Context
As a member of the defense team in the infamous Scopes Trial, better known as the "Monkey Trial," he argued for the value of educating science. The trial on the constitutionality of a Tennessee statute that forbade evolution education in public schools
Malone's intent
Malone wanted to address the fact that it was critical for students to understand the scientific ideas of evolution in order to be informed citizens with access to the most recent and accurate information. He thought it was crucial to protect the freedom to teach evolution in schools and that the law in dispute was unlawful.