More about Santa Rosa in the summer of 1925. See INTRO for overview and index.
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Judging by the amount of ink spread by the Press Democrat, the most pressing story in July 1925 didn’t involve Sonoma County or a great crisis – it was the doings in a small Tennessee town. In this the PD was not unusual; papers large and small printed an enormous number of articles that month about the Scopes “Monkey Trial” and events leading up to it.
The court case was exploited as a kind of religion vs. science Battle Royale, but it was really a simple question over whether fundamentalist christians could dictate what was taught in public schools (an issue still unresolved today, I hasten to add). The trial dramatically pitted defense lawyer Clarence Darrow against politician William Jennings Bryan, a confrontation best known via movie versions of the play “Inherit the Wind.” In July alone the PD printed over fifty articles about it. Add in coverage from late June – early August and there were about a hundred related articles, editorials and photos, many on the front page above the fold. One piece reported Dr. S. S. Bogle was visiting his mother in Knoxville and took a side trip to drop into court, which happened to be the day when the judge ruled scientific testimony was inadmissible. There was apparently much local interest in those events. The library told the PD there was great demand to learn more about Darwin’s theory. “…Books on the subject of the origin and development of species lay dust-covend on the shelves of the library, but now never a day goes by without request for volumes on the theme of evolution.” The Piggly Wiggly grocery store advertised “Monkey Food” (?!) for 12½¢ each, with the teaser, “Are You Interested in Evolution?” When it was over the PD printed the editorial cartoon shown below, suggesting everyone was sick of hearing so much about the doings. For anyone who only knows about the Scopes trial from the movie, I strongly encourage reading the Pulitzer-winning history “Summer for the Gods.” What really happened was far more interesting and bizarre than portrayed on the screen. As a sample: the famous confrontation between Darrow and Bryan happened not in the courtroom but on the courthouse lawn – so many spectators had forced their way in there were concerns the floor might collapse. As thousands watched Bryan and Darrow fight outdoors, boys wandered through the crowd selling bottles of soda pop.
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ALL-SUMMER CHAUTAUQUA FEAR IN EVOLUTION CASE; SCOPES FACING DILEMMA – Is this Scopes trial to be a real issue at law, or simply a summer Chautauqua? A few earnest young lawyers on both sides are trying to make it a simple criminal proceeding. Opposed to them are the great publicists who have been drawn into the affair from various and sundry motives, and who are anxious that all legal barriers, safeguards and restrictions be swept away, so they can fight it out along their respective lines even if it takes all summer. Mr. William Jennings Bryan, speaking for his particular part of the prosecution, says; “Come one, come all; let’s debate every passage of the Bible from Genesis to Exodus. I don’t want to go back to Florida until away next fall”… (July 10)
EVOLUTION PROSECUTOR TO ‘HANDLE DARROW,’ NATIVES SAY OF OWN HOME TALENT
DAYTON FOLKS UNIMPRESSED BY FAMOUS MEN IN CASE, PUT FAITH IN MOUNTAIN LAWYER
“BATTLE TO DEATH,” DECLARES BRYAN (July 11)
STATE FEARS TESTIMONY OF SCIENTISTS IN TRIAL OF TENNESSEE PROFESSOR (July 14)
LOCAL READERS DEMAND BOOKS ON EVOLUTION – The Scope trial in Dayton, Tennessee, may have been a complete failure as far as proving whether or not man has tree-climbing relatives, but in one respect at least it has proved a benefit, with its advantages reflected even as far away as Santa Rosa. This is in the interest aroused in the subject of evolution, as shown by the recent demand at the Santa Rosa public library. Before the Tennessee “monkey trial” books on the subject of the origin and development of species lay dust-covend on the shelves of the library, but now never a day goes by without request for volumes on the theme of evolution, according to Miss Adelle Barnett, librarian. Besides the increased call for these books to be taken home for reading, many people come daily to use them for reference purposes… (July 21)
CLASH OVER TEACHING OF EVOLUTION IN SCHOOLS OF STATE IS DUE NEXT WEEK
BRYAN QUIZZES DARROW ON IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL
CIRCUS SPECTACLE GIVEN DAYTON WITHOUT CHARGE AS BRYAN-DARROW CLASH
PEOPLE PERCHED IN TREES CHEER AND JEER BIG FIGURES AS HOT WORDS FLY;
BIBLE, RIGHT OR WRONG, IS POSITION OF COMMONER (July 22)
BRYAN ADMITS SCIENCES ARE ‘GREEK TO HIM’ (July 23)
ANTI-EVOLUTION FIGHTS LOOM THROUGHOUT NATION FOLLOWING SCOPES TRIAL (July 25)
ENTIRE NATION MOURNS DEATH OF BRYAN (July 28)