Evening star., 1939-02-09

HiIIman and Murray
Assai| Martin in
Convention Appeal
Ask Auto Workers to
Turn Away From
Disrupters'

Making a vigorous attack on
Homer Martin, who no longer is
recognized as president of the dis
sension-torn United Automobile
Workers of America, two leaders in
the parent Congress of Industrial
Organizations today called on the
auto workers membership ito turn
away from the disrupters and the
dual unionists," at their forthcom-
ing national convention in Cleve-
land.
In letter which, they explained,
was designed to give union members
the facts about the struggle for
leadership in the U. A. w., Sidney
Hillman and Philip Murray, vice
presidents of the C. l. O.. declared
they have reluctantly been forced
to the conclusion that Martin does
not care for the continued existence
of an automobile union unless he
can exercise his dictator-mania In
running the organization.'
They disclosed also that they had
recommended that Communists be
made to keep their hands out" OF
the United Automobile Workers.
Mr.. Hillman and Mr.. Murray said
this recommendation had been CIV
en- to the unions Executive Board
by the Co-ordinating Committee OF
the union and the c. I. O., which
was set up in an effort to Drlns
peace in the auto workers ranks.
The committee was composed OF
themselves and the two men who
now are rival presidents OF the union
Mr.. Martin and r. j. Thomas.
Noting that Mr.. Martin recently
had charged that creation OF the
Co-ordinating Committee took away
the independence of the union, the
G. I. o. officials said the commit
tee was set up at Mr.. Martins ,e-
quest and that it was completely
advisory. Before any recommended
ton of the committee could become
effective, they added, it had 20 be
approved by the U. A. w. EXecu-
tive Board.
Relating that Mr. Martin had
supported a report which the COM
mittee gave the board, and that
the board had approved the COM
mittees work unanimously. Mr..
Hillman and Mr.. Murray wrote:
The committee condemned the
practice of certain political sects in
jecting their factional war cries into
the councils of the U. A. w.
1T recommended in the AlliS-
Chalmers local. Milwaukee, the right
of the international union to re-
strict and eliminate those who would
use the local for Communist party
purposes. In Lansing, Mich, it
recommended against permitting
the 'Lovestonite' Communists to
manipulate the local for their Sec
tartan purposes.
In condemning both Communists
and Lovestone' Communists, the Co.
ordinating Committee took the side
of neither Martin nor anti-Martin
political sects. 1t proposed that
both be made to keep their hands
out of the U. A. w. That was the
policy of the Co-ordinating Commit
tee. That is our policy today
In urging the union to rid itself
of discordant elements, the letter
said:
THE time for action is not far off.
On March 27, the Auto Workers will
hold their convention at Cleveland.
There, through their own elected
representatives the membership will
make its own decisions, elect it's
own officers and consolidate its Or
fganiZation"
The Cleveland convention has
been called by the unions Executive
Board, Is of whose members Mr.
Martin has declared suspended
These members have elected Mr.
Thomas to succeed Mr.. Martin,
pending the convention, and Vice
Presidents Murray and Hillman
have recognized Mr.. Thomas as
president
Mr. Martin contends he is the
rightful president. however, and has
called rival convention in Detroit
for March 4.