The Washington bee., 1909-10-09
To The Doctors
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
SAYS RACE NEEDS MORE
DOCTORS
Talks to HO7odrd Students

SAYS Number OF Negro GnySlCldnS
Should Be Twice as Large as It
Is - President of Tuskegee VIII
Remain Here Several Days-Med-
ical and Other Departments of the
University Begin Session.
Telling the students who matricu-
lated in the Howard University Med
ical School Monday morning that
there is plenty of work for physi-
clans of the Negro race, and admon-
ishing them that they must after
graduation, keep up the standard of
he profession, Booker T. Washing
ton. president of Tuskegee Institute
OF Alabama. delivered the address to
the students in the university chapel
At noon.
Il am not indicating or advocat-
ing that the color line should be
drawn in the practice of medicine,
continued the speaker, but | think
it fair and just that the Negro race
should have a fair proportion of Ne
gro doctors to practice among Negro
patients. At this time there are
lore than three thousand intelligent
Negroes engaged in the practice of
the most exclusive and highest pro-
LESSONS in the world. There are
only about half the number of ply
sicians of the Negro race that there
ought to be. In the case of the
white race there is one doctor to
every six hundred people, Even if
the Negro doctors increase to $500
We would have only one to every
seven thousand Negroes in America.
Plenty of Work to Be Done
There is plenty of work for you
to perform in the interest of human
ity and your race, but after yog re-
ceive your diploma from this insti-
tuition remember that the standard
OF the profession must be kept up.
We need four thousand addition
al Negro doctors. In that respect,
then. Howard university has a seri-
Gus responsibility resting on it, as
we'll as. a great opportunity.
1T is the mission of the Negro
doctor to teach the gospel of health
TO our people, and in this much
needed work schools like the Medi-
cal Department of Howard Univer-
sitv should have the confidence and
support of all people OF this country,
irrespective of race or color, and
especially is it important that South
ern people realize that Howard is
working for the whole South in help
ing to preserve the health of the
Negro"
The Tuskegee educator was intro
duced to the audience which filled
the chapel TO overjowing, by DR.. w.
R. Thirkield president of the insti-
tuition. He referred to him as great
educator, statesman, a humanitari-
an. and a citizen of the world Dr.
Washington will remain here for
several DAYS, and participate in the
opening exercises of other depart
ments of the University.
DR.. Thirkield Also Speaks
DR.. Thirkield also addressed the
students. At the same time that the
Medical Department opened the
Schools of Dentistry and Pharmacy
began the matriculation of students.
Dean E. w Ballock, president OF
1h@ District Medical Society, pre-
sided at the opening of the medical
and correlated departments.
At the opening of the Theological
Department, at ten o'clock, Prof.
Tohn Ewell delivered an address to
the young students who have entered
that department Fred Smith, inter
national secretary of the Y NJ c.
A.. delivered an address in the me-
mortal chapel of the University at
Io.4s o'clock Many friends of the
institution attended the opening Of