Evening star., 1939-01-23
Anti-Martin Group Of
i. A. W. 10 Name
Own President
Custer Of Four Bourd
Members Also Is
Scheduled Today

BACKGROUND
United Automobile Workers
Union long has been torn By
internal dissension. U. A. w.
President Homer Martin and C.
/. O. Chief John L. Le1pis haze
been reported on the verge OF
breaking for t,Uo gears. 1t has
been rumored that Mr.. Martin
and his followers plan to form
an Independent union.
BY the Associated Press.
DETROIT. Jan. 23.-The faction
opposing Homer Martin in the
United Auto Workers Union sched-
uled today the election Of a new
president and the custer of four
International Board members loyal
to Mr.. Martin.
r. J. Thomas, one Of the vice
presidents. 1t was reported, would
be named president of the anti
Martin faction.
This development followed a
slugfest Sunday between the fac
tionS.
Meanwhile Mr.. Martin remained
In possession of the international
headquarters in downtown Detroit
The evidence is abundant that
there is landslide in the locals for
a responsible union," Mr.. Martin
said.
The anti-Martin faction con-
tinued to claim c. I. o. support for
Its activities. Mr.. Martin, however,
declared that $50 far as 1 know,
the G. I. o. has not declared itself"
on the present splitup. "At the
present moment the C. I. o. is not
an ISSUE" Mr.. Martin added.
Definite Division Seen.
Nevertheless, the final outcome
of the bitter internal warfare, it
appeared today, may be of vital
significance to the Congress of In
dustr1al Organizations
The U. A. W., claiming member
ship in excess of 375.000. is one of
the largest unions in the C. I. o. and
has contracts with all but one of
the major manufacturers in a field
virtually untouched by the rival
American Federation of Labor.
Some labor observers were con-
Vinced definite division Of the U.
A. w. cannot be averted and that the
loss of any sizable number of U. A.
w. members would be a blow to
John l.. Lewis organization.
In the conveyance of l6 C. I. O.
directors and organizers on Detroit
over the week end and in a Pitts
burgh conference between C. I. O..
Vice President Philip Murray and
one of Martins U. A. w. opponents
these observers found substantiation
for their belief that Mr.. Lewis was
siding with the anti-Martinites.
There have been rumors. about
which Mr.. Martin has been nom
committal, that he and his followers
would form an independent union
and, IN time, even possibly apply
for readmission into the A. F.. L.,
which it deserted in 1896.
Fighting Breaks Out.
Physical conflict broke out in the
q. A. w. row yesterday at meet
Ing of the Detroit Plymouth local.
whose leaders had been removed
by Mr.. Martin and reinstated by the
IS International Executive Board
members he suspended last week.
They, IN turn, suspended Mr.. Mar
tin and drew up eight indictments
Of impeachment.
Three hundred police were on
hand at the auditorium and soon
broke up the fighting, which began
on the rOStrum, but there We're
numerous black eyes and bruised
chins. Martinites said the meeting
voted overwhelmingly to support the
U. A. w. president; opponents said
the pro-Martin group seized control
OF the meeting from them with
police protection"
Mr.. Martin claimed he received
support in week end meetings of
the Detroit Briggs Local, Flint Local
No. 58l of Fisher Body Plant No.
workers; Jackson Local No. g., and
Detroit Dodge Local No 3. His op-
ponents said the city's West Side
Local No. 174 affirmed its loyalty to
them and the G. I. o. and branded
Mr.. Martin "a union buster
Mr.. Martin and his board, COM
posed of four international board
members who escaped suspension
and remained loyal to him, met yes
terday with leaders of locals in
Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Wis
consin. He said they represented
about 180 locals, with 100000 men,