Town of Dayton "All Dressed Up" for Scopes trial

DAYTON, Tenn., July 7, 1925 (UP) -- A clerk in Robinson's drug store, where the most famous argument on evolution of modern times began, painted in large white letters on the window pane:

"Judge Gore refuses to grant injunction."

The news touched off a heartfelt cheer in Dayton, where townsfolk, with all their preparations made for receiving and entertaining visitors at the trial of John T. Scopes, had spent an anxious 24 hours.

William J. Bryan, war lord of the state, due to arrive from the South at 12:20 p.m., will be the first of the titan figures to reach the scene, ready for battle. Great preparations were made to receive the commoner. A general turnout of the town behind the Rhea Central brass band, in full regalia, was scheduled at the station. Streets were roped off along his line of march to his temporary home.

Bryan will put up at the cottage of the local pharmacist, while here. It has been turned over to him entirely. Mrs. Bryan will join him Thursday. She is motoring up from Florida. Bryan tonight will be a guest of honor at a dinner given by the Progressive Business Men's Club of Dayton at the Aqua Hotel. He will speak, but probably will reserve his fireworks for the trial.

Dayton received the news of its victory over those who would take its trial away by long distance telephone last night from Cahttanooga. There was no demonstration; only a feeling of vast relief.

With the horrible specter of losing the trial dispelled, the town focused its attention on preliminaries to the event, now three days away. John Thomas Scopes, the defendant, was due back here today with his counsel, John R. Neal; Clarence Darrow and his associates are expected Thursday.

Four witnesses were subpoenaed today, all students in Scopes' class at the local high school. They will testify against him as they did when Scopes was indicted.

City fathers drafted traffic regulations to cope with expected crowds. They authorized the roping off of the main and principal tributary streets.

The panel of jurymen chosen yesterday to furnish the 12 men to try Scopes was generally regarded as being pretty well fundamentalist in its leanings. The greater number of them are Methodists with Baptists next. Whether this will affect their qualifications is a matter of speculation, it being held by many that Judge Raulston will rule that their beliefs have no bearing as the question is "Did Scopes violate the law or not?" Defense counsel will not let this ruling pass unchallenged, if made.