Evening star., 1937-06-06

Co. First efforts a meek ago re-
suited in the beating OF union
leaders and investigation by court.
Since then repeated efforts hare
been made to sign up ,oorkers.
but apparently NTH little success.
U. A. w. A. also has had trouble
NTH members in plants OF Gem
| erdl Motors. Chrysler and Packard.
Where bargaining contracts are in
force.
| By the Associated Press.
| DETROIT, June 5-Henry Ford
was aSsailed by speakers addressing a
rally of members Of the United Auto
mobile Workers Of America today
within sight of the Ford Motor Co. S
Rouge plant.
| The meeting, part of the unions
| drive to enroll Ford workers. was held
as a protest against the beating of
U. A. w. A. members near the plant
formation Of an independent" group
by company employees.
Homer Martin, international presi-
dent Of the U. A. w. A., declared that
| the union would drive Henry Ford
out OF business" and demanded that
the Federal Government "disarm the
Ford arsenal and Ford thugs
Described as Fascism.
An efigy of Henry Ford beside a
German Nazi swastika faced the au-
dience from the speakers stand.
The union chief described Ford S
labor policies as "fascism," and, turn
ing to the efigy, said:
If you stay in America, you are
going to go along with the American
! people"
Representative Maury Maverick,
Democrat, of Texas, said the union S
campaign to organize Ford employees
is the major surge of the workers
movement of America and said Ford
would be stupid" not to line up With
the union.
You can have as much brains and
/ better leadership than the industrial,
leaders of this country" the legis-
lator told the union auto workers.
Another u A. w, A. outdoor rally
at Flint tonight was postponed to to-
morrow night because Of a thunder
storm.
Rival Group Revealed.
The organlza ton of the Ford
Brotherhood Of America. Inc. with a
claim Of 1000 members signed in two
days, was revealed by one of the
| founders, Byrd W. Scott, who said he
has been machinist at the Ford Co.
| for 20 years
Immediate charges of U. A. w A.
| leaders that the brotherhood was a
company union were met by a
statement from Scott that the group
had received no backing of any kind
! from the company.
Harry H. Bennett. Ford personnel
| director, said he had no knowledge
Of the organization and intended to
! Investigate
Scott said, "The organization was
formed because We wanted an inde-
pendent labor organization. one not
affiliated with any national union"
He said the F. B. A. would seek to
extend its activity to Ford plants
in other parts of the country.
Not Active During Hours.
! Soliciting of F. B. A. memberships
| during working hours. Scott said, had
been discontinued at the request Of
company officials"
| The brotherhood is charging an
initiation fee of so cents. Scott said
it has no dues, but each member may
be assessed up to maximum of 81 a
| year to cover expenses
Walter Reuther. president of the
U. A. w. A. West Side Local which
is active in the attempt to include
| Ford employees in the Committee for
Industrial Organization affiliate, said
Of the brotherhood:
Every other company has given
birth to company union when it
knew the workers were beginning to
organize in a legitimate labor or
| ganization. This move isn't 60
ing to stop them from organizing in
a real union"
The U. A. w. A. called its mass
meeting in Baby Greek Park today to
protest against the beating and ejec-
ton of union members who tried to
distribute handbills at gates of the
Ford companys River Rouge plant
| May 26 Reuther was one of l8 union
lists injured.
To Distribute Letters.
The union printed for distribution
at the meeting an open letter" to
Ford from Martin asserting the Ford
Motor Co. will never stop the workers
in their God-given right to organize
against the terror and tyranny Of
institutions such as yours
Bennett said 8O,698 of the 82.O64
workers employed at the huge rouge
plant have voluntarily signed loyalty"
pledges stating complete confidence
and agreement with the policies Of Mr.
Henry Ford" and expressing hope they
will be continued without hindrance
from any source"
Also assembled In Detroit were dele
gates from U. A. w. A. locals in Cen
| eral Motors plants throughout the
| country, meeting to frame demands
for revision of the unions agreement
with that corporation. The agreement
has been in effect since widespread
strike ended February II and no move
for revision can be made before
June H.
A sudden wave of sit-down and
Showdown" strikes and shutdowns
that made nearly 10000 workers in
several automotive plants idle yester-
day appeared to have subsidized
Employees in three units of the Chrysler
Corp. here, in the small-car divi-