Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-03-30
BELLEVUE is OPEN TO NEGRO
INTEItNIiS.

On Tuesday, March S, at o'clocl,
conference was held in the off ca
of the Bellevue Board of Trustees,
First Avenue and Goth Street, be-
tween Committee Interested in the
question of securing the appointment
OF Negro internes in the New York
hospitals, and the Board of Trus, ces
Oh the bellevue and Allied Hosp. tails.
The Committee consisted of Mr..
d.. Hoinngsworth Wood, president
OIL the National League on Urban
lohMhOnH Among Negroes; Mr..
James Weldon Johnson, T. cid Secrc-
tnry OF the National Association for
the Advancement of t'"'"rcd People:
.'r. Eugenc Kncklc Jones, Execu-
tive OF the National Urban League,
DR.. William II. Hayes, pastor of the
Mt. OliVet Baptist Church and Mr..
Alrutheus a. Taylor Industrial Sc.
cretary of the Urban League.
The following members of the Belle
vue Board of Trustees were present:
DR.. John w. Brannan. Pres dent;
Mr., John G. O'Keef1hu iSecretary;'
Mr.. James *. Pauldng; Mr.. LEO
pold Stern; Mr.. Samuel Sachs; Mr.,
James A. Farley; MIR. Henry C.
Wright; Mr.. Bird S. Coler, Ex-ofrt-
clio.
Mr.. Wood briefly outlined the pur
pose OF the conference stating that
the CommitteeN to get some
expression from the trustees of these
hospitals on the question Of admit
ing qualified Negroes to their inferno
staff.
Mr.. Jones and Mr.. Johnson were
asked to state the case for the Com.
mittec.
Mr.. Jones said in part: "Thc col
ored people of New York feel that
there is Il prejudice against Negroes
being admitted as interncs in, Belle.
vue Hospital. We would like to con
vcy to them from you a message that
would alter THIS impression.
We want to know if color is determ
ming factor in your selection of in
ternes. If our young students OF
medicine f,lt that they would be ad
mittcd on basis Of merit rather than
color we are certain that more OF
| them would apply for the eXamina
tons based upon which appointments
are made"
Mr.. Johnson corrohorated generally
what Mr.. Jones has said and in nd
dition he asked if any law had been
passed or is now contemplated to re
cure at least ono year intcrncship on
the part OF physicians before they
might practice in the State of New
York.
1t was definitely stated by the trus
, tees that no such law had been pass
cd, and so far as known none is con
templated.
| Mr.. O'Keeffe, Secretary to the
Board OF Trustees, cited Il part of his
letter under date OF February goth
to Mr.. Taylor, in which he said: ere
, latiVo to the question Of intcrneslips
such appointments in Bellevue and
Allied Hospitals are made solely on
ability and merit Of candidates re
gardlcss OF race or creed"
Mr.. Samuel Sachs said that the col
ored people OF New York City should
be told that any Negro applying for
appointment as inferno at these hos
pitfalls Would be judged solely on abil
| ity and merit and that investigation
OF any claims to the contrary would
be welcomed. He further expressed
n desire that he he PERSONALLY Inform
| cd In advance concerning the number
| OF Negroes qualified or qualifying for
such examination, and especially when
any ono of them cOntcmplates being
| Nf"S"' va" "loo h't'uc Ny INC beile
Vue authorities that list of Negroes
now studying in the New York Mcdi
cal colleges be secured and referred
to them. that they might be at any
moment conversant with conditions
examined.
| The attitude expressed was to the
effect that ability and mort are the
Sole qualifications for the candidates.
and that qualified young Negro doc
tors may look forward to a hopeful
future with respect to becoming Nom
hers Of the inferno staff of Bellevue
and Allied Hospitals