The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1918-09-20
THE DOCTORS PROTEST TO
PRESIDENT ON RACE ISSUES


members Of the National Medical AS
sociation, in annual convention as-
sembled with delegates from every
state in the Union, representing five
thousand medical men, feel that we
owe it as duty to ourselves, our
race and our nation 10 make the fol
lowing declarations:
/. AS loyal and patriotic fnedica
men, we have offered and are offer
ing our services to the nation now
in the throes of great nationa
crisis. About one hundred Negro
physicians have already been called
upon to render professional service IN
the Medical Reserve Corps. In addi
tion to this about two hundred physi
clans have been commissioned in the
Medical Reserve Corps but have moi
been assigned to active duty, not
withstanding the fact that the gov
ernment is calling for more physi
clans. We have information that nc
more Negro physicians win be com
missioned in the Medical Reserve
Corps, in accordance with the present
policy Of the war department. We ap
preciate the representation we al
ready have but we depiore the dis
elimination against our physicians
whereby they are excluded from fur
ther commissions. Thousands Of Ne
groes are being drafted into the army
and we appeal to the war department
to right the injustice of the present
policy and to give US q fair represen
tation of commissioned officers.
2. Negro physicians who are now
being drafted are being assigned 81
privates with no apparent chance of
being transferred TO the Medical Re
serve Corps where they could render
the professional service for which
they have been trained Under Tho
new draft age, 18 to 45, at least Sc
per cent of our physicians are sub
ject to the draft and may be assigned
as privates. We hereby petition the
war department to remedy this con
dition of affairs so that our physi
clans can be transferred to the Medi
cal Reserve Corps.
8. We heartily approve the deei
sion Of the war department to enlist
Negro trained nurses in the Rec
Cross service. However, this priv
lege is limited to service in base hos
pitfalls at home. The Negro traines
nurse is loyal to true, aud we ap
peal to the war department to lie
ward her loyalty and devotion by Civ
ing her the opportunity to serve The
brave blacla soldiers on the battle
fields of Europe.
4. AS close students Of the war sit
uation we realize that ADEQUATE provi
sion has not been made for the train
ing of sufficient number of Nepr
officers to man the large number
drafted Negroes. Iii fact, the aigh
Negro regiments now being forne
are manned by white officers. ".
give due praise for the recocnltio
We have already received Ii the maj
ter Of officers IN the Array. Alt I'll
same time we feel that it il only fai
ana just to Us as i racn, that If II
are to be drafted as Negroes. ane
kept in separate regiments as Ne
groes, we should have our proportion
ate share of Negro officers ASSIGNS.
to such regiments. We feel thai
this critical hour, loyalty shoal. |
dominate race prejudice; and thai
the brave black soldier and the pa
tfiotic citizen should not be proddeg
N the back with the fangs Of rac,
prejudice while he is facing the bru
tai Hun in the defense OF this coun
try We appeal to the war denart
ment to give us fair proportion 81
Negro officers for our Neoro reo;
ments, to the end that loyalty and
faithful service may be the TEST ang
not the color of our skin.
q The Negro physicians const;+,,te
one Of the most loyal groups oil
4aineflcans and one of the most DO.
Tent factors in our racial davalan
ment, We are using this great n
huence 70 promote patriotism for and
confidence in our government Hou,
ever, as we travel from place to nlaee
"a our professional duties. ana ),
propagate patriotism we are incon
.enienced, humiliated and abused ~
ne passenger car system known Is
.he i'm Crow cars. It Is out Sc
keeping with the tenets Of Ameriea,
government for which the vo,.,d 4
now oathed in blood, that the govern
meht itself should operate sncb
passenger traffic system. It MT ~,
aepases patriotic class Of eit;zons
0u1 breeds discomfort and denr;ras
{ { c'tizen Of fair compensation e..
MS M money invested in railroad t;cret
IS therefore appeal to the Director
R