Evening star., 1937-08-25


plants OF Ford Motor Co.
On May rs Richard T. Franken.
steen, organization director for U.
A. w., led group OF untonists to
the Ford Rouge plant in Detroit.
This EFFORT Uus repulsed Nth the
un,on.sts receiUtng sound beat
ing. Since that time the U. A. w.
organizers haze been Dorking quiet
ly and under coper to utn over Ford
UorkerS.
By the Associated Press
MILWAUKEE, Wis, August 25.-
A c. I. o. chieftain said today fac
tional strife within the United Auto
mobile Workers Of America was cool
ing of" as the membership rallied for
fight which its militant president
declared would lick Henry Ford"
Enthusiastic delegates to the U. A.
w. convention cheered President
Homer Martins prediction Hem,
Ford, or some one for him, will sign
an agreement with the U. A. W."
We'll get the agreement, no matter
what it costs or what it takes" Martin
told the convention in his annual re-
port late yesterday as he challenged
Ford to get ready" to put the union
label on his cars If he wants to con-
tinue making and selling them In
America"
Admitting he was here to smooth
inter-union differences as John L.
Lewis representative, John Brophy Of
Washington, executive director Of the
c. I. o. with which the U. A. w. is
afiiliated, said: Our efforts have
been toward conciliation, but this
situation is not split"
Battle Over Power.
The Martin-dtrected progressive"
faction and unity" group led by
Wyndham Mortimer, first vice presi-
dent, have been at odds over CEN
tralization Of power in the presidents
! hands. The unity" group wants
Martins powers divided equally be-
tween him and four vice presidents.
The factional fight, Brophy said.
never threatened to become serious
split on fundamentals. There are
differences of opinion, but nothing
has occurred which I would call a
danger to the union. And the situa-
ton is clearing up rapidly"
Martin digressed from his prepared
report to send the delegates into DEM
onstration lasting six minutes With
his challenge to Henry Ford.
BY June of 1887" he said, I'VE had
signed an agreement with every single
manufacturer OF automobiles In the
United States with the single excep-
ton of the Ford Motor Co., and let
me say We have working agreements
with some Of the outlying plants of
this company.
'Mr. Sloan (Alfred P. Sloan of Gen
eral Motors Corp said he would never
sign a union agreement, Mr.. Chrysler
CWalter Chrysler of Chrysler Motors
said he would never sign an agree
ment. But they changed their minds.
Has Changed Mind.
Mr.. Ford has said he will never
sign. Mr.. Ford, or somebody for him.
already has changed his mind.
And we believe that before snow
falls Sir Henry will further change his
mind"
The statement produced an uproar.
Delegates waved flags and banners,
mounted tables and cheered. As the
din rose into rhythmic drumming,
Martin raised his hand and brought
silence
That, my friends" he said, "is the
drumbeat Of the funeral dirge Of the
open shop in the auto industry"
| The beating began again Then
Martin raised his hands for quiet once
more
That, my friends, represents the
discipline of great organization"
Attacks William Green.
Martin was given another ovation
by the delegates when, again digress-
ing from his report text, he said
John L. Lewis threw the weight Of
the c. I. @. behind the U. A. w. A.
in its strike struggle against Cen
eral Motors Corp, while William
Green, president of the American
/ SASA sAOil Va AdbOly llhC u oQOaS
Iscariot, gave US the kiss of death
The report characterized Green as
q traitor" to the workers and in
added remarks Martin referred to
Green, saying:
His action at that time Genera.
Motors strike) and OF his confederates
since causes us to brand them as
friends Of employers, enemies OF Abor
and their organization efforts as COM
pany unions"
In the first display OF factional
strength, the unity group succeeded
yesterday in forcing reconsideration
Of the credentials of nine Michigan
delegates contested by the Martin
dominated majority committee report
Indorse Social Security.
Convention delegates adopted last
night resolution indorsing the Fed
eral social security act as the first
big step toward complete and ade-
quate system of Federal social legisla-
ton"
The resolution, however, recon-
mended changes including:
Extension to cover all workers with
insurance against old age. disability
due to sickness or accident and un-
employment
Financing by special taxes on in
comes, inheritances and profits but
under no circumstances" by taxes
on wages.
Elimination Of all provisions or ad-
ministrative regulations that may In
terfere with full freedom Of union
organization or the right to strike.
Granting labor representation In
administration Of social security laws.
| Signing Is Denied.
DETROIT, August rs {P.-Harry
H. Bennett. personnel director Of the
Ford Motor Co., declared today that
the company had made no agreement
with the United Automobile Workers
| Of America "And never will"