Evening star., 1938-07-25
.F|GHTBREAKSOUT
AS j, A, v. OPENS
OFFICERS TRIAL
Supporters of Suspended
Vice Presidents Force
Way Into Hall.
ADDE'S BLOOD!ES NOSE
OF MARTIN BACKER
1ntruders Delay Hearing of Case
Against Four by Refusing
to Leave.
By the Associated Press.

DETROIT, July ga nSt ngnC
broke out at noon today as supporters
of five suspended international officers
of the United Automobile Workers de-
manded admittance to the union head
quarters where the trials of the sus-
pended officers by the U. A. w. Execu-
tive Board were scheduled to open.
George F. Adde's, expelled as secre-
tary-treasurer Of the union recently
after a trial, bloodied the nose Of
Maurice Silverman, advertising So
licitor for the U. A. w. newspaper.
There were other scuffles.
Mr.. Adde's, who seeks new trial,
said he struck in self-defense after
some one hit him.
Witnesses said the disturbance began
when Jack Foster. a union member
from Ohio, asked guards at the en-
trance to the U. A. w. Office suite
to permit more union visitors" to
enter. Mr.. Adde's. standing behind
Mr.. Foster, clashed with Mr.. Silver
man.
Previously, so supporters of the
suspended officers pushed their way
into the headquarters and took up
! their stand in corridor outside
the room where the trial was to be
held
Ed Hall, a suspended vice president,
said the visitors apparently want
| to be sure that We get fair trial"
Their presence delayed the trial,
which was scheduled to start at 10
am. They said they represented U.
A. W. locals in Detroit, Lansing, Mil
waukee. Cleveland and Toledo, and re-
fused to leave when requested by
union officials
| Homer Martin, international presi-
dent, summoned the four defendants"
into private Office and asked them
to request their supporters to leave.
/ The suspended officers refused, saying
I'VE did not invite them in. They
| came of their own free will
Request Was Refused.
Emil Macy, president of the Briggs
Local, No. 212, sought admission to
| the trial room for a committee Of
presidents of local unions. That
previously had been refused by the
Executive Board. Representatives Of
the Murray Boy Local said they had
been instructed by a "200-to-1" vote
of their local to seek admission to the
| trial
! There were charges and counter
charges Of Communistic sympathies in
advance of the trial
The defendants, saying the verdict
was predetermined, have signified they
would seek a special convention to
remove President Homer Martin, who
suspended them and Secretary-treas-
urer George F. Adde's last month.
The board tried Mr.. Adde's fort
night ago, removed him from Office
and expelled him from the u A. w.
He withdrew from the hearing at
which he was tried, along with the
other disciplined officers and other
Martin opponents when the board
| denied every request of his counsel.
Those called before the unions bar
| today are Richard T. Frankensteen.
Walter N. Wells, Ed Hall and Wynd-
ham Mortimer.
Closed-D Door Trial.
The trial probably will be held be.
hind closed doors 1t promised to be
of vital importance to the Auto Work.
ers Union and to its parent body,
John L. Lewis Committee for Indus
| trial Organization.
The friction that has arisen between
the pro and anti Martin groups in the
U. A. w. in recent months has threat
ened to disrupt the union.
On the eve of the trial charges Of
Communism" were being made
against both factions in the internal
war. Mr.. Martin has accused the
suspended officers of associating with
and being Influenced by officials of the
Communist party in Michigan, a
branch of the national organization
headed by Earl Browder
| The accused men charge Mr. Martin
with being influenced by the Love-
stonites," followers of Jay Lovestone,
once head of the Communist party in
the United States and now chief Of
the Independent Communist League.
which disagrees with the regular"
party in policy. Mr.. Lovestone was
reputedly removed from the position
Mr. Browder now holds because of his
refusal to follow orders of the inter-
national Communist organization.
Four in Retaliation.
When Mr.. Martin called the four
suspended vice presidents "stooges of
the Communist party" they retaliated
by saying he was throwing up "a
smoke screen to divide, blind and con-
fuse the workers"
Il don't think there will be any
denial that there have been many
] conferences since the Communist
party entered this conspiracy" Mr..
Martin said Evidence will be pre-
sented of such conferences in the Of
fees of Frankensteen, Mortimer, Hall
and Adde's"
| The formal charges against today's
to appropriate the authority of the
president and board, of carrying on a
program of "villification and abuse"
against the union, and of diverting
funds from the international body.
Mr.. Frankensteen said last night
that Communists have called at our
offices; so have Republicans, Demo-
Gratis, Farmer Laborites, Socialists,
vegetarians, world savers and what
have you -
THE Lovestonites independent
Communist League are largely re-
lieved of the necessity of calling. So
many Of them, appointees of Martin
not auto workers-are on the union
pay roll that we are unable to tell
| whether we are talking 10 a new
Lovenstonite employe or visitor.