Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-23
CAN AID THEIR RACE
Mission Of Negro Physicians
Declared important.
OPINION OF DR.. LOTION
Calls Meeting Of National Medical
Association to Order.
THE DELEGATES NUMBER 500
President Wheatland Delivers An
nual Address-Clinics Will Be
Held Each Day.
OPINION OF DR.. LOTION
THE DELEGATES NUMBER 500

THE negro doctors play an important
part In the solution OF the much-talked-
Of race problem" was the declaration
made by William S. Lotion. ID. ID. g.,
In calling to order the twelfth annual
convention OF the National Medical As
sociation. this morning at IL O'Clock In
Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel. How
ard University. The association will con-
tinue In session until next Friday night.
Fully five hundred negro doctors. dem
tists and druggists are attending the
meeting from all parts OF the country.
and some Of the most prominent
negro physicians and surgeons are among
them Medical and surgical clinics will
be conducted each day.
DIR. Lotion, chairman Of the local COM
mittee. has arranged for the entertain
ment and comfort OF the delegates, and
he presided At the opening services. Mise
Lola Johnson OF " ashington sang the
opening solo. and Q special prayer was
offered by Rev. DIR. j. Milton Waldron
Of Washington. DIR. Lotion, In his adj
dress. outlined the work OF the week and
concluded by introducing DR.: Marcus +.
Wheatland OF Newport. r. l., president
Of the association, and graduate OF
Howard University medical department.
Ovation for DR.. Wheatland.
DR.. wheatland was given an ovation,
and after acknowledging the introduction
to the large audience delivered his an.
nual address.
I'VE are assembled here in our twelfth
annual convention" he said, I'm an en-
deavor to take note Of and diffuse the
knowledge which Is fast accommodating In
the art and science OF medicine A
greater setting or more inspiring atmos-
phere for this assemblage could not be
found beyond the confines Of this insti-
tuition
Founded for the training OF men to
the higher service Of their fellows and
consecrated to the purpose by the noble
lives spent In the realization Of that
ideal. what more could be desired In the
way OF environment TO stimulate US TO
greater usefulness to our day and gen.
Grafton? There Is nothing I'm the world
SO Inspiring and consoling as a survey
Of the lives of those men OF sainted MEM
DRY who founded and kept alive the In
stitutions for the higher education OF the
colored people In the south: and as We
linger here may we be lifted up by the
same spirit which made their lives SUBJ
lime and be led into paths Of greater
usefulness to mankind.
Words fail me to adequately express
tho gratitude l feel for the honor you
have conferred upon me by my election
to this ONCE. The heart is callous In
deed that would not be moved by the
Of confidence and esteem, and Il IL need
less to say that ] deeply feel the ohli-
Eat'"s imposed.
The Greatest Problem.
'Of all the problems which present
themselv es TO civilization At this time
for solution there are none OF greater
moment to men generally and to piysi-
clans In particular than those which
are concerned In the prolongation Of
human life and the increase OF the en-
cheney OF mankind. That we may share
In these worthy efforts three commits
sions have been appointed by the or
ganizatfon during the past year for the
Investigation OF tuberculosis, pellagra
and uncinariasis.
hope the commissioners have received
the prompt cooperation of the rank
and file OF the organization. for without
this nothing but failure Is possible.
I desire to bring TO your attention
q few questions which have been agi-
tating the minds Of a great many OF
those who are quite familiar with the
necessities Of the organization and
have Its interests at heart. The first OF
these relates to Its finances. We can
not raise money enough under the pres
ent arrangement to run the organiza-
ton. II appears to me that the profess
sion throughout the country IL prosper
Gus enough to put the organisation on
an independent financial basis. and this
can be done without question by rails
ing the dues to IS per year. the same
to include the Journal. II Is not IN
keeping with the dignity of the pro-
fession TO ask others less able than
ourselves to pay the expenses OF our
meetings. This calling In of outsiders
to finance our meeting places them In q
diplomatic position to interfere with
our affairs. which Is not conducive TO
that peace and harmony within the or
ganization SO essential to its work and
growth
Powers Of President.
MY incumbency OF the ONCE OF presi-
dent during the past year has revealed TO
me the anomalous position in which the
constitution places that oficial. II IL
supposed that the president has positive
duties to perform in the interest OF the
association from the time he is installed
until the next meeting. which is not .
fact. A casual perusal OF the constitution
will convince one that he has nothing 10
do but preside 1t the annual meeting.
excepting the appointment of the censor
and program committee. for which ne
must have the approval Of the chairman
Of the executive committee. Fortunate
~. / have had the hearty cooperation
and assistance Of the present chairman
OF the executive committee. but ! San
imagine the possibility OF things being
otherwise. The president should have
more positive duties to perform and Dc
given q greater hold on the machinery or
the organisation, for. In q measure. he Is
held responsible for the years work. In
order TO take I'D these and other vital
questions I would advise that commit
tee for the revision OF the constitution
be appointed.
81 hope we win have a very profitable
meeting. feeling throughout the session
that II 10 good 10 be here. for after all
10 said and done the association will grow
In proportion to the amount Of service IL
can render by helping the rank and nie
OF the profession TO do better work
DR.. A. NJ. Curtis Of Washington. ID. G.
conducted q surgical clinic from 20 10
o'clock this morning At Freedmens Hos
pital, performing three abdominal opera
tons. Two hundred doctors were pres
ent.
During the session this afternoon tns
commission reported through
Chairman Marcus r. Wheatland, M u.
and DR.. ]. A. Kenney MADE tne report
for the hookworm commission.
1ecords for Twenty-Four Hours.
The following were the readings or the
thernometer and barometer at the
we.Sher bureau for the twenty-four hours