The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-23
PLAN A HOSPITAL
Arrangements for Topeka In
dustriaI Institution Completed.
VIII Train COIOred Nurses and
Care for Sick of Race.

THE negro must stop dying SO
early" was the declaration made by
Prof. George r. Bridgeforth, principal
of the Topeka Industrial and Educa-
tional institute for the training of col
ored youth, in addressing a conference
of representative colored men and wo-
men who met at the school Wednesday
for the purpose of perfecting plans for
the organization and erection of hos
pital in connection with the school
where colored nurses may be trained
and the sick of the race cared for by
members of their race.
The board of trustees have already
decided to erect the hospital, and Pro-
feSsor Bridgeforth is providing for it's
support and maintenance by the or
sahization of the colored women of the
state, in whose honor it is to be erect
ed. All the organizations among col
Ored women have been invited to be-
come part of the hospital organiza-
ton and will be perhaps one of the
strongest institutions in the country
among the coiored people. Plans are
now being worked out.
Professor Bridgeforth Is one of the
most noted educators of the country
among the colored people. He has
worked among his people in the south,
mostly in Alabama. He was connect
ed with the Agricultural & Mechani-
cal college for negroes at Normal, Ala.
and from there he went to TuSkegee
institute with the late Booker T
Washington, where he remained for a
number of years in charge of the ag-
ricultural department of the institu-
ton, resigning to come to Topeka.
Negro Must Help Himself
Nobody can help the negro like
the negro can help himself said
Professor Bridgeforth, land he must
help himself. Do not sit down and
complain about opportunities, for they
ere as plentiful as the air you breathe
in Kansas. just waiting for the man
who Is prepared to do SO, to take them
up. To every youth in the state an
opportunity is given for him to get an
education. To my people, the schools
of the state are open. You are well
come TO the University of Kansas. the
agricultural college-in fact all the
state institutions are open, and then
here we have an institution suited to
our financial condition.
Il am proud to say that the colored
people of this state have enjoyed the
friendship and good will of the best
people of Kansas. Our people have
| been encouraged to buy land, build
homes, accumulate property, build
| churches and to advance themselves
along all lines by the white people of
! this commonwealth.
| ed in Kansas ever since it became a
I state. The spirit of Roosevelt, Hoch,
Capper, our Governor Allen and others
! has been the spirit of Kansas. kan
! sas for everybody and everybody Tor
| Kansas No man came to Kansas In
| the early days. white or black, rich
or poor, without receiving hearty
| welcome, and today this state with all
| of it's resources with its magnificenf
| institutions is holding out and extend
| ing it's protecting arm to all mankind.
1.-The growth of a state is measured
| by its educational institutions and its
ability to make them reach the peo-
Pile The edIcation of such institu'
lions must not be out of the reach OF
| the people. 1t is a practical age, and
education must be practical If it is to
be anything at all. The colored youth
as we'll as the white youth must be
educated for service. whether that
! service be professional or vocational
Colored Nurses Valuable.
THE value of the colored nurse for
: instance, was not fully realized unit
| last fall, when our own city was al
| the mercy of the influenza epidemic
| They rendered service not alone to
their own people. but to many OF the
white people of Topeka rs well. We
| are determined that in the future
these nurses shall be efficient; there
! toio VIC are Gazing upon you 70 heik
j to make this hospital second to none
| in the country. We are then going to
| get hold of the best fitted young
women and give them a thoro train
ing in nursing, so that they will be
| prepared to render service in any
home or community. This is what
am calling upon you to do now
Charles Stewart of Chicago, Ill
| general missionary of the Nationa
! Baptist convention and publicity agent
! of the United States food a6ministra-
| ton, made a short talk. He also ad-
dressed the student body. using as his
|