Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-03-24
ung louder or truer for Che past-wen. 7
ont say how many years--than the voice
{ him whom we greet tonight.

him whom we greet tonight.
He has won a place more prominent and
more enduring In the hearts OF our men
nd women than any editor who has
Welded pen during our generation. and
le has won 1t by his loyalty. his dogged
determination. his unconQuerable grit and
lis rare and extraordinary capacity to face
hostility and even hatred In defense OF
lis beliefs. While other worthy men have
,een given offices of honor and emolument
n 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 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
fit across the stage of our public life Tom
Fortune is q solid and vigorous personali-
ty. or course he Is no saint nor has he
ever pretended to be one. but he Is and
always has been thoroughly genuine and
wholly without artifice or sham.
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 Is 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 hold that the race is well
served when she is served by such man.
Our great leader. DR.. Booker T.. Wash
ihston, with that considerate kindness
which Is his. invited few Of Mr.. For
tunes old friends to make a small con-
tribution toward fund for the purchase
Of some token that would express our re-
gard for him. but 1t was subsequently de-
oSd ID hot yunt,ld ha heffor nrpSent
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.
therefore present this purse Of 1915 to
Mr.. r. Thomas Fortune as 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
hope Is far distant, when he shall put
aside his armor and surrender his pen to
younger hands. And when his work Is all
finished and his words all spoken it 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 fattering eulogy
Of the speakers and contributors and
expressed his thanks to them as we'll
as to the subscribers of the testimO-
nial. OF DR.. Washington he said that
he was In nowise surprised that he
had undertaken the subscription. as 1t
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-
tions and close friendship which had
existed for two decades between Mr..
Washington and himself. he comment
ed, had been one Of the most helpful
ana notable In the history Of the Afro
4 Amssjcap people and vas one 9f the the
happ1 1est experiences q his life.
Mi. Fortune Makes Statsmsnt.
MI. 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 testimonial.
declaring that he was willing to leave the
responsibility for It 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 to
the manner Of making the testimonial a
public function at the time advertised on
the ground that proper advertisement OF
the gathering had not been made to insure
a representative appreciation by New
Yorkers 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 aye days Of the date
of meeting.
At meeting held at the law offices Of
Wilford H. Smith, $50 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
4 out by all concerned Mr.. Fortune agreed
to attend the meeting on the ground sole
" that he did not wish to embarrass those
who might attend the meeting on the
strength Of such notice as had been made
Of 1t.
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.. AnderDn-1nclosed send
you New York draft for $500. together
with the names Of the contributors to-
ward the T. Thomas Fortune testimonial
fund
1t was thoroughly understood by the
donors and all concerned that this money
is 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.
Veteran Guards Second Anniversary.
The event In military circles IN
pronlrlvn fnr tho week ending March