◆ SpookStack

a a ~ Memorandum for Mr. Ladd -~Z- reason he desires to make photostatic copies available to us. Mr. Coleman has ascertained that it would taxe approximately one week to have this material photostated in the Department, and he stated that in view of this, he would like to know if the Bureau would make photostatic copies of the exhibits for its use and then retum the documents to him. In this con- nection I advised him that the backlog on our photostatic work was such that it would be impossible to photostat these documents within the near future and that therefore it appedre e er procedure would be for him to have copies prepared and make them available to the Bureau. He stated that this would be done. Mr. Coleman made reference to that portion of the Department's memorandum which indicated that in May, 1937, the Progressive Mine Workers discovered thet several of its members were paid spies of the United Mine Workers Union, and when the operator of the mine in question refused to discharge these individuals, a strike was called and the mine was closed. Mr. Coleman thousht it would be advisable to interview these particular persons at the beginiing of the investigation. He stated that there were several other persons who he believed should be contacted at the very beginning before the report was circulated that the FBI was conducting inquiries into this matter. I advised Mr. Coleman that in any investigation conducted by the Bureau, the circumstances in the case were carefully evaluated and that consideration was give. to the order in which the various individuals involved were to be interviewed. the Civil Rights Statutes is established, he is in no position to state whether the President will authorize any prosecution against Lewis at some ure date. He stated that he felt this was a very important case inasmuch as the real issue at hand appears to be whether one union can make payments of money in such a manner as to destroy a rival union. He also commented that from dis~ cussions he has had with labor men, he does not believe that the CIO will “oush" this case against Lewis because of their fear that they will be accused of "knifing him." Respectfully, F. L. Welch