Evening star., 1948-06-17

Lobbying indictments
AreLaidto Politics by
-Four Accused Men
I The four men indicted by the
District grand jury for violation of
the Federal Lobbying Active of
them State officials of Georgia and
Texas-today characterized the
charges as ridiculous" and 'polit
ically inspired
Attorney General Clark, who an
nounced the indictments yesterday,
said they are accused of conspiracy
to lobby for higher commodity prices
without registering with Congress.
He added they had personal in
tereSt in higher prices because of
trading on commodity markets.
Indicted We're:
Ralph w. Moore. 1920 Fuller
street NV, secretary of the Ma
tional Farm Committee; James E,
Mcdonald. commissioner of agri-
culture for Texas, chairman of the
Board of Directors of the National
Farm Committee and a director of
tho E,or,,, Commissioned Council.
Tom Linder, commissioner of Agri-
culture for Georgia, president of
the National Farm Committee and
chairman of the Farm Commits
sioners Council. and Robert M. Har-
riss, senior partner in the cotton
brokerage firm of Harriss g. Vose,
New York.
"Surprised," but Not Disturbed. 49,
Also indicted with the men were
the two organizations. the National
Farm Committee and the Farm
Commissioners Council.
/ Mr.. Moore. reached at his Office
here at 1707 N street NV, said
( he was surprised" but not dis
turbed by the indictment.
The charges are absolutely
false he said. eve haven't been
lobbying. I have not engaged In
any lobbying activity for two or
three years I have been princi-
pally engaged in market Specula
ton"
Il believe in America and I be-
lieve We'll get fair trial and beat
this thing. 1t is all politics and
misunderstanding. Clinton Ander-
son is back of it,
Mr.. Anderson. who resigned as
Secretary of Agriculture, had gen.
eral charge of the Commodity Ex-
change Authority. That division
recently charged that Mr. Moore
violated the Commodity Exchange
Act by trying to manipulate the
price of lard last fall A hearing
of the complaint is pending.
Amounts to Compliment.
At Dallas, Mr.. Mcdonald told the
Associated Press the indictment
drawn against. him was compli-
ment to his administration. He
said the charge is evidence that
have been on the job for which I
vas elected-to aid agriculture and
obtain fair prices for farm prod
ucts."
He denied that he had acted out
side MS official capacity or had
violated any law. He added that the
was "just politics"
Mr. Mcdonald freely admitted
having appeared before many con-
gressional committees in attempts
to obtain fair prices for farm
products He added that some
of the politicians who drew the in
dictment apparently overlooked the
fact that, as a State official. was
not required to register in order to
appear before committees in Con-
9reSS."
Seen AS International Plot.
Mr.. Linder, now hospitalized in
Atlanta with a kidney ailment, told
the Associated Press the indictment
was an international plot to keep
him out Of the Senate.
He said that readers of the State
owned Market Bulletin. published by
him. ARE familiar with the fight I
have been making against the great
international combines and espe-
cially the British-Dutch combina-
ton of Unilever and their American
subsidiary. Lever Bros"
1t was to be expected that they
would try to get even with me some
way. They are especially anxious to
silence me since this is an election
year and they know if I can 60 to
the Senate there will be a house
cleaning in Washington among
such international monopolists as
these" he declared
Mr.. Linder said he was consider
ing a Senate campaign, presumably
for the seat now held by Senator
Russell, Democrat. of Georgia.
Harriss Brands Charges False"
In New York, Mr. Harriss issued
statement to the Associated Press
which said:
With respect to the charges which
I understand have been made
against me and others for lobbying:
These charges are totally false.
completely unjustified and politically
inspired. I am glad to have been in
this fight to try and save American
( agriculture from destruction and the
American farmer from the peonage
which would have resulted from the
Communistic program of regimenta-
ton, subsidies and bureaucratic
price-fiXing and controls.
Il will continue my opposition to
such anti-American programs and
welcome full investigation and
hearing on these absurd and ridic-
iulous charges"