Evening star., 1938-07-26
.U.A.W. CUARDSBAR
TRIAL TO ACCUSED
Four Suspended Officers
Finally Admitted After
Two Attempts.
b. the Associated Press.


DETROIT. July 26.-Four suspend
ed officers of the United Automobile
Workers, whose supporters staged a
sit-down demonstration in union
headquarters yesterday. were turned
away twice from closely-guarded ONCE
doors this morning before they finally
gained admission to their scheduled
trial before the U. A. w. Executive
Board.
The board was called to meet at
1890 am. Eastern standard time)
for a delayed start of the trial. 1t
was not until half an hour later that
the four defendants" and Maurice
Sugar. their attorney succeeded in
convincing the guards posted by Homer
Martin that they had official busi-
ness" with the board
More than one hundred supporters
Of Mr.. Martin, U. A. w. president
whose suspension of the officers pre-
cipitated bitter internal fight in the
c. I. O. union, were on guard at
the suite OF union Offices where the
trial was to be held.
Rules Are Drawn Up.
The Executive Board began its ses-
sion, apparently drawing up rules of
procedure for the trial. while the de
PENDANTS" and their attorney sat in q
separate ONCE waiting to be called.
On two elevator trips to the 1lth-
floor U. A. w. ofices the suspended vice
presidents and their attorney were in
formed they needed passes" to enter
the union headquarters.
Finally Maurice Silverman. adver-
tising solicitor Of the U. A. W.'s news
paper. who came out of a fist fight
with bloody nose yesterday when he
tried to turn back members of an
anti-Martin group, acted as escort to
lead the men into the Executive Board
ROOM
On the first floor of the building
were so supporters of the suspended
Officers. They were making no at
tempt. however, to repeat Yesterdays
invasion OF the international offices.
In tactics paralleling the unions
once popular "sit-down" technique
for pressing strike demands, supporters
OF the four disciplined vice presidents
had taken possession Of union offices
yesterday. There was one fist fight.
and police were summoned three
times.
Charged by Mr. Martin with being
Communists" and union wreckers."
a crowd Of demonstrators variously
estimaed at 50 to IS had demanded an
open trial. or the privilege Of seat
ing observers" in the trial room. The
board, explaining that such permis-
sion would discriminate" against
other union members, rejected both
requests.
Immediately committee of H."
representing. the demonstrators, who
came from union locals in Cleveland.
Toledo. Milwaukee and several Michi-
gan cities. issued a statement which
accused the Martin ring" of frame.
up" attempt.
Mr.. Martin, terming the demonstra-
ton Juvenile and laughable," said to-
day: I'VE have definite proof the whole
disgraceful episode was deliberately
planned"
The object of these oppositionists
was to create the greatest possible dis
order and to give the false impression
to the general public that the union
was in a state OF chaos" he said. They
were also hoping that somehow they
could prevent the trial going forward
and the facts Of the case being made
known to the membership.
Resolutions Hit Martin.
Supporters Of the four suspended
oficers-Vice Presidents Richard T.
Frankensteen. Ed Hall, Wyndham
Mortimer and Walter N. Wells-pushed
through resolutions attacking Mr.. Mar
tin At a meeting last night Of the
Detroit District Council OF the q.
A. w.
The resolutions condemned the Ex-
ecutive Boards "dictatorial manner"
in barring observers from the trial and
proposed that John L. Lewis, c. I. O,
head, be invited to send representa-
tives to the proceedings.