A random effects model of a one-way layout contingency table is developed using a Dirichlet-multinomial distribution. A test statistic, say $T_k$, is suggested for detecting Dirichlet-multinomial departure from a multinomial distribution. It is shown that the $T_k$ test is asymptotically superior to the classical chi-square test based on the asymptotic relative efficiency. This superiority is further evidenced by a Monte Carlo simulation.