Evening star., 1939-01-26
Legal Battle Mapped
By Martin 10 Hold
y. A. W. Presidency
Lewis Is Accused as
Dictutoriol Betroyer
Of Labor
9y the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Jan. 26.-Formally
severing all ties with c. l. o. Chair
man John L. Lewis, his former
mentor, Homer Martin opened a
legal battle today to retain his post
as president of the United Automo-
bile Workers Of America.
Mr.. Martin, who was "impeached"
recently by the same Is U. A. w.
board members he suspended" in
factional battle. resigned from the
c. I. O.'s Executive Board in letter
he made public here yesterday term
Ing Mr.. Lewis dictatorial "be-
trayer" of labor.
His action followed the recognition
by the c. I. O.-through Vice Presi-
dent Philip Murray and Sidney Hill
man-of the Is suspended" men,
bers as the U. A. w. ruling board
and R. j. Thomas, instead of Mr..
Martin, as president.
Retains Two Lawyers.
Mr.. Martin, 38-year-old former
clergyman, disclosed he had retained
two well-knoWn labor attorneys,
Frank P. Welsh of New York and
Frank Munholland of Toledo, to
represent him Saturday in a hear
ing in Detroit. They will fight an
injunction obtained by his oppo-
nents tying up the expenditure of
union funds and disposition of union
property.
In his letter to Mr. Lewis resigning
from the c. I. o. Executive Board,
Mr.. Martin accused the c. I. O..
chairman of trying to destroy the
auto unions autonomy and betray-
Ing the principles and policies of
democratic labor movement" by try
Ing to become its personal dictator.
Whether the auto workers re-
mained in the G. I. O. organization,
he added, would be determined by
delegates at convention called by
him in Detroit for March 4. His
foes have called a rival convention
IN Cleveland for March 81.
Describing his resignation from
the G. I. o. Executive Board as a
personal matter, Mr. Martin said he
had no talks with William Green.
president of the American Fedora
ton OF Labor, and planned none.
Secret Conferences Charged.
IN his letter to Mr.. Lewis, Mr..
Martin asserted c. I. o. Vice Presi-
dents Murray and Hillman had held
secret conferences with EMPLOYERS
and U. A. W. members "for the pur-
pose OF transferring control of the
organization to yourself"
Mr.. Murray is president of the
Steel Workers Organizing Commit
tee and Mr.. Hillman is president of
the Amalgamated Clothing Work.
ers.
There has not been a blacker
chapter IN the annals of American
labor" Mr.. Martin wrote, than that
written by you and your agents in
your deliberately planned sabotage
OF the vigorous efforts of our union
to organize the employees of Henry
Ford and obtain a collective bar
gaining agreement with the Ford
Motor Co."
Charges by the opposing faction
that Mr.. Martin and Harry Ben
nett, Ford Motor Co. personnel di-
rector, were negotiating to form a
company union in Ford plants
played an important part in pre-
cipitating the split among the auto
unions officials.
Replying to Mr.. Martins letter of
resignation, Mr.. Hillman and Mr..
Murray in a joint statement said
he revealed "the same dictator
mania responsible for
the almost continuous pickering in
the official family of the auto
, union"
"NO Longer Member"
1T should be clear that the U. A.
W. is not severing its relations with
the c. I. O., but only that Homer
Martin is deserting both the U. A. w.
and the c. I. o." the statement
said. "Of course, he cannot resign
from the Executive Board of the
G. I. o. He is no longer member"
In Detroit the U. A. w. Executive
Board headed by Acting President
Thomas sent kilograms to U. A. w.
locals instructing them mot to rec
ognize any orders, instructions or
requests" by Mr.. Martin and his
four-man board.
The kilograms said Mr.. Martin
and his board followers no longer
were U. A. w. officials nor recog-
nized by the G. I. o.
Mr.. Thomas also announced today
appointment of Charles P. Taft, I'd
of Cincinnati, son of the late Presi-
dent William H. Taft, as attorney
for the c. I. o. group in court ac-
tions against the U. A. w. faction
led by Mr.. Martin.
Hearing has been set for Saturday
on an injunction obtained by Mr.
Martins opponents tying up U. A. W.
funds and property, which are in
the possession of the Martin faction.