before the law was passed."

Darrow and fellow attorney Dudley Field Malone will pay the expenses for the evolution trial to be held in July in Dayton, Tennessee "in order that day may triumph over night."

JFK+ 50 NOTE

The law in question is the Butler Act (1925) passed by the Tennessee State Legislature & Senate and signed into law by Gov. Austin Peay.  The law prohibited public school teachers of the state of Tennessee to deny the account in the book of Genesis of man's origin or to teach the theory of evolution.  

The Butler Act was sponsored by Rep. John Washington Butler who represented Macon, Trousdale & Sumner counties north of Nashville.

*William Jennings Bryan was a driving force in the Democratic Party having been nominated 3 times for POTUS.  WJB also served as Secretary of  State under Woodrow Wilson.  He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church & a strong opponent of the doctrine of evolution.

SOURCE

"Darrow Likens Bryan to Nero as Futile Opponent of Great Doctrine's Spread," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., May 18, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Statue of William Jennings Bryan

Rhea County Courthouse

Dayton, Tennessee

by self, J Fisher (2007)

"EMPHASIS ON ISSUE OF FREEDOM OF TEACHING & LEARNING"

SCOPES, ACCUSED OF TEACHING EVOLUTION, TO BE DEFENDED BY DARROW AND MALONE

Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) On March 17, 1925, The Sunday Star reports that yesterday nationally known trial lawyers Clarence Darrow* and Dudley Field Malone** have offered their services in the defense of John Thomas Scopes*** of Dayton, Tennessee.

Mr. Scopes is charged with violation of the recently enacted Tennessee state law (Butler Act) "forbidding teaching of any theory of evolution."

The offers were accepted by Dr. John R. Neal, leading defense counsel.  Dr. Neal emphasizes that the forthcoming trial, slated for the summer months, will center around the issue of freedom of teaching and learning rather than the validity of the theory of evolution.

The American Civil Liberties Union hired Dr. Neal "to test the constitutionality" of the Butler Act.

JFK+50 NOTE

The Scopes "Monkey" Trial was held July 10-25 1925 in Dayton (Rhea County) Tennessee (north of Chattanooga).   It sparked a national debate on the role of science & religion in public schools.  Although Scopes was found guilty & fined $100, the verdict was later overturned.

*Clarence Seward Darrow (1857-1938) was born in Farmdale, Ohio & educated at the University of Michigan Law School.  CSD became famous as a high-profile advocate for trade union causes & some said he was the greatest lawyer of the 20th century.

**Dudley Field Malone (1882-1950) was born in New York City & educated at Fordham University School of Law.  DFM was one of the most prominent liberal attorneys of the 1920s.

***J.R. Neal, Jr. (1876-1959) was born in Rhea Springs, TN & educated at the University of Tennessee (AB), Vanderbilt University (LLB) & Columbia University (PhD).  JRN served in the TN state legislature & became known as the "Great Objector" supporting progressive causes.

SOURCE

"Darrow and Malone Aid Is Accepted For Scopes," The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., March 17, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

J.R. Neal Jr & John T. Scopes

Bain News Service (1925)

Library of Congress

"I'LL BE A MONKEY'S UNCLE!"

SCOPES TRIAL OPENS IN DAYTON, TN

Dayton, Tennessee (JFK+50) On July 10, 1925, John Thomas Scopes*, a high school teacher in this small town located just north of Chattanooga, went on trial for violating Tennessee's recently enacted anti-evolution law.  The Butler Act**, passed by the Tennessee State Legislature in March 1925, made it unlawful to "teach any theory that denies the story of Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible".

Mr. Scopes, in the role of substitute biology teacher at Rhea County High School, admitted to teaching evolution to his class by reading from a chapter of the state Biology textbook.  He was charged with violation of the law on May 5, 1925 and indicted on May 25.  The Baltimore Sun covered the $500 bail required for Scope's release pending trial. 

The trial, conducted by Judge John T. Raulston, took place at the Rhea County Court House from July 10 through July 25, 1925. 

*John T. Scopes (1900-1970) was born in Texas and lived in Wisconsin and Illinois.  He graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1924 with a major in law and minor in geology.  He became football coach at Rhea County High School where he also was employed as a substitute teacher.

**John W. Bulter (1875-1952) was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives 1923-1927.  He also headed the World Christian Fundamentals Association.  JWB admitted he knew nothing about evolution but heard that students were coming home from school telling their parents the Bible was nonsense.

Rhea County Court House

Dayton, Tennessee

Photo by Calvin Beale (2006)

TOO MUCH MONKEY BUSINESS

BUTLER ACT PROHIBITS TEACHING OF EVOLUTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF TENNESSEE 

Nashville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Ninety years ago today, March 13, 1925. the Senate of the State of Tennessee, meeting here in the capital city, passed the Butler Act by a vote of 24 to 6.

The act, previously passed by the Tennessee House of Representatives, prohibited...

"the teaching of the Evolution Theory in all the Universities, and all other public schools of Tennessee, which are supported in whole or in part by the public school funds of the State, and to provide penalties for the violations thereof."

The penalty for the misdemeanor violation of the Butler Act was set between $100 to $500 per offense.

The anti-evolution law was introduced as House Bill #185 on January 21, 1925 by John Washington Butler.  The Senator reportedly admitted later that he didn't really know anything about evolution, but he had read that students were coming home from school "telling their mothers and fathers that the Bible was all nonsense."

Senator Butler then concluded the teaching of evolution was a dangerous practice.

The Butler Act passed the Tennessee House on January 28, 1925 by a vote of 71-5.  After passing the Tennessee Senate, it was signed into law by Governor Austin Peay* on March 21, 1925.

In one of the most famous court trials of the 20th Century, the Butler Act was tested in the case of John T. Scopes vs. the State of Tennessee in Dayton, Tennessee in July 1925.

Journalist Walter Lippman compared the Butler Act to Thomas Jefferson's Virginia Act for Religious Freedom which says:

"to compel a man to furnish...money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves is....tyrannical..."

Lippman pointed out that the Butler Act only prohibited the teaching of the evolution theory in schools of Tennessee which the taxpayers were required by law to contribute.

*Austin Peay (1876-1927) was born in Christian County, KY and attended Washington & Lee University and Centre College.  He practiced law in Clarksville, TN before being elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives.

AP became the 1st Tennessee governor to win three consecutive terms (1923-1927) and the only one to date to die in office.  The Governor was buried in Clarksville, TN.

Governor Austin Peay
Photo by Bain News Service
Library of Congress Image

Too Much Monkey Business

Chuck Berry

DIEN BIEN PHU

BATTLE OF DIEN BIEN PHU BEGAN 60 YEARS AGO TODAY

French Indo China (JFK+50) Sixty years ago, March 13, 1954, 40,000 Viet Minh communists surrounded 15,000 French troops near the Laotian border.

The attack began with a surprise artillery barrage and very quickly the French command was decimated.

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu continued until May 7, 1954 with a Viet Minh victory over the French.

US M24 CHAFFEE Light Tank

used by the French in Vietnam

TENNESSEE SENATE PASSED ANTI-EVOLUTION LAW 89 YEARS AGO TODAY

Nashville, Tennessee (JFK+50) 89 years ago today, March 13, 1925. the state senate of Tennessee passed the Butler Act by a vote of 24 to 6.

The act, previously passed by the Tennessee House of Representatives, prohibited...

"the teaching of the Evolution Theory in all the Universities and all other public schools of Tennessee."

The Butler Act would be signed into law by Governor Peay on March 21 but was challenged in the Scopes Trial in Dayton, Tennessee in July 1925.

Journalist Walter Lippman compared the Butler Act to Jefferson's Virginia Act for Religious Freedom which says:

"to compel a man to furnish...money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves is....tyrannical..."

Lippman pointed out that the Butler Act only prohibited the teaching of the evolution theory in schools of Tennessee which the taxpayers were required by law to contribute.

Walter Lippman

ANDREW JOHNSON IMPEACHMENT TRIAL BEGINS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Andrew Johnson, 17th President of the United States, accused of the violation of the Tenure of Office Act, went on trial 141 years ago today, March 13, 1868, before the Senate of the United States.

Johnson, the 1st president to be impeached or "charged with high crimes or misdemeanors", became president on the death of Abraham Lincoln on April 15, 1865.

Since becoming president, Johnson had been the target of radical Republicans who believed his reconstruction policies, like Lincoln's, were too lenient on the South.

Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase presided over the trial which required, by the United States Constitution, a two-third guilty vote for removal from office.

The President's attorneys requested a 40 day period to prepare a defense. 

The Chief Justice ruled they would have only 10 days to prepare.  The trial would resume on March 23.

Ticket to Senate Gallery for Trial