The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1916-11-25
PUSHING WORK FOR
MEMORIAL FUNDS
Effort 10 Honor Or. Washing
tons Memory Succeeds.
WELL MANAGED CAMPAIGN

I
Meetings While on Northern Tour In
November-Many Examples of Race
Loyalty Are Shown.
Tuskegees Institute, Alabama.-So
well was the memorial fund campaign
organized In Dallas, Tex, that, al
though $500 was pledged, the move
ment had received such impetus that
when the final counts were made re-
Gently Dallas had given $525.31.
| Churches, societies and loyal individ-
uals worked with unfagging enthu-
siasm for the success Of the fund
throughout the campaign.
DR.. r. T. Hamilton, the chairman
following compliment, which was paid
him by one of the pastors Of his city,
who said: "The Dallas committee was
requested to raise $500. This has been
done, and DR.. r. Il. Hamilton well de-
serves the credit for securing 1t. He
has gone about the work from the very
beginning with enthusiastic interest
and has spared no time or energy in
visiting individuals, lodges and church
es and speaking a good word for the
success of the campaign in Dallas"
Announcement has already been
made Of the $1,000 which was recently
sent from the colored people of New
York city-$1, 600 through the memo
rial fund committee and $1,000 from
the Southern Beneficial league, an or
| ganization composed of colored people
who formerly lived In the south, but
are now residents of New York. Mrs
Thomas W. Grigsby is president of the
Southern league.
| Enthusiastic meetings in the interest
| of the memorial fund have been plan
ned for New York, Philadelphia, Balti-
more and Washington. These meet
ings were fortunately arranged at
time when DR.. Robert r. Motion. prin
cipal, and Mr.. Emmett ]. Scott, sec
rotary, are scheduled to be in New
York city ON business for the school,
and they have arranged to be present
at these meetings on their way south
the latter part of November.
| These meetings and the response re
| ferred to above are in thorough accord
| with the outlook referred to in previ-
GUS article, when it was predicted
| that the coming of fall would mean
| the revival of interest In the move
ment Committees in many other cities
are meeting regularly and planning
the most thorough campaigns to raise
| suitable sums to represent their cities.
| It has been most encouraging to re-
ceive letters from various workers
who are interested In the success of
| this worthy cause.
In all the letters received here there
| Is interviewer an appreciation of the
race pride which Is involved In this
effort among the colored people. For
example, Rev. Aaron G. Thomas, pas
| tor Of the Second Baptist church, Oko-
| Iona, Miss, writes: II am glad to
| know that our white friends have CIV
en- more than half of the amount
which they were asked to give TO the
memorial fund and regret that the col
ored peoples response is less than a
to give. Knowing as we do of DR..
| Washington's devotion to the cause of
humanity, as exemplifed by his I'm
selfish labors both for our race and for
our nation, it is disappointing that our
people have done so little toward rails
ing their $250,000, which Is only an
eighth of the amount"
In addition to the inspiring letters
from friends in the United States, we
have also received this encouraging
word from colored lady In Alaska:
II just learned tonight of a memorial
to the memory of DR.. Booker r. Wash
ington being secured from the colored
people and will inclose $40 in my next
letter for the fund. We have nothing
but gold on hand at present, but will
remit when l can get some currency
from the mint at Seattle"
Altogether the outlook is most PROM
Using for good response from the col
red people before the end of the year
Now that the election is over things
will settle down to normal and many
OF those who are now dividing their at
tentlon between politics and business
Will be able to renew their efforts in
behalf of the memorial fund.
"The campaign is an education for
the colored people in self dependency,
and | feel sure that they are going to
do their part" writes one Of the Tus
kegee trustees, and this Sentiment is
being reflected every day in the letters
and efforts of our people.