Evening journal., 1913-01-14
NEW NEW NEWS NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How a Prediction Made by
Tilden Was Fulfilled
BY Holland.

In the spring Of 1877, shortly after
the inauguration of Rutherford B.
Hayes as president OF the United
States, Governor Samuel j. Tilden,
whom Hayes had defeated by one vote
In the electoral college, sailed for
Europe. Governor Tilden was some
what weary from the strain of the
presidential campaign and by the ex-
citement occasioned by the disputed
election. He felt that a sojourn in
Europe for five or six months would
restore his mental and physical health.
He had not visited Europe for years.
Upon Governor Tilden's return,
early in September. / called upon him
with a letter of introduction from
Charles A. Dana, then editor of the
New York Sun II was the afternoon
Of the day of Governor Tilden's ar
rival In New York With few friends
he ate luncheon at his home in
Grameroy Park in New York and, af-
ter an hour or two, was alone.
was shown into the governors library.
/ found him seated before a fire, for
the day was raw. He toasted his stock
inged feet upon the fender and he
bade me draw my chair close to his.
Governor Tilden put many ques-
tions to me for the purpose of learn
ing what had been done in the field
of politics during the time he was in
Europe He was particularly inter
ested in the activity of Senator Roscoe
Conkling In attempting to establish, as
Tilden thought, faction Of the Re
publican party In opposition to Presi-
dent Hayes.
After having heard all he cared to
know about politics, Governor Tilden
said:
Il have a message, entirely non
partisan, which / am anxious to COM
municate to the American people.
have not yet decided what form that
communication shall take. may
make it at the time Of a reception or
friendly gathering which I understand
is to take place in front of my house
in the course OF day or two. You
may, however, if you care to do so,
anticipate what ] am to say.
Il learned, when In Europe. that the
great opportunity for the United
States is to create market for its
yellow corn or maise. | do not mean
by that that the corn is to De ex-
ported as 1t comes from the stalk.
What / would like to see done would
be the establishment In some Of the
larger citiees OF the continent of
Europe and of Great Britain of sta
tions over which Americans would
preside where the very delectable uses
to which Indian meal can be put for
food can be taught to these people
across the seas.
They do not understand the uses
to which we put Indian corn. They
regard Il as a food fit chiefly for cat
tie and horses / think that, with
proper instruction, in the course of
a few years the expectations of our
Indian corn products, not in the form
Of meat, but in nutritious and excel
lent meal, would enormously increase
That of itself would stimulate much
greater production OF Indian corn.
"Now, want to make a prediction
Indian corn is to be the greatest agri-
cultural staple that the United States
will produce. In the course of a few
years it will, in money value, greatly
exceed that of cotton. Furthermore
while cotton production is confined
entirely to the sub-tropical states In
dian corn can be raised successfully
in almost every part of our Union.
predict that the day is not far distant
when Texas will be found producing
Indian corn in enormous quantities
and although / am too old to see the
day, yet there are men now of mid
die life, or In young manhood, al
least. who, I am convinced, will learn
that in a single year the United States
has produced in excess Of three thous-
and million bushels of Indian corn.
"That is the message / want to COM
munieate to my countrymen."
Just about a generations time pass
ed before the prediction made by this
great statesman was fulfilled.
Copyright 1918, by e. ]. Edwards
All rights reserved).
Tomorrow VI. Edwards will tell oI
"COlOnel Lam0t's Shrewdness."