Evening star., 1948-11-24
/ Indictment as Lobbyist
Scored by Slaughter as
Fraudulent, Political

Slaughter, Democrat, OF missouri,
declared today that his indictment
by the District grand jury includes
charges which are false, fraudulent
and politically inspired"
Mr.. Slaughter was indicted late
yesterday on charges of having "un-
lawfully, willingly and knowingly"
failed to register under the Federal
Lobbying Act after his retirement
from Congress and while he was en-
ployed in trying to influence or
defeat legislation in Congress.
Promising to fight this matter
to a finish, the former Representa-
tive said he would demonstrate for
= all to see how far machine politics
has gripped and taken over the one
, time fair and impartial administra-
ton Of justice in this country"
Statement Issued.
Mr.. Slaughter, in statement is
sued in Kansas City, said one grand
Jury declined to act in the matter
"after hearing all witnesses" where
upon "the Department (of Justice)
sought to persuade another jury to
act, which it has" He added that
the department mot only knows
that it cannot make a case but like
wise knows that my contracts of
employment, in writing, as drawn
by me specifically exclude lobbying
activities"
The alleged offenses occurred be-
tween October. 1947, and last Sep
tember while he worked for the
Kansas City Board of Trade, the
Chicago Board of Trade and the
Minneapolis Grain Exchange. and
between last March and September
while employed by the North Amer
ican Export Grain Association, 1nc.'
of New York, the indictment de-
clared.
The Kansas City, Chicago and
Minneapolis groups paid him $33 ,599,
of which about $500 was for ex-
penses. and the New York aSsoci-
alton paid him $1,000 and agreed to
nav him up to $4,000 additional
for lobbying services, the indictment
stated.
Politics Charged.
While the grand jury investigation
was under way, Mr.. Slaughter de-
scribed the inquiry as pure politics y
He asserted that President Truman
'incited the Justice Department to
seek a lobbing investigation" against
him.
While House member, Mr.
Slaughter often opposed admins
tration measures.
President Truman opposed his re-
nomination and supported Enos A.
Axtell for the Democratic nomina-
ton. Mr.. Axtell won in the pri-
mary, but lost in the 1946 general
election.
As a House member Mr. Slaughter
headed a subcommittee to investi-
gate handling of surplus war prop
erty.
The indictment returned yester-
day to Judge Richmond B. Reach
In District Court was by the grand
Jury which began work a month
ago. An earlier grand jury ad-
tourned without making any f1nd-
tnss against Mr.. Slaughter.
Charges In Indictment.
The indictment charged that Mr.
Slaughter attempted to influence
the defeat Of legislation providing
for margin requirements on specu-
lative transactions in commodity
futures on commodity exchanges;
that he was active in an attempt
In the Senate to defeat ratification
of the International Wheat Agree
ment: that he lobbied regarding
amendments to bills in the 80th
Congress to provide Federal char
ter for the Commodity Credit Cor
poration to bar it from acquiring
or leasing plants and facilities for
the physical handling, storage, pro-
cessins, servicing and transporta-
ton Of agricultural commodities
handled by the corporation.
Further, according to the indict-
ment, Mr.. Slaughter was active in
legislative moves to compel the CCC
to utilize private and existing chan
nels of trade in it's operations, limit
its life and deprive the Secretary
of Agriculture of the power to ap-
point members of the board of
directors of the CCC.
Mr.. Slaughter failed to register
with the Clerk of the House and
the Secretary of the Senate as re-
quired by the Federal act, accord
ing to the indictment.