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Re: JOHN L. LEIS, ET AL INTERIO. \ ITH was intervieted by Special Agents At the outset of this interview State e had a good job now and wasn't going to Say anything that mht get hin involved in any trouble with any union. aie: expressed the opinion that the government should have taken action against John L. Lewis years ago When the U,H.). Was more active. a: quite reluctant to discuss instant case although he stated he Tould testify if called upon to do so, He speaks zood Pnrlish and seems to be of average intelligence, It is believed he would be only a fair witness to testify for the Hovernnent. There is set forth below the signed statement executed by "Springfield, Til. Sept. 15, 1943 nt make the folloving voluntary statement to cme Special Azents of the Federal Bureau of vestigation, Wo threats or promises have been made to get me to make any statement, "Tl was bom in Ps and presently reside at I am presently employed at Peabody mine #59. I a en a maner all my life and I joined the UI” at that time. I Was president of the UM. local at Peabody when they turned over to Progressive and at that tine I was in favor of the change. The men were dissatisfied because of a cut in wages and I think they wanted to break away from the US. when they did in 1932. I joined the Pif{4 in 1932 and worked at the Peanut Lline in about 1933 and 1934. JI started at Hine A in 1936. "as far as my opinion goes I think the PiiA had a bunch of men as officers who were nothing but office holders & I don't think t could represont the men as they should, The officera didn't seem to/dzgressive enough to represent the men & never seemed to be able to get any place. _ ‘hen Mine A shut dow in the spring of 1941 I got a job at the Peanut mine and vas there when Hine A was sold to Wishoff by Ryan. then i I heard that Elshoff bought the mine J formed the opinion that in al - probability Tlshoff vould operate the mine with U.M.T. men. In my opinion . it was only logical to assume that a man like Elshoff rould operate Mine a with Ui? men since Mine B was already a UY mine. J thought that Elshoff in all probability tould immediately decide to put both mincs under one union so he wouldn't have tvo unions in his mines. Serre rer oe - 256 -