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Pie ll ale ee C: © 006415 RE: JORN L. LEWIS,ET AL t tre Was a in | petition in i without coercion cf any kind, but doing it the wishes of the ma jority. It is felt the "Springfield, Tliinois August 26, 1945. "I make the following signed voluntary stetement to ; : ; both of whan I know to be Specisl Agents in the Federal somes nvestigation. No threats or promises have been mde to me to induce me to make this statement. "Sometime in ® a I went to work as a miner at Mine B, just outside of Springfield, Tiiineis. At that time I joined the UMW, inesmuch as thet union represented the employees at Mine B and I had to join the union in order that I might work there. I never held any office in tht or eny other union. . "In 1932 I joined PMA because that union represented the employees at Mine B. No threats were over made to me to join this unicn but I had to join it becuuse you couldn't work at the mine if you didn't belong to the union. I never took any interest in the unions at all because I didn't intend to stay in the mines but intended to go into business for myself. I probably attended only a couple of meetings a year, just enough so that I wouldn't get fined for not attending. "I never took part in the discussions the mon had for I would get to the mine early and w.s ususily the last one out. J peid no at- tention to either the affairs of the mine nor of the union. "I also wish to say that Iwas never stopped or approached by anyone at the mine or at any other place in an attempt to get me to join any union, "After PMA came into the mine things were bettor for sometime. The dues were smaller and working conditions were improved. Track was laid fuster. After a while, however, conditions changed to where it wes about the same as when UMVY was there. - 159 « nm ene a er a Nt ee EE Ce rem ae pe ee mee