The broad ax., 1925-08-08

When Feedmen's Hospital was oc-
cupying poorly equipped frame build
iugs, some twenty years ago, near
Sixth and Bryant streets, ". W..
Washington, D. C., we marveled at
the temerity Of the quiet young ply
stefan who accepted the call Of the
Government to become Surgeon-in-
Chief OF one OF the Races youngest
institutions Of healing. In those days
the Negro medical profession was in
its early childhood and hospital stats
made up of race, men and women
were as rare as a day in June. White
administrative officers were doubtful
Of the abilities Of the Negro medical
art, and the only lever which was
prying the Negro hospital efficacies
up to their own aim and right was the
desire Of white stats to separate them
selves as much as possible from close
contact with Negro patients.
DR.. Warfeld accepted his new post
with modesty and with a deep love
for service. He laid his own practice
upon the altar Of sacrifice and began
the slow task Of beginning to build the
present Freedmen's Hospital, one Of
the mightiest institutions of its kind
in these United States. Beginning
with mixed staff Of physicians and a
meagre corps Of colored nurses, DR..
Warheld has been able, little by little,
to advance race doctors to outstand-
ing places on the Freedman's staff. A
skilled surgeon himself, Warheld
blazed the trail by amazing work in
abdominal surgery, proving to the
medical world by his own prowess
that all Negro physicians needed was
the training and the opportunity.
Through efficient demonstration and
administrative directorate DR.. War
field has advanced the Freedmen's in
stitution to a conspicuous place in the
hospital world. The splendid build
ing, equipment, and staff, now headed
up BY him, with its modern processes
is as outstanding an example of an ef-
hciency and ability, coupled with di-
plomacy, self-sacrifce and service, as
the country has ever witnessed. "A
modern training school for nurses.
graduating yearly women Of integrity
skilled in the curative art; a medical
mecca for young Negro physicians
who, after graduation, need intensive
scientific training TO carry back to
their communities; and a clean, whole
some institution where the sick and
afflicted may intern themselves for
treatment amid ideal circumstance
these are the accomplishments OF DR..
William Al Warfeld, Surgeon-in-
Chief Of Freedmen's Hospital. Wash
ington, D. O., who has endeared him
self in the hearts Of thousands of
people, white and colored, in and out
Of this country
Next to high finance. "Tbe Missing
Link seems to be the most absorbing
topic Of the great white world today
Trying to mould the missing link into
IA reality, barring evolution theories,
and interpreting the works and inten-
tons Of the Maker are forming the
tweng-four hour work day for a ga
LAZY Of ambitious whites who are.
however, fearful lest. at some time,
it be further reafirmed that man il but
clay, and, like a meerschaum pipe, is
more highly valued when colored.
Coming back to the missing link,
however. a host Of explorers are now
en- route to Africa where African psv-
chology and physiognomy will Be
zealously studied. DR.. Carl Jung
heads one Of the mental expeditions
to the dark continent, while another
expert, Or. Alonzo Pond, acting as
Beloit Colleges representative. heads
another expedition which will % ~
Algeria, Africa, and there try to find
the missing link What disturbs our
tranquility, however, is the question:
Is it the hope that the scientists will
find the missing link down in the Sa-
hara belt and thereupon promu1gate
the theory that Negroes having come
from Africa are direct descendants Of
the missing link, and, are not humans?
(Since many Of them are not treated
as humans.) IF this were to come
to pass, science would next Be con-
fronted with the tasks Of finding out
what percentage Of Negro blood in
America is human, and contra, and
how much efficacy had been lost from
Anglo-Saxon blood through miscege-
nation. Why the missing link should
be sought in Africa any more than in
England or Russia, for that matter,