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Show Docs Not Believe In Evolution. One of the foremost biologists of our times is Professor Hupo de Vries of the University ot Amsterdam. This past week he read a paper before be-fore the scientific congress at fhe World's iair which aroused little short of a furore in that body, j He openly combated Darwin's theory of the evo- ! lution of species, declaring the principle absolute- j ly discredited. 4 His deeply scientific address, which gave for j the first time to the scientific world in detail the results of a lifetime of research, aroused imme- : diate interest, and, following the eminent Fhiro- ! pean. who is recognized as the head of modern ! biologists, Professor Charles O. Whitman of the University of Chicago took instant objection to his theories, and in an extended address poured out effective arguments with the intention of disparaging dis-paraging the De Vries theory. President David Starr Jordan, the most noted of the defenders of Darwinism, and biologists from all portions of the world participated in a hot debate which followed, and in the end Professor de Vries found himself in the position of one who had roused the greatest scientists of the world to a high piteh of excitement excite-ment and interest. Professor de Vries had discussed his ideas previously pre-viously to the opening of the Congress in scientific scien-tific papers and 'at gatherings of savants, but he had. never given in dctaip the experiments Rnd methods of research which had developed the theory the-ory which in the opinion of many of those who heard him yesterday will ultimately supplant the Darwinian theory. It was the-fact that for the first time he made a complete exposition of the developments of his years of thought, together with the support which he received from men of prominence and ability, that caused so much consternation con-sternation in the ranks of those who are the ardent supporters of the ideas which have hitherto prevailed. pre-vailed. Professor de Vries. does not wholly discredit the dogmas enunciated by Darwin. On the contrary, he rather emphasizes some of the main essentials of that renowned scientist, but in a manner that if the thought of the Hollander becomes recognized as a basic principle of evolution. Darwin must nec essarily be relegated to the past. It was, then, a battle between giants representing Darwin on one side and the modern school, led by Professor de Vries, on the other. In theoretic language, the thought of Professor de Vries was in this strain: Natural selection, is only a seine and is no direct force of nature as has so often been asserted. Artificial selection consists of two main principles, called variety-testing and racial improvement. Species as we see them in nature, fluctuate within fixed limits, which are not, seen to be transgressed. It is possible by artificial Selection to transcend these limits, but the so-called so-called improved races are not permanent. The importance im-portance of the struggle for existence between individuals has been greatly exaggerated. In plain terms, he says no two. of the same species spe-cies of animal, from the lowest stages to man, are alike in any important particular. Through heredity hered-ity he claims that the distinguishing feature or element of an individual is not transmitted to the offspring of that individual, which in the theory of. Darwin represents the main principle, and who claims that by heredity passing from generation to generation, the idiosyncracies of the primogenitor primogen-itor finally result in a new species. . De Vries de-? nies this, and offers proof that an entirely new species may be developed within one or two generations, gen-erations, and this, if proven, gives to modem science sci-ence a theory which will change the text books of the scientific schools. Western Watchman. . : i |