Evening star., 1940-01-13
Ford Money Backed
Martin, Affidavit in
Probe Alleges
A. FL. Auto Union Head
Says Charge Is False,
BIumes G. 10.
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.

BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.
Assertions that Homer Martin,
head of the A. F. of L. United Auto
mobile Workers, was backed flnan-
cially by the Ford Motor Co. when
he broke away from the c. I. o.
union of motor workers which he
formerly directed, and that he in
cited violence and used strong
arm methods in his feud with the
other faction were contained in an
affidavit in the records of the House
committee investigating the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board today.
The committee, in weekend recess
until Monday, admitted the affidavit
shortly before adjournment last
night.
The document was sworn to by
Harry A. (Red Elder, formerly vice
president and organizer for the U.
A. w. local in st. Louis.
In Detroit, Mr.. Martin declared
the affidavit was false in every re-
spect," the Associated Press reported.
He said that it had been drawn
up with one idea in mind, namely,
to be used by the c. I. o. to blast
our organization"
Mr.. Martin termed Mr.. Elder q
"tool of unscrupulous C. I. o. lead
ers' and said that he was sore" be-
cause he had been fired from un-
ion employ.
Martin has told me-" the affi-
davit said, after describing visits to
. the Ford plant at Dearborn, that
Henry Ford is behind Father Cough
lin" The Detroit priest was for
Martin, according to the document.
The affiant told of seeing Mr..
p Martin confer with the Rev. Gerald
L. K. Smith in Detroit on at least
two occasions Mr.. Smith headed
Senator Huey P. Longs share the
wealth movement after the assassi-
nation of the Louisianan.
Tells of Seeing Money.
One time. said Mr. Elder. he saw
John Gillespie of the Ford Motor
Co. go with Mr. Martin to the labor
leaders hotel room. Afterward, Mr..
Elder added, Mr.. Martin emerged
with stack of bills which were
"unfolded, fiat and about inches
high" The money, he said, was
in packages with paper strips around
them, such as are issued by banks.
The bills that he glimpsed were of
$40 denomination, Mr.. Elder ex-
planned.
Another time, Mr.. Elder said, he
went with Mr.. Martin to the Ford
plant and they visited Harry Ben
nett, personnel director. Mr.. Elder
represented Mr.. Bennett as prefer
ring to deal with Mr. Martin, since
he must deal with a union"
Mr.. Martin and Mr.. Bennett dis
cussed litigation over the factional
fight of the United Automobile
Workers, the affidavit went on. and
"the matter of what Judge would be
assigned tn the case" The affiant
added:
Il recall that during this con-
versation Bennett told Martin that
the case was in the bag"
Mr.. Elder said: During the con-
versation on this occasion Martin
told me, in Benefits presence, that
he. Martin, had been intending to
resign before this. He said to me,
You don't know this He said
that he had his resignation already
written out and that when he in
tended to resign, Ford and Ben
nett sent for him. He said that they
told him that they had looked up
his record and investigated his life
and that they were satisfied with
him. He said that they asked him
not to resign, stating that they knew
they had to deal with some union
and that they would prefer to deal
with him. He stated that Ford had
promised to go along with him and
to give him financial help. He
stated that he, Martin. couldn't
carry on without such help. When
Martin said this to me, Bennett
said nothing"
Mr.. Bennett also denied that any
promises of financial help had been
made to Mr.. Martin, according to
the Associated Press. He said in
Detroit last night:
'Mr Ford never said more than
the single word Hello to Martin
as he passed him in one of the
corridors out here He didn't learn
until afterward that the man was
Martin"
Mr.. Bennett denied also that any
Ford officials had asked Mr.. Mar
tin not to resign as United Auto
mobile Workers Ca F. of L. presi-
dent, as stated in the affidavit
sworn to by Mr. Elder.
Il make it rule never to see
any of these people except in the
presence of WitneSs-and that goes
for Mr.. Elder and for Mr. Martin
too," Mr.. Bennett added.
Testifies $500 Mentioned.
The affidavit continued:
''On this occasion Martin tolc
Bennett that he needed $500. Dur.