Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-06
Our Corn for Europe.

To the Editor of The Evening Star;
have Just read the interesting article pub
lishei in HE STAB of 18th ult., ''Our Corn for
Europe"
The suggestions made in that article are
sound and based on common sense. Like in
every business enterprise. however, the inter
ested parties are those who should take the
Initiative and the government cannot be ex-
pectsd TO spend much money for the purpose.
Besides. with all due respect to government
officials (having been one myself for twenty
years.. they cannot possess the same enthu-
siasm for a the direct representative
of interested parties
This opinion Is based upon personal expe-
rience In 1878. while / was attached to the
United States commission at the Paris exposi-
ton. an effort was made to have an American
pavilion In the exposition grounds where corn
could be prepared for food and cooked in
different STYLES We were all favorable to this
idea and it would have been carried out had it
not been TO- the objection Of the French au-
thorities TO the Of IRE in the grounds.
The limited appropriations also prevented
much expenditure FOR the purpose Had this
project been in the hands OF II representative
Of interested parties way would have been
found to carry the plan out and money would
have beer supplied
Al the last Paris exposition QSS9) the question
was again brought uD and as member of the
jury on behalf of the United States / naturally
took quite interest IN the scheme, knowing
what a good opp 1rtunity had been lost in 1875
j wrote an article III the Paris Herald strongly
fayoring a project Of Mr. Chas. Murphy. who
was then endeavoring to establish kitchen for
corn In the exposition To my great astonish-
ment found the American commission frown-
ing the attempt down. The money sppropri-
ated was much larger IN amount than IN 1873
and the expense TO the commission BY the plan
proposed BY Mr.. Murphy would have been
quite small grand opportunity was there
fore lost The vast number of people visiting
the exposition. + cenchmen and foreigners from
all nations. could have been made acquainted
with the wholesome and nutritious qualities of
the cheap foods These are my reasons for
want of confidence in government agents. But
II 10 nevertheless true that the Department of
Agriculture can DO much good in forwarding
NE question: However. the different boards of
trade and chambers of commerce are the proper
parties to follow this up Let them each ap-
Propriate a small amount of money. the aggre-
gate will make = large sum sufficient for the
purpose. and appoint intelligent agents to go
abroad and introduce this valuable food with
Intelligent regards for cid prejudices against
what Is considered food lit for animals only.
Canvass the trade and win over public opinion
by liberal distribution Of corn in all
Its different preparations Surely if
We rich enough to send corn over
TO relieve the distress of Russians we
should not hesitate to spend some money for a
purpose which will return it to in the
shape Of profits thousand fold. A move of
this kind carried out by suitable agents would
not only secure us a valuable outlet for our
corn, but also many of our agricultural
productions II Is not to be forgotten that
Europe. thickly populated as it is. needs food
of all kinds, cereals, meats, fruits, &c. The
west. the great center of agriculture, is highly
interested IN this question Let Chicago take
the lead and set the ball in motion. Other
cities am sure will gladly follow. This is no
partisan effort, but one for national good So
far We have prospered with internal commerce
mainly. Reciprocity, as contemplated by Mr..
Blaine, will secure US foreign exports. princI-
pally Of food products, but the efforts of the
state Department must be seconded by our
commercial bodies. CHAs. CoiSE