Evening star., 1939-01-20
u, A. W. Files Seized,
Martin Will Call
Own Convention
suspends IS Members
Of Board Opposed ::
To His Policies

Of booTo OPPoSeo
To His Policies
By the Associated Press.
DETROIT, Jan. 20.-Homer Mar
tin, union president, suspended Is
members Of the c. I. o. United Auto
mobile Workers Executive Board to-
day and announced he would as
semble an international convention
to replace the one called for March
20 at Cleveland by his opponents in
the U. A. w.
The sudden attempt by the youth
full president split wide open the
factional row in the big automobile
union, and headed the organized
workers towards possible dual union
ism and dual conventions.
Martins announcement was made
after he had taken possession Of
number Of union files from the
international offlces and removed
them to his apartment.
The board members named in the
suspension order, charging Mar
tins actions violated the U. A. w.
constitution, announced they would
continue to protect the union and
its membership from gangster rule"
and that the international conven-
ton they had called for Cleveland
March 20 would proceed In regu-
lar democratic manner"
The statement by Martins foes
said the board will not let mad
man surrounded by gangsters rule
the U. A. w."
The suspended board members
charged Martins actions were IL
legal and unconstitutional, and they
remained in control of affairs Of the
international union which claims
nearly 100000 members.
Call Expected Today.
Call for the Martini sponsored
convention, which probably will be
held in Detroit, is expected late to-
| day. Martin directed the nine re-
naming members of the 24-man
Executive Board to meet at pm.
He said the convention might be
| held as early as March l.
Suspended board members con-
tended it was unconstitutional for
Martin to interfere with their &C
tions while the board was in session.
To this Martin, who had conferred
with his advisers most of the night
before acting early this morning, re-
piled:
The board was not in session
when acted"
The board in weeks session had
restricted much of Martins author
ity in the union, but had made no
move to impeach him.
Martin identified the board s,em-
bers he had suspended as:
Secretary Treasurer, George F.
Adde's: Vice Presidents R. j. Thomas
Richard T. Frankensteen, Wynd-
ham Mortimer and Ed Hall and
Board Members Charles Millard
Oshawa. Ontario; Delmond Garst
st. Louis. Mo; Morris Field, De-
troit; Fred Pieper, Atlanta Ga:
Walter Reuther. Detroit: Paul
Miley. Cleveland; Ellsworth Kramer
Toledo. and Leo LaMotte, and Tracy
Doll of Detroit.
Five Ousted Formerly.
| OF these. Adde's, Frankensteen
Mortimer and Hall were suspended
and ousted from the union by Mar
tin in fractional dispute last sum-
mer, only to be reinstated by c.
O. Mediation Board.
Martin said he would have con-
troll of the handful of board mem.
bers remaining.
He made the announcement al
his hotel suite, to which he re.
moved the records taken from the
international Offices.
Martins action came suddenly
after the U. A. w. executive board
in session here for the last 10 days
had stripped him of much of hi.
authority as union head and hac
arranged for Special convention
Of the organization that both Mar
tin and the board members sale
would settle "once and for all,
months-old factional strife within
the union.
Martin had charged Communistit
influences in the board membership
the board had accused him of "as.
suming power not granted by tn.
unions constitution"
In letter to the suspended boarc
members, Martin stated that the re-
mainder of the board would con.
vene Immediately Ito make f1na
and fair arrangements for q con-
vention of automobile workers wher'
the membership will be permitted
to express its will and desire as t.
leadership, principles and policies
of our organization"
He accused the suspended mem
bers of violating the internationa
constitution, and added:
"By your action you have OBJ
structed the progress of the uniol
in making contracts with variou
automobile and parts corporation
and the general work of the inter
., national union"
Nicholas (Mike) Dragon, ser
geant at arms appointed by the anti
Martin majority of the U. A. W
Executive Board, said he was beatel
by Martins men. but when Martil
emerged with the filing cases he de
MED there had been violence.
The Martin group visited the q
A. w. headquarters shortly after
am, before the Office staff had ar
rived.
Dragon said he was beaten b.
,, , men who waylaid him when h
stepped from an elevator on tn
, elventh floor, where the U. A. W
; offices are located.
!. Says Offices "Closed"