Franklin's paper the statesman., 1911-04-01

4
| won't say how many years-than the voice
| of him whom We greet tonight.
1 He has won place more prominent and
more enduring in the hearts OF our men
| and women than any editor who has
welded a pen during our generation. and
| ne 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
| ais beliefs. While other worthy men have
| been 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 o.
the poor"--but through 1t 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
dit across the stage of our public life Tom
| Fortune is a solid and vigorous personali-
| ty. OF 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 artifce 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 a militant man. but
| his friends love to feel that II he strikes
| hard blows they are fair ones and are al
| ways almost always struck In response
| to his burning sympathies and intense
| convictions. 1 hold that the race is well
| served when she is served by such man.
Our great leader. DR.. Booker T. Wash
ington. with that considerate kindness
| which is his. invited few of Mr.. For
| tunes old friends to make small con-
| tribution toward fund for the purchase
| Of some token that would express our re-
| gard for him. but 1t was subsequently de-
| cded 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.
| l therefore present this purse of s3l5 to
Mr.. T. 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
I 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 II is my
firm belief that his spirit will still sur
vive 10 guide the younger men and that
| the path he has bazed viii be broad and
straight for the march OF younger feet
J Mr.. Fortune was much moved by
the presentation and fiattering eulogy
of the speakers and contributors and
| expressed his thanks TO them as well
ns to the subscribers OF the testimo-
uial. or Or Washington he said that
he was in nowlse surprised that he
had undertaken the subscription. as II
was not in his nature TO do other than
generously and magnanimously to
4 those who had served. as he thought.
his race worthily. The personal rela
iions and close friendship which had
existed for two decades between Mr.
| Washington and himself. he 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
| anyth'ng tc say one way another as to
the pf fopric'y of asking for testimonial
declaring that he was willing tn leave the
| responsibility for IL TO DR. Washington
| who --oposcd IL. and the friends coop
Grating with him. objected to the manner
and lime OF holding the testimonial pres
| .n,a don In New York. which was in she
| hands Of Fred r. Moore Of the M ork
age Mr. Fortune based his objection TO
the manner OF making the testimonial n
public function at the time advertised on
I
he gathering had not been made TO insure
a 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 five days of the date
| Of meeting.
| At n meeting held at the law Offices OF
wnford IL Smith. 10 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 thsv he did not wish TO embarrass those
| who might attend the meeting on the
| strength OF such notice as had been made
| OF It
Or. Washington Pays Tribute.
| DR. Washington. who was unable TO
he present In the city at the meeting.
sent the following letter TO Collector
Anderson:
My Dear Mr.. Andcrson-lnclosed I send
you New York draft for 500. together
with the names OF the contributors TO-
ward the T. Thomas Fortune testimonial
| fund.
| II 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 a large contribution.