Hickman, Benjamin - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

At the suggestion of Mr. Vancleave, Dr. Hickman, a colored gentleman of Crawfordsville, was introduced and made a genuinely eloquent speech that aroused the convention to a high pitch of enthusiasm. – Frankfort Crescent

Dr. Hickman, colored, of Crawfordsville, was then introduced and his speech was the hit of the convention.  At the conclusion of his speech which was received with much enthusiasm, the convention adjourned – Frankfort Times.

Source: Weekly Argus News 20 Jan 1900 p 5

In its account of the district democratic convention the Frankfort Standard gives the following complimentary notice to Dr. Benj. Hickman for his speech before the convention.  Dr. JW Hickman of Crawfordsville made a speech that was the event of the convention.  He is a colored man and told how his race had won the right to be citizens and enjoy all of the benefits of citizenship.  He said in part there may be some persons here who will wonder why I am a democrat.  There are 20,000 colored men in Indiana who are intelligent, who do their own thinking and these men nearly all of whom are laborers know that their interests are not with the men who control the banks, trusts and combines.  We believe that the man of small means has as good a right to engage in business as the rich man.  He said no man or party had a mortgage on them – that they had by heroic service in the face of danger and death, satisfied the claim in full and that hereafter they would be free to vote their own convictions. He struck home and each blow reached a vital point!