The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-17
THE CORN PROPAGANDA.


To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
feel that the Western people would like
TO hear from few parting words in re-
gard to the corn propaganda which / had
the honor Of inaugurating in Europe nearly
nine years ago. Two years after 1 started
my work was honored by our late greatly
lamented Secretary Rusk by an official
recognition as a representative of his de-
partment in Europe. He realized the i'm
portance of the work 1 was trying TO do
under very adverse circumstances. This
official status. however, increased the scope
of my usefulness. and gave to it dignity
which always follows official distinction. My
efforts were first confined principally to the
United Kingdom. where met with consid-
cradle success, especially in the information
al exhibition held at Edinburgh in 1890.
Thousands were interested in my exhibit.
which was considered by many important
Europeans as worthy of their serious at
tention. year after this was ordered by
Secretary Rusk during the shortage of the
rye crop, TO proceed TO Germany, and. if
possible, to impress upon the military au-
thorities the ACCESSIBILITY Of using our In
dian corn as a ration for their army. 1t
can be very readily understood the difficult
ties had to contend with, might say the
prejudice Of centuries among people who
considered our Indian corn as food tit only
for animals. The press of Germany, how
ever gave to my work a helping hand by
the agitation which followed. A royal COM
mission was appointed by the government
TO decide upon the cereal best adapted as
a mixture with their rye for bread. A most
severe test was made, the authorities re-
naming in council from time to. time. After
six months a most complete official report
was given TO the people, and Ii was decided
for mixture with their rye for the army
Many prominent papers throughout the
German Empire advocated its use. and the
the Emperor, DR.. Thieie, was ordered TO
give lecture in one of the large working
mems halls in Berlin. wherein had cooked
and handed to the people many varieties OF
our corn food. DR.. Thiele strongly advo-
Gated the use of maize human food, and
among the many reasons he gave for its
adoption was that by using American corn
IN time of short crops the German people
by so doing would become independent of
Russia for their bread supplies. Three mills
were erected, in the city of Hamburg alone
during that year, which ground American
corn fol bread and had large demand In
the city of Dresden one miller ground $50
tons. which was baked into bread. In Han
over and other cities of Germany many
bakeries were established for the sale of
maize bread The plentiful harvest which
followed would make it natural to conclude
that the demand would fall off. But one
thing remains certain-that there is now no
ness and desirability of our corn food when
circumstances demand it.
But what l regard as the browning sue
cess of The government was it's efforts in
Scandinavia, a country which is or has been
but title Travelled by our exporters. who
drcp their efforts generally with middle
barqle " the Agricultural Department in
tie city OF Copenhagen, manufactured maize
Was NOT obta '1able in the kingdom of Den
mark, and our minister. Mr.. Carr who rep
our government, Obliged
send to New York for what he required for
the use OF his family. Now, the Travelled
himself quite at home in the Danish capt.
tai Att. iourteen months of hard labor;
corn can be seen displayed, and is extern
sive.y sold in their principal shops. Also
California wines, fruits, American oysters,
when In season, cranberries and other prod
Copenhagen use our corn and brew by
American methods. AS several of our large
their very large shipments which have been
made into Denmark, where previous TO my
work they had not a foothold. AS time
rolls on our exports will increase, but never
decrease.
/ regret to say that Secretary Morton
closed the foreign work on Jan. J. 1885, on
account of the scarcity and high price of
our corn this year, and this regrettable cir
cumstance obliged me to withdraw from a
service which was ever congenial to me and
t. make my work tell in the interests of
american agriculture.
! must not close this without making espe-
cal mention of Belgium and Holland, where
the work OF the Agricultural Department
made excellent strides. 1t was my privi-
lege to be appointed a delegate to the In
ternational Commercial Congress. which as
sembled in the city of Brussels in August
last, where delegates from nearly every inn
portant country of the world were present.
being the only American, was Asked to
deliver lecture the possibilities of
maize for human food and for brewing. Ii
was we'll received. The seed has been sown
on good ground. and for the small appro-
priations made by Congress for this work,
a good harvest has been reaped. This work
have made in one sense especially my own,
and shall return to London in the interest
of agriculture and there locate my Office.
and shall travel into the various countries
of Europe where American products now
go and where their sales can be increased
Lately Governor Jackson has honored me
with the appointment of commissioner for
the great State of Iowa in Europe. This
official distinction will strengthen my hands
and enable me to pursue my work under
most favorable circumstances. i should not
forget to mention that at the Edinburgh
exposition / received for the excellence OF
the corn food eXemplified there the first
prize-a silver medal-the only one ever re-
ceived on foreign soil for Indian corn prod
ucts as human food
''N' CHARLES ]. MURPHY.
Chicago, June ID.