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EN TAL ~2- Section 7 in explicit language states that employees shall have the rights therein enumerated. Legislative history of the Act makes it clear that these rights are secured only against the employer or those in connivance with him, These rights are Rsecured by the laws of the United States" within the meaning of Section 51. Memorandum for the Director Bvt BACKGROUND FACTS It is alleged that the/frogressive Mine Workers of America Union | was formed in 1932 as a revolt ageinst an effort by John L. Lewis to force a | reduced wage scale upon the miners in Illinois, which theretofore had been the stronghold of the United Mine Workers of America Union. A referendum of the miners had rejected the reduced scale. During a second referendum, the ballot boxes were mysteriously stolen and lewis declared an emergency and i simed an agreement with the mine operators. It was stated that 25,000 miners revolted against this agreement and set up # new organization called tne Progressive Kine Workers of Amica, which grew rapidly and soon dominated the entire State. It is alleged that Lewis bitterly swore to win back the lost territory and break the rebel union, It was also stated that Mine B was the stronghold of the Progressive Mine Workers Union and was located in Springfield, Illinois, Lewis' former home and present legal residence, ¥ i According to the Department's memoranda, from 1932 to 1941, @ bitter struggle for supremacy was carried on between the Progressive Mine Workers Union and the United iiine Workers of América, involving much violence. j In ¥sy, 1937, it was stated that the Progressive Mine Workers, discovered that (14 of its members were paid spies of the United Mine Workers. | Upon Elshoff's ,Wefusal to fire these 14 individuals, a strike was called and the mine was ‘closed. The mine remained closed until November, 1939, 2} years later. It was alleged that during this period, the United Mine Workers paid Elshoff £150,000 in sums varying from $1,000 to $20,000. It was further stated that during this period and coincident with the payments of money, Elshoff was sus- pected of unfair labor practices against the Progressive Mine Workers. After the mine opened, the United Liine Workers continued the payments to Eishoff until the total of $225,000 had been paid. It was also stated that in August, 1937, Elshoff recognited and signed a collective bargaining agree- ment with the United Mine Workers, even though at that time they were in the minority and did not have enough members to operate the mines, Allegations have been made that during the period that Mine B was out of operation, the United Mine Workers proselyted the members of the Progressive Kine Workers, which, coupled with the alleged unfair practices - : and deprivation of rights imposed by Elshofif, resulted in the United idine mre Workers gaining a majority membership by mid-summer of 1940. The United . Mine Workers petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for an election CUNDCL ALI