Thanks for reminding us of this Mike. If I may self-plagiarize from my blog entry:
"Often forgotten, however, is that the [Tennessee] Supreme Court rejected Scopes' defense team's arguments that the statute on which the conviction was based violated the Establishment clause <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Establishment_Clause_of_the_First_Amendment> of the U. S. Constitution ("Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...."), and overturned the conviction on the technicality that only juries, not judges, could assess fines of great than $50." (http://ahp.yorku.ca/?p=503) Scopes had been fined $100 by the judge. The prosecutor decided against a retrial. Chris Green York U. Toronto ============== Mike Palij wrote: > For fans of the sociology of evolution, today is the day that > John Scopes was convicted for teaching that humans came from > an earlier/simpler form of life (i.e., evolution). Of course, as > the trial turned out, he *had* to be found guilty. For the reasons > why, one might read the NY Times story about this day: > > http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/20080721.html > > For extra points, who is quoted as saying the following: > > |"I have no power to define this issue finally and authoritatively. > |None of the counsel on our side has this power, and none of > |the consul on the other side has this power. Even this honorable > |Court has no such power. The people will determine this issue. > |They will take sides upon this issue, they will state the questions > |involved in this issue, they will examine the information -- not so > |much that which has been brought out here, but this case will > |stimulate investigation and investigation [note: spelling corrected] > |will bring out information, and the facts will be known, and upon > |the facts as ascertained the decision will be rendered, and I think > |my friends and your Honor, that if we are actuated by the spirit > |that should actuate every one of us, no matter what our views > |may be, we ought not only desire but pray that that which is right > |will prevail, whether it be our way or somebody else's." > > Was it: > a) John Scopes > b) Clarence Darrow (Scopes' attorney) > c) William Jennings Bryan (part of the prosecuting team) > d) H.L. Mencken > e) Dr. John R. Neal (part of the prosecuting team) > > And in the Lightning Round! who said the following: > > |"I think this case will be remembered because it is the first case > |of this sort since we stopped trying people in America for witchcraft, > |because here"- and he thundered out the last words- "we have > |done our best to turn back the tide that has sought to force itself > |upon the modern world of testing every fact in science by a religious > |dictum. That is all I care to say." > > Was it: > a) John Scopes > b) Clarence Darrow (Scopes' attorney) > c) William Jennings Bryan (part of the prosecuting team) > d) H.L. Mencken > e) John B. Watson (commenting on the trial) > > Finally, who was born today? > a) Ernest Hemingway > b) Marshall McLuhan > c) Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) > d) Robin Williams > e) all of the above > > For the answer to the final question, see: > > http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/20080721.html > > -Mike Palij > New York University > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
