Evening star., 1939-01-09

n1OnthS. Ihe OGttLe resulted IN
the suspension OF fUe union
officers by President Homer Mar
tin last year, but these men 1Dere
reinStated 1Dlten the Congress OF
Industrial Organizations con-
Uened.
By the Associated Press.
DETROIT, Jan. 9.-The youthful
but militant president Of the United
Automobile Workers, Homer Martin,
appeared to be on the defensive to-
day as one of his adversaries called
the big unions international eXecu-
tive board into session.
The latest outburst was, in part,
an echo of last years row over
charges and counter-charges of
Communism, and an informed
source predicted that the U. A. w.
was on the verge of final show
down in the spasmodic internal
friction.
George F.. Adde's, secretary treas
urer, said he had polled the "a
board members and received 18
affirmative and no negative votes
on reconvening the board this week.
Ford Negotiations.
THE board" Adde's said, will
deal with the Ford negotiations,
which President Martin has kept a
complete secret from the board, and
such other matters as may be
brought before it,"
The other matters, another in
formant said, will include question
ing Mr.. Martin on his suspension OF
the officers of Plymouth Local 81
Saturday night.
Mr.. Adde's explained that the
board, at its last meeting. author
lied him to poll the members and
convene the group at any time at
the request of one or more members.
He did not reveal who requested the
meeting, but said Il have done so
upon proper request
The secretary treasurer was one
Of five individual officers suspended
last year and subsequently REIN
stated.
One Of Main Objectives.
One of the main objectives OF the
U. A. w. for some time has been to
organize employees of the Ford Mo-
tor Cos the only major automobile
producer which has not signed
contract.
Last October, after Mr.. Martin
revealed he had conferred with
Henry Ford and his personnel di-
rector, Harry H. Bennett, MI. Ben
nett said the company's labor policy
hasn't changed one bit" Mr.. Ford
himself has said frequently his firm
never would recognize any union as
the sole bargaining agent of It's enl-
ployes.
Just as Mr.. Adde's said the board
wanted to interrogate Mr. Martin
about the Ford negotiations" the
union president said U. A. w. off,
cial, unidentified, had "insinuated
that I have been endeavoring to es-
tablish a company union in Ford
plants.
Charges "Irresponsihility."
Mr.. Martin said this was "a glar-
Ing example of the irresponsibility
and the anti-union character of
some of those officials who would
speak for the international union"
The suspended Plymouth local
head, Leo Lamotte. a member Of
the International Board, charged
that mob rule prevailed at mass
meeting which called upon Mr. Mar
tin to take charge of the local and
the action was "a case of stool
pigeon tactics on Martins part"
He said he would appeal the case
to the board.
The Plymouth lacal places its
membership at 10000
Mr.. Martin, in addressing that
mass meeting, mentioned the Ford
membership campaign.
Dog-Eat-Dog Fight.
Don't be surprised if the Ford
workers have the benefits of COL
lective bargaining very soon. I
could tell you some things about
the Ford situation. Don't be sur
prised if, when we come to the
convention this year cat Toledo in
August, there is large representa-
ton of Ford workers.
There are signs of dog-eat-dog
fight in the union, which the C. I. o.
says has more than $50, 1000 members,
and one person close to the situa-
ton summed it up this way:
Martin probably will suspend the
executive board, and the board
probably will suspend Martin"