The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-11


 tween two unions.
 Until 10 months ago, Homer Martin, then undisputed president of the United Automobile Workers Union, and Richard Frankensteen union vice president, were the best of friends. Franensteen was Mar tins protege.
 That was before Frankensteen attempted coup that would have elevated him to the JAW presi- dency. The scheme failed and Mar tin accused him of Trojan horse tactics" in attempting to gain con trol of the union through the back door,"
 Frankensteen's attempted coup was the result of ar alliance he had concluded with two of Martins enemies. Wyndham Mortimer and Ed Hall, both vice presidents. It failed because Martin still controlled a majority of the unions inter- national executive board, but it forced into the open smoldering factional dispute arising from per- sonal jealousies, political differences and diSagreements over policies among teh unions high officers
 Martin Put down Revolt
 At a meeting of the JAW ex- ecutive board in May, 1888, Martin crushed the revolt against him and brought members into line by forcing through a 20-point peace" program.
 The peace plan, however, kindled new dissension among the 24 exc cutive board members.
 The board members respected the 20-point peace program until they were summoned into session in June of last year. Martin called the meeting to consider a group insur- ance plan, but opponents took ad- vantage of his absence on the first meting day to broaden the agenda.
 In. retaliation, Martin ordered his followers to remain away from board meetings. That made it im- possible to muster a quorum, and the meeting was stalemated. On June 13. 1888, Martin called the Board to Washington to announce that he had suspended Franken- steen, Mortimer, Hall, Walter Wells, another vice-president, and George Addes, secretary treasurer
 The suspended officers were ac- cused of violating teh peace pro- gram. Martin called the suspended officers to trial and charged the defendants with attempting to hand the union over to the Communist party. The busted officers answered with charges that Martin was talk ing advice from Jay LoveStone, former secretary of the Communist party in America and reputed head of the Communist party opposition, left-wlng organization.
 Sit-Down Staged at Trial
 On the opening day of the trial rank-and-file supporters of the ac- cused assembled in the union offices and staged a brief sit-down. The rest of the trial was conducted under heavy guard. At this conclu- sion all defendants were expelled from the union except Wells, who was suspended temporarily.
 Because the expulsionS failed to effect an armiStice, the then Con- mittee of Industrial Organizations with which the JAW was affiliated, entered the controversy, John L. Lewis, hear of the CIO, sent his chief neutenants, Philip Murray and Sidney Hillman, to Detroit to seek reconciliation.
 The result was a peace pact rec ognizing the autonomy of the JAW but providing for rehearing of the charges against the busted officers before special board. On last Oct 4 the CIO recommended re-in- statement of all officers busted by Martin.
 Martin accepted the peace pro- gram, but the CIO plan created much of the animosity that now exists between Martin and Lewis.
 Martin Opened Ford Farley
 Negotiations opened by Martin to enroll 150,0O0 Ford Motor Co.,, workers provoked the final break that made reconciliation between opposing factions in the union im- possible.
 When a high union official as- serted last Jan. 2 that Martin was nearing a secret and personal agreement with Harry Bennett os teh Ford Company, the controversy again burst into the open.
 The union. officer charged the agreement would provide that Mar tin would be the sole bargaining agent for all Ford employees; that Ford would pay the highest wages in teh industry; that organizations of Ford workers which the JAW regarded as company unions" wouldbe dissolved; and that the agreement would be effective only while Martin was president of the union.
 Aroused anti-Martin forces in the union alleged that such an ar- rangement would make the JAW a virtual company union under Ford domination.
 Martin later said he had reached a tentative agreement with Ben- nett but that unfavorable publicity had caused Ford officers to with draw the offer. He accused his rivals of sabotaging the Ford nego- tiations to discredit him with the union membership. Martin insisted there was nothing irregular about his negotiations.
 Martin Told His Story
 Later in court suit seeking to enjoin his opponents from serving as JAW officers, Martin gave his version of the purported Ford agreement.
 He said 1t provided that all Ford employees who may have been dis charged for union activity were to return to workk immediately; that all JAW members on strike against the Ford company at Is various ,,larafr uroaild he fefl1rned f0 mnrk