press from nearly every state in the Union. He was made president at its organization, and succeeded himself twice, despite repeated declinations. He has since corresponded for The Richmond (Va.) Planet, Cleveland (Ohio) Gazette, The Arkansas Sun, Indianapolis World, and other papers. His writings are often quoted by leading white and black journals. As a writer, he stands well among the first; as a politician, he is a shrewd and tireless worker.
He was the only Afro-American representative of the press invited to the dedicatory exercises of the Washington monument, in 1885. Great courtesy was shown him in the reporter's gallery of the House, on that occasion, as well as at the exercises at the base of the monument, over which President Arthur presided. He is at present an employee at the government printing office, and has many warm and personal friends among the leading white and black Republicans.
In April, 1890, he was elected second vice-president of the National Associated Correspondents of Race Newspapers, which Mr. Stewart aims, as far as he is concerned, to make a powerful combination.
Benjamin C. Whiting, of the Indianapolis Freeman, corresponding secretary of the Association, was born at Frederick City, Md., and received a common school education. He was employed upon a farm, at intervals, until the age of ten. Although too young to assist in the late civil war, it so filled him with patrotism that, at the age of sixteen, he enlisted in Company M, 10th United States cavalry and was sent to Fort Still, Indian Territory. The Company commander, Capt. S. I. Norwood, paid great attention to young Whiting, and it was here that he got a fair knowledge of book-keeping, under Captain Norwood's instructions. During the first year, he was reappointed corporal; and afterwards he became quartermaster sergeant to the regiment, during the campaign of 1876 against the Comanche Indians, and was engaged in several
