The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1911-04-01


his rare and extraordinary capacity to face
hostility and even hatred in defense OF
his beliefs. While other worthy men have
been given Offices Of honor and emolument
In recognition of their services to their
race and party, he has had to be content
with thanks-"thanks. the exchequer OF
The poor"-but through It all he has re-
manned q force which had to be reckoned
with and one that was stubborn and un-
bending for right and justice, Think OF
him what you will. you must concede that
among the pale shadows that, ordinarily
hit across the stage Of our public life Tom
Fortune IL a solid and vigorous PERSONAL
ty. OF course he Ia no saint nor has he
ever pretended to be one but he is and
always has been thoroughly genuine and
wholly without artihce or sham. s..-
He hates peace. His God Is the God of
battle. and he appears to see him only In
the avalanche and seems to hear him only
In the thunder. He il a militant man, but
his friends love to feel that II he strikes
hard blows they are fair ones and are al
ways or almost always struck In response
to his burning sympathies and intense
convictions. I hold that the race Is well
served when she il served by such a man.
Our great leader. DR.. Booker T. Wash
ington. with that considerate kindness
which Is his, invited q few Of Mr. For
tunes old friends to make q small con-
tribution toward q fund for the purchase
Of some token that would express our re-
gard for him. but 1t was subsequently de-
cided that II would be better to present
him with the purse than to unload on him
the conventional but useless loving cup.
and the pleasant duty Of presenting that
purse has been assigned to me.
I therefore present this purse Of $S15 to
Mr. T. Thomas Fortune as q slight token
of the high esteem In which he Is held by
the race and wish him health and happi-
ness until the arrival Of that day. which
I hope 10 far distant. when he shall put
aside his armor and surrender his pen to
younger hands. And when his work IL all
finished and his words all spoken 1t is my
firm belief that his spirit will still sur
vive to guide the younger men and that
the path he has blazed will be broad and
straight for the march Of younger feet,
Mr.. Fortune was much moved by
the presentation and catering eulogy
Of the speakers and contributors and
expressed his thanks to them as well
as to the subscribers of the testimo-
NAL OF Or. Washington he said that
he was in nowise surprised that he
had undertaken the subscription, as it
was not in his nature to do other than
generously and magnanimously to
those who had served. as he thought,
his race worthily. The personal rela-
lions and close friendship which had
existed for two decades between Mr.
Washington and himself, be comment
ed, had been one Of the most helpful
and notable in the history of the Afro
American people and was one of the
happiest experiences of his life,
Mr.. Fortune Makes Statement.
Mr.. Fortune authorized the follow
ing statement in regard to the meet.
ing: ....,. ....
Mr.. Fortune, who had refused to have
anything to say one way or another as to
the propriety Of asking for a testimonial,
declaring that he was willing to leave the
responsibility for 1t to DR.. Washington.
who proposed It. and the friends Coop
Grating with him. objected to the manner
and time of holding the testimonial pres
entation in New York. which was in the
hands Of Fred r. Moore Of the New York
Age. Mr.. Fortune based his objection tc
the manner Of making the testimonial q
public function at the time advertised on
the ground that proper advertisement OF
the gathering had not been made to insure
q representative appreciation by New
Workers. Of Mr.. Fortune and his work Of
thirty years in New York. the notice hav-
ing been made and speakers asked to
participate all within Ave days Of the date
Of meeting.
At q meeting held at the law offices of
Wilford H. Smith, 15O Nassau street, at
which Mr.. Smith. Mr. Moore. Hon.
Charles w. Anderson and Mr. Fortune
were present. Mr.. Fortune stated his OBJ
jections. After the matter was thrashed
out by all concerned Mr.. Fortune agreed
to attend the meeting on the ground sole
ly that he did not wish to embarrass those
who might attend the meeting on the
strength Of such notice az had been made
Of It.
Or. Washington Pays Tribute.
DR.. Washington. who was unable to
be present in the city at the meeting,
sent the following letter to Collector
Anderson:
My Dear Mr.. Aforementioned send
you New York draft for $500. together
with the names Of the contributors to-
ward the T. Thomas Fortune testimonial
| fund.
It was thoroughly understood by the
donors and all concerned that this money
In given not because of its intrinsic value
to Mr.. Fortune. but simply as an indica-
ton Of the races indebtedness to him for
his long and hard service In behalf Of the
progress Of the race. No one was asked
to make q large contribution.