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16 fe) "6423 Re: JORN L, LEWIS, ET AL — 49 co. ob Mine B on the wage question at Hinc B during 1937. In rogard to the moeting held just before the mine closed T thisntl tt co a weil ld Pe it Lig meeting and I .do racall tho something about some members being expelled, ; e anerialt mootineg anc wnnt a regular 4 oC BM Pew eee Le we oe eS a ed "Tho miners at Nine B dic nxt like the idea at all that the manage- ment refused to fire the 5 expelled men as the Progressives were the local there and not the UMy. The miners learned the story of the 5 by general talk arounde the mines. I don't reeall of any coal cars being loaded short on the morning of the strike in May, 1937. Tho mincrs were 211 interested in gsettine thet contract sere in “avy, 1937 anc whon the management refused in gettine thet contra manigemont refuse to firc those 5 men that not 4 oh 1. Sg avi anc Wh Eta brot the blow off. "During Nay, 1937 I sizned 2 PH, petetion at the moeting hall of PY; and the PH) officials said thoy wanted the petition to show the manage- ment of line B that they hac a majority. I wont to the hall anc signed the petition because I was with the Progressives anc no onc foreed mc to sign it. but I nover sig encd it and never 620 it But a (phonetic) asked me to sign it but I didn't. ¥ threosts being used by anyone in regard to the UM? petition boing signed, "T con't recall] anything about an unknown potition in 1537 but I do rceall that I also signed some petition at the mino for PMT in acdition to the cone I signod at the hall, The petitions I signed wero 411 authorized ones, "T heard that in swnmer of 1937 the UL: formed o local but T never was approached to join it and I never hearc of anyone being beat up to join it. “During 1937 the PL: continued to hole their meetings anc they agroed not to return to work until they had a contract anc tho PM. members who were for the UM: did not come to tho meetings. ; 4 193 was going to reopon and PMy hele 2 meeting and all cecided to return to work anc when we got to thc mine the management only allowed the UM. men to go down into the mince, ‘“c all then stayed thore night and day and sat around and played cards etc. snd watchec the proper ty at night so one ons could damage it anc it kupt on for about 50 or 60 days. ~~ 7 Tl heerd from athcr miners that ‘ine E