Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-04
Room for More of Them, Says
Booker Washington.
MADE SPEECH HERE TODAY
Warns Manipulating Students of
Howard University.
DISEASE DRAWS NO COLOR LINE
Colored Physicians Should Preach
Gospel of Health to Members
of Their Race.

There is plenty of work for you to
perform in the interest of humanity and
your race, but after you receive your
diploma from this institution and go
forth into the world to pursue your pro
fession remember, my young friends, tina,
the standard of the profession must be
kept up-that standard set by the high
toned. high-minded men in the years past
who have placed 1t on the plane where II
now stands
The foregoing was the admonition of
Booker T.. Washington this morning to
the matriculating students of the Howard
University Medical School at the opening
exercises of the school held in the uni
versity chapel. Dr. Washington was the
guest Of honor for the occasion and spoke
at length upon the duties of doctor in
general and those in particular Of the col
ored medical man In aiding humanity and
his race.
DR.. Washington's Speech.
when we are inclined" DR.. Washing
ton said. Ito grow discouraged regarding
the present and future, we should make
a comparison.
mo one who lived fifty or sixty years
ago could have dared dream that at this
time there should be over 5000 intelligent
and successful negroes engaged in one of
the most exclusive and highest professions
in the world.
Il have referred to the fact that there
are $500 negro doctors at the present
time. Let me also call your attention to
the fact that this is only about half the
number that there should be.
I'm the case of the white race there Is
one doctor to every six hundred people.
Even if the numhes of the negro doctors
is increased to $500 we will only have
one negro doctor to every 1000 negroes in
America. l am not indicating advocat-
ing that the color line should be drawn
into the practice of medicine-that is.
do not mean to say that the negro doctor
alone should practice among negro people,
but / do think any fair and just person
will agree with me that we ought to have
a fair proportion of negro doctors to prac-
tice among negro patients We need, in a
word, 1900 additional negro doctors. 1t
devolves upon Howard University and
two or three other medical schools for our
race to largely prepare these doctors.
Has Great Responsibility.
I'm that respect, then, Howard Uni
versity has a serious responsibility rest
inS upon 1t, as we'll as great oppor-
tunity. Wherever 1 have gone in my
travels 1 have met graduates of the
medical department of Howard Univer-
sity, and with very few exceptions ! have
found them succeeding, having the conf
denee and good will of the colored people:
Further, l have found them, in most
cases, on easy and on good terms with
their professional brethren of the white
race. The doctor, as rule, is a gentle
man and 1t is not a difficult matter for
two gentlemen no matter how they differ
in color, to get on we'll with each other.
THE great and successful doctor in the
future is not going to be the one who
devotes himself to curing aches and pains.
but one who will devote himself to keep
ing the human family well. The work Of
the doctor in the future is going to be
that of preservation; preserving the body
rather than repairing the body. This
idea involves a more unselfish disposition
to be cultivated on the part OF the doctor.
Can't Draw Color Line.
There are some directions in which no
color line can be drawn. Disease draws
no color line; filth draws no color line. If
a negro. by reason of his ignorance Of the
laws of health, carries about in his body
the germs of consumption. of smallpox
or Of the disease known as the hook
worm. these germs will spread from his
body to that of the white people by whose
side he lives. Negro women prepare and
serve the food of the white people.
Negro women launder the clothes of
the white people; negro women nurse the
babies of the white people. In word,
negroes touch the white man at almost
every vital point in his life If the negro
is ignorant as to the laws Of health. she
can convey disease to the white mans
family through her unclean hands. or I'M
washed body, or the most deadly germs
can be taken to the house Of the white
man by reason of the filth of the cabin
in which the white mans clothes are
Numbered.
Mission Of Negro Doctor.
1T is the mission, in large part, then.
of the negro doctor to teach the gospel Of
health to our people and in this much
needed work institutions like the medical
school of Howard University should have
the support and confidence of all people of
this country, regardless of race or color.
ana especially is 1t important that south
ern people realize what Howard Is doing
for the whole south in helping to preserve
the health of the negro"
The Tuskogee educator was introduced
to his audience, which filled the chapel
to overlooking, by DR.. Thirkield, president
of the university. He referred to him as
IAN educator, a statesman. humani-
tartan and a citizen of the world
1t is expected that DR.. Washington Will