The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-11-14
Or. ThOmpkins HOnOTed
Appointment PIeases Negroes Of City
and State.
(By T. Bolden Stewart

|
One of the greatest triumphs in the
history of the Negro in Kansas City,
is the recent appointment of DR.. Will
: liam J. Tompkins as Superintendent
of the Negro Department at the City
Hospital. Great credit indeed, is due
this black son of the West for his sue
cess in the realization of that which
has been his dream for Kansas City
ever since his advent into the medical
: profession here, eight years ago. Ever
since 1906, DR.. Thompkins has worked
J perseveringly toward the accomplish.
ment of this hope, fighting always
against strong opposition, but over
coming obstacle after obstacle, win
ming point after point. and gaining
ground, though slowly, yet steadily,
until at last his ambition for a City
Hospital in Kansas City, solely in the
hands of Negroes, is realized.
In the aforementioned year, when
the magnificent new City Hospital was
completed and the white patients
trans ferred there, leaving the Negro
patients in the old building, Dr..
Thompkins saw how, since this segre-
cation could not be avoided, it might
be used to the advantage of his peo-
pie. He saw that not only would the
Negroes receive more considerate
treatment at the hands of their own
people, but also that vast opportuni-
ties would be open to the Negroes of
his profession through the equipment
of modern hospital and the direct
association with such men as Drs.
Frick, Jabez Jackson, Binney, Frank
enberger, Hill and Outland, and great
facilities would be afforded Negro
girls for becoming proficient nurses.
1t was not, however, until 1911 that
the first tangible results of his efforts
became evident, when on October the
first, Negro Nurses and Internes en-
tered the City Hospital to care for
their own people, and four Negro Sur
geons and Physicians were appointed
as assistants to the various chiefs on
the visiting staff. And many times
since then has it been through the
initiative and insistence of this advo-
cate of Right and Justice that his peo-
pie have been accorded fair treat
ment, better service and accommoda-
tions, and greater opportunities. Yet
through all his strivings, both toward
immediate and future aims, be it said
to the unselfishness of Dr. Thompkins
that he never had higher ambitions
for himself than to be a member of
the surgical staff, that which he has
been since Negroes were first put on
the service; and even during his most
strenuous activities, was thinking of
becoming located in another city. So,
to those who knew, it was not strange
when in April of this year, Mr.. Thos
J. Finn became president of the Hos
pital and Health Board (the first in
that position to be so heartily in sym
pathy with the Mayors idea of turn
ing the hospital completely over to
Negroes as to set about to carry the
plan through)-I repeat it was not
surprising to those who knew him,
either when DR.. Thompkins was de-
cided upon as the logical one for the
head of the institution, or when he
refused the position, and it was twice
offered him before he was prevailed
upon to accept it, Thus THE Kansas
City Star" that local organ of racial
prejudice, as usual on any matter per-
tanning to the Negro, knew not where
of it spoke in connecting this appoint
ment with the Metropolitan Street
Railway Franchise, for the offer was
made before the Franchise was
thought of, and in fact such had been
AS was said before DR.. Thompkins
is the logical one for the position, and
certainly one more worthy could not
have been appointed. Kansas City
has no better citizen, the Democratic
party no more staunch supporter, the
race no more loyal member, nor his
profession a more capable one than he.
His entire life seems to be devoted
to doing good for others, and all move
ments that tend toward the uplift of
his people and of humanity claim him
as an enthusiastic adherent. 1t was
through his efforts that st. Simon's
Nursery was established, an institu-
| llOu lldI cares LOT DelN66u lOuI anu
five hundred babies annually, and was
for seven years physician there. 1t
was there that he established the first
Child Hygiene department among Ne
groes in Kansas City, work that was
later taken over and maintained by
the city. For seven years also, he was
physician to the "Old Folks and Or
phans' Home" here. He was the first
Negro Medical Inspector of Schools"
in the state, at the same time being
City Physician to the Negroes here,
all of which work was later put under
Civil Service an ddivided among three
men, he retaining one-third of the
work at the same salary for which he
had been doing 1t all.
For two terms he was President of
the Kansas City Medical Society; and
was recently appointed a member of
a committee from the Missouri Pan
Medical Association to appear before
the State Legislature to ask for a
State tuberculosis Hospital for Ne
groes. And we'll was he chosen, for
such an authority on the subject as
it pertains to his people is he con-
sidered, that the white papers have
quoted him.
| In all his political connections, his
| q ofivifiac orc concentrated tnon fhoca