Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-09
Montgomery Clashes
With House Group on
Cattle Disease Charge

Robert Montgomery, actor and
news commentator, clashed sharp
ly with members of the House
Agriculture Committee today about
radio broadcasts in which he
questioned the Governments pro-
gram to control hoof and mouth
disease in Mexican cattle.
Quickly taking the offensive. Mr..
Montgomery denied statements
including one in press release
from Chairman Cooley-that he
made accusations about the pro-
gram in four radio broadcasts
during February and March.
The actor, who has a daily five
minute news commentary show,
insisted that he had merely
asked questions" as "a public
service" about elements of the
control campaign.
Exchanges between Mr.. Mont
gomery and Representative Poage,
Democrat, of Texas, rapidly
reached the shouting stage. At
one point, Mr.. Montgomery offered
and Mr.. Poage accepted a chance
for Mr.. Poage to answer the Mont
gomery questions on the actors
own radio time.
A large audience. predominately
young and female, crowded the
committees hearing room. Mr..
Montgomery obligingly signed au-
tographs for fans while he waited
to testify
+ Program Started in 1916.
The hearing revolves around the
Governments control program,
started after the outbreak of the
highly infectious disease in Mex
lean cattle in December, 1946. At
that time, a ban was slapped on
limportations of Mexican cattle to
this country. Agriculture Secre-
tary Brannan has announced the
ban will be lifted September / il
no new cases break out.
Chairman Cooley said Mr.. Mont
gomery had denied existence OF
the disease in Mexico and de-
scribed the successful control pro-
gram as "boondoggle and waste
of public funds"
Mr.. Montgomery told the COM
mittee he never made such accu-
stations, but quoted others in ask
ing questions about the control
job. He then read transcripts OF
four broadcasts.
! Quotes Another Texan.
In one program he quoted 8
former member of the Control
Commission. DR.. Pablo Zierold
as saying there had not been ar
Outbreak of the disease in Mex
leo since 1913. His broadcast
also quoted Representative Regain
democrat, of Texas as saying
There had been no new cases fol
three years and that the program
Twas "a bOondOggle.
Mr.. Montgomery denied he hac
asked slanted questions. He sale
he still did not have the an.
swers. and insisted on his right
to publically ask about the con.
duct of Government affairs.
Chairman Cooley said Mr.
Montgomerys questions hav.
raised suspicious where there
have been none before" He sale
the queries reminded him of tn.
old question, have you stopped
beating your wife,"
mot at all, not at ALL" Mr.
Montgomery asserted.
Mr.. Poage then broke in:
; Mr.. Montgomery, have 70,
!, stopped beating your wife? Hav,
, you. Mr.. Montgomery"
Accepts Radio Time.
When the witness began t,
make another comment, MI
Poage asked whether Mr.. Mont
gomery would give him tim
: on the radio to answer the ques
/, tons.
I'D be delighted" Mr.. Mont
1 gomery said.
S Thank you," the Texan replied
= II accept"
! I'D rather have Secretar
8 Brannan than you" Mr.. Mont
= gomery snapped. But I'll give yo
exactly the same time I spent il
S asking these questions.
= Questions Mr.. Montgomer
: asked on the programs, accordin
to his reading of the transcripts
e involved whether the disease eve
d was present, whether removal Q
e the importation ban has been de
d llayed unneceSSarilv and whethe