Evening star., 1939-01-16
HiIIman and MURRAY
Step In 10 Mediate
Marlin Row winU. 4. ",
Union Head Reported
Asking Help Of c. !. o.
Aides in Turnobout
B, the Associated Press.

DETROIT. Jan. 16.-Sidney Hill
man and Philip Murray. vice presi-
dents of the Congress of Industrial
Organizations. stepped in today as
mediators in the second outbreak OF
factionalism within the United Au-
tomobile Workers within a year.
Mr. Hillman and Mr.. Murray are
the c. I. o. members of c. l. o.
U. A. w. Co-ordinating Committee
set up last fall to mediate factional
disputes. The U. A. w. members
are Homer Martin, president, and
R. j. Thomas, vice president.
The c. I. o. officers set up head
quarters in a hotel several blocks
from the u A. w. international
Offices, where the Z. A. w. Executive
Board has been in special session
since Tuesday. The boards princi-
pal actions have been to restrict the
powers of Mr.. Martin.
Although Mr.. Martin demanded
two weeks ago the dissolution of
the Co-ordinating Committee and
restoration of U. A. w. autonomy"
there were reports that the c. I. O..
mediators came to Detroit at his
invitation.
Mr.. Murray denied Mr.. Martins
assertion two weeks ago that the
Co-ordinating Committee was de
stroying U. A. w. autonomy"
The committee only recommends" 4"
Mr.. Murray said today. 1T has
never interviewed except on invita-
ton of the Executive Board, and
when it has intervened. its recon-
mendations have been adopted by
the board.
The Executive Board is the su-
preme authority between conven-
tions and neither Hillman nor my
self would think of intruding on that
authority. We are here only because
the board and Martin asked us to
come"
Mr.. Martin. who has lost control
of the Executive Board, has asked
it to call special convention at
which the factional dispute could be
settled permanently by vote of the
U. A. W. membership.
There were indications the board
will convoke such a convention, but
probably not before March /, as
requested by Mr.. Martin. The board
presumably would wait till it felt
certain it would be able to control
the delegates.
Mr.. Martin has voiced confidence
that the membership would stand
with him in opposition to the board,
which last week clipped him of much
of his authority as head of the big
congress of industrial organizations
union.
He said he would submit the con-
vention issue by referendum to the
rank and file if the board fails to
act by March /. The next regular
convention is set for August at
Toledo, but Mr.. Martin wants the
election of omcers-which he hopes
will prove to be a vote of confidence
in him-advanced.
Such a convention appeared to be
a chief hope of solving the unions
major problem if the U. A. w. is to
survive as single and solidif1ed
group. The parent C. I. o. tried to
settle the affair last summer.
Ever since the flames of factional-
ism burst into conflagration re-
ports have been recurrent that Mr..
Martin would lead his followers
among the nearly 400 1000 members
out of the c. I. O-either forming
an independent union or applying
for reinstatement in the American
Federation of Labor.
Mr.. Martin never has made an un-
qualified denial of these rumors.
The Executive Board, reconvening
today after a weekend recess, re-
turns to the immediate problems
which prompted the latest estrange-
ment between Mr.. Martin and his
opponents-the attempt to organize
Ford Motor Co. employees and Mr..
Martins suspension of officers of the
big Detroit Plymouth local on
charges it was Communist-con-
trolled.
Until few weeks ago the U. A. w.
president controlled a majority on
the board, but a realignment has
left him only three to not more than
six votes out Of the "a.
A proposal to impeach the pres
ident, initiated by two Detroit tool
and diemakers locals, was reported
Headed for board consideration.