The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1918-06-27
NEGROES MAY GO
TO sANAToRIUM
Whites and Colored to Get
Similar Treatment for
tuberculosis

are to be admitted to the Wales
Sanatorium at Statesan, Wis, on
the same basis rs whites, accord
ing to a ruling of the state board
of control, said Supt. Il. l.. vii.
liamS last night.
This ruling will settle ques
ton, which has long been dis
turbinG colored people and fin
ally resulted in letter of pro-
test to Gov. +. l.. Philipp, written
ON June II.
In it's letter the National Asso'
citation for the Advancement of
Colored People complained against
the attitude of state officials and
DR.. Williams, who were charged
with saying that Negroes could
mot be successfully treated with
whites in the state tuberculosis
institution.
Since this letter was written
| DIR. Williams has received orders
to admit all Negro patients. lie
said many had recently come to
Wisconsin. with the influx of
colored laborers from the South,
and that he did not believe he
could handle them at Wales, UNI
less some ruling were made by
state officials.
Since adjustment of the mat
ter by the state board letters
have been written to the organ
i2ations complaining, explaining
that hereafter Negroes will be
admitted. DR.. Williams said seq
regation would be impossible and
that negroes and whites alike
would be given attention III the
same wards and rooms.
In letter to Gov. Philip, See
rotary r. Shillady of the nation
al association complained in part
as follows:
"Dr. X. l.. Williams, Superin-
| ltendcnt of your state institution,
advises us not to insist upon the
admission q colored people TO
the present institution. He gives
as his reason for not admitting
colorcd people to the said insti-
tuition the alleged fact that Nc
groes have an offensive body
odor to which sick people, says
| DR.. Williams. are extremely sen
sitivc.
This association insists that DR..
Williams objections are puerile
and absolutely without warrant.
The matter of personal offensive
ness, such as is alleged by DIR.
Williams, is a purely individual
matt"r. and not one of race. Col
ored people have a right to, and
do, resent such inputations as
that put 1pon them by Dir. Will
Hams in his statement to ms.
Says Negroes Pay Taxes
But the essence Of the prob
lem lies in the fact that colored
people are citizens; they pay
taxes, the same as white people,
and Wisconsin has no right to
make any distinctions as between
whites end colored, in admission
10 state institutions.
We put this matter squarely
up TO you, chief executive of
the state, to see that justice is
done to the colored people of
Wisconsin III this matteer."
Mr.. Williams admitted that he
had made statements cited 20 the
governor in the 1iation s let.
ter, among them being "that Ne
groes have an offensive body odor
to which sick people are ex-
:remely sensitive "
Four There Some Time Ago
DR.. Williams said that some
time ago there were four Negroes
patients at Wales, and that con
.ditions became such that he asked
the state board for a ruling as to
what be should whether
Negro patients should continue
TO be admitted, or whether there
was possibility that they could
ne sent elsewhere.
We never have refused TO
admit negroes, said DR.. Will
liams "and we have had Negro
patients long before the letter to
the governor and the complaints
Of the association were made pub
lie.
IF our hospital at Wales had
special provisions for such cases.