The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-30

negotiations by walking ou' The problem of restoring har- mony within the JAW is only a surface issue. Behind the scenes there is a great deal more at stake. Involved in the contro- versy are three far-reaching po- litical and labor prizes:
 l. The governorship of Michigan.
 2. Control of the JAW, the second largest and potentially the most powerful union in the c. I. O.
 3. The internal stability of the c. l. O.
 Governor Frank Murphy, inti- mate friend and devoted suppor- ter of President Roosevelt, faces a desperate reelection fight. The backbone of his strength is labor. In Michigan that means auto workers-the JAW. A knock -down and-drag struggle for control within the union during the next two months would be a death blow to Murphy
 It might also prove disastrous to the union. For if Murphy were supplanted in the governorship by . conservative Republican, there would be a statewide drive to smash the union-regardless of whether Martin or Lewis emerged victor from the fight to rule 1t. Both Lewis and Martin are fully aware of this danger. So are Murphy and the White House. In fact, Roosevelt personally may personally take hand in the situ- ation by summoning Murphy, Martin and Lewis for a private discussion.
 Martin vs. Lewis
 Administration leaders fear that, if left to themselves, Martin and Lewis will be at one another's throats just when the election gets crucial. The attitude of the two labor chiefs during their abortive peace conference lends weight to this apprehension.
 Martin argued that the JAW was an autonomous union and and that as it's elected president he was accountable to no one. Lewis denied these contentious. His demands, had they been &C., cepted by Martin, would have meant that fin a short time con- trol of the JAW would have passed to the C. I. o.
 In challenging this claim to supreme authority, Martin threw down a defiant gauntlet that may have eventful reverberations throughout the c. I. O. Other CIO unions now are feeling their oats and champing at the bit. If Martin makes his argument stick, 1t is dead certainty that similar attempts will be made by other CIO organizations.
 Special Convention
 Martins friends expect that the next move of their young chief tain will be to call a special auto workers convention and push through number of changes in the JAW constitution strength ening the unions autonomy.
 The Martin followers believe they can dominate such . con- vention. If they find they can't it's a safe bet the convention won't be held. The CIO rulers privately are very much opposed to . special convention, would prefer to fight the battle out be- hind the scenes.
 One thing is certain: Whether a convention is held or not, 1t is war to the hilt between Lewis and Martin. The serpent of dissen- sion has raised It's head within the c. I. o.
 Berry On Berry
 Senator George Berry's angry blast charging that the WPA was used to defeat him in the recent turbulent Tennessee primary, caused Colonel Harry 8. Berry, State WPA director, to remark:
 "Long after people have for gotten that he served in the Senate, he win still live In the hearts of his countrymen as the greatest marble wizard since the days of Pericles."
 The two Berrys are not re- lated.
 Unreal Estate
 It hasn't taken Elmer F. An- drews, new Wage-Hour Adminis- trator, long to learn that the na- tional spotlight is a mighty potent magnifier.
 The day after his appointment was announced, 8 flock of news photographers descended on the modest suburban home on Long OFF THE RECORD