Evening star., 1948-06-16
2State0fficiia|s 7
Indicted Here in
Lobbying Case
Ralph Moore Of D. c.
And New York Broker
Also Face Charges

Ine DlStrlcL grand JURY IOOdy
indicted four individuals clud-
ing the agricultural commission
ers of Texas and Georgia and
two associations for violations
Of the Federal Lobbying Act.
Attorney General Clark, who an
nounced the grand jury action, said
they are accused of conspiracy to
lobby for higher commodity prices
without registering with Congress.
He SAID they had a personal interest
III higher prices because Of trading
on commodity markets.
Indicted were:
Ralph w. Moore, 1920 Fuller street
NV, secretary of the National
Farm Committee The Justice De-
partment said Mr. Moore describes
himself as "the farmers friend" }"
Mr.. Moore maintains Offices at l7O7
N street NV.
James E. Mcdonald, Commissioner
of Agriculture for Texas, chairman
of the Board of Directors OF the
National Farm Committee and
director of the Farm Commissioners
Council. His home and office are
in Austin.
Tom Linder, commissioner OF
agriculture for Georgia, president
of the National Farm Committee
and chairman of the Farm Commits
sioners Council. He lives in Atlanta.
Robert M. Harriss, senior partner
In the cotton brokerage tlrm OF
Harriss g. Vose, New York. Mr..
Harriss lives at Southampton, Long
Island.
Conspiracy Also Charged.
The two organizations indicted
were the National Farm Committee,
described by the Justice Department
as Texas corporation, and. the
Farm Commissioners Council. an
unincorporated association with Of
fees in Washington.
The individual defendants also are
charged in the indictment with con-
spiracy to violate the Lobbying Act.
The Indictment charged that Mr.
Linder, Mr.. Mcdonald and three
other State commissioners of agr1-
culture, not named As defendants,
organized the Farm Commissioners
Council in order to influence leglsla-
ton by Congress.
A dinner was given at the May
flower Hotel on November "a, l947,
by this council which was attended
by approximately 200 members OF
Congress and SO other guests, the
indictment charged. The bill, of
$4,000, was paid by Mr.. Moore. 1T
added. Another dinner well at
tended by Congress was held at the
Mayflower Hotel on February 4,
l947, and the check, for sl,lOo,
also was picked up by Mr.. Moore,
the indictment charged.
Clark Cites Lobbying Law.
Attorney General Clark, COM
menting on the indictment, which
was the result of an extensive in
ouiry by the Federal Bureau of
investigation, said:
This act calls for complete
disclosure of money received as well
as of all sums expended in con-
nection with any lobbying activities.
These provisions of the law we're
ignored
The grand jury charged that each
of the indicted individuals and Or
ganizstions had unlawfully, willfully
and knowingly failed to register and
to file statements in accordance
with the explicit provisions of this
law
The conspiracy count charged tnat
the individual defendants had per-
scnally maintained commodity ac-
counts and that 1t was to their
financial interest to see to it that
high commodity prices were main
tanned in order to support their
various transactions in the COM
modify markets. The indictment
further charged that if prices were
kept high or forced to still higher
levels their commodity accounts
would show increased profits, and
II prices were to fall there would
be losses.
Conspiracy Charged.
The conspiracy count also said
the individual defendant agreed that
Mr.. Moore was to lobby in favor of
legislation which would increase
commodity prices and against legl-
station which would tend to reduce
the prices of commodities,
The grand jury also stated that a
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