Evening star., 1962-05-16
ESTES
Continued From Page Al


charges, and his relationships
with Congress members anC
Government officials are un-
der scrutiny by two congress
sional investigating groups ano
four grand juries. He has de-
clared himself bankrupt.
Mr.. Ralph, a 36-year-old
former Tennessee farm boy, is
the second Agriculture Depart
ment officials to be fired in
the Estes case. A third resigned.
The Understanding official
to be hit by the fast-moving,
politically charged storm was
Assistant Secretary of Labor
Jerry r. Holleman, who re-
signed Friday after disclosing
he had accepted a gift of 1000
from fellow Texan and Demo-
crat Estes.
Denies Clothing Gift
Mr.. Ralph has been under
investigation by the FBI since
his name first cropped up in
testimony in Texas about Estes
gifts CO clothing to Govern
ment officials.
Mr.. Ralph denied before the
Texas Court Of Inquiry that hi
received any clothing from
Estes and he also denied that
Estes received any favors from
the Agriculture Department.
Three statesmen of Dallas
Nieman-MarcuS mems shop
testified Mr.. Ralph had been
fitted with two expensive suits
and two pairs of shoes. The
suits, without the customary
labels on the inside pocket,
were sent to Estes at a Wash
ington hotel later, they said,
and the shoes were delivered
to Estes at the Dallas hotel
where both Estes and Mr..
Ralph were staying. ~,-a. p
In his statement reporting
Mr.. Ralph's dismissal, Mr..
Freeman said, THE Depart
ment of Justice has reported
to me that personal long-dis-
tance telephone calls were made
by DR.. Ralph and charged to
Billie Sol Estes credit card
This activity, combined with
those disclosed in DR.. Ralph,
testimony in Texas regarding
his relationship with Estes
does not, in my judgment
measure up to the high stand.
ards of conduct required for 6
person representing our Gov.
ernment in an overseas as
Signment."
Clashed With Freeman
Mr.. Ralph was training Il
represent the United States a.
agriculture attache to the Phil
Iippines-a position he stepped
down into after resigning al
Assistant Secretary of Agricul.
ture in charge of farm stabili'
zation programs.
He went into that post IL
January, 1861, after having
served briefly as State direc'
tor of agriculture in Cali
fornia.
He became the administra
tion's staunchest advocate o
what is called the self-hell
program for agriculture-th
use of marketing orders to pu
| agriculture's house in order
But in his zeal he had clashe
of opinion with Mr.. Freeman
and repeatedly that was why h
was moved out as Assistant Sec
retary.
Former Vice President Rich
ard M. Nixon, campaigning TO
California's Republican guber
material nomination, tossed MI
Ralph at Democratic Gov
Edmund G. Brown last night
saying he was "an alumnus o
Pat Browns college of politica
hacks"
In a statement in Los Angeles
Mr.. Nixon declared that Gov
Browns one-time director o
agriculture has now touches
off the biggest national scanda
since Teapot Dome"
In reply, Gov. Brown said MI
Ralph served as California
farm director for just 81 day
before moving on to Washing
ton. He added: His service il
my administration was as
respected career technician il
agricultural marketing. =
Freeman Gets ASSIGNMENT
"I could not and would no
condone Mr.. Ralph's repute,
action in Washington. But an
certainly not going to join MI
Nixon in his characteristicall
viciolRS SlIopiou after tho halI