◆ SpookStack

RO: JOEN L. LEIS, ET ab foo “- INTIRVIE.! UIT NS by Special age ats | at Sorin,field, Illinois on August 28, and at firs all as he said hc did not want to get mixed up in an:thing as is at Hine > and was afraid that something might happen to him if 1¢ Tas somevnat reluctant to ansver any : advised he only went to the Fifth Grade but it was noted tuat he was well versed in mine matturs and appearcd to be mach morc intz]l~ ligent than the average .ciner. It is bclieved that in the event he is called to testify he will make . good witness altho he would not like to have to testify inasmuch a# he still is at Mine B. 4fter some conversation he freely furnished the followin, signed toovuritten statement. nvestigation, United st tos Departnent of Justice. No threats or vromises have been made me to give this stutement. "TI was born ae e : : T1l. ani am an amcrican citizen. For the past Wyear. or so J have been at Mine B in Springfield, Tll. and ana coal. a* ger, rou: so I first joined the United Nine workers at _ Til. I lave never held any office in any union. I don't know if os arl Elshoff got alon., with UMT prior to 1932.- Prior to 1932 I fclt thet UM? tas trying to do all they could for the miners, when PMA was formed at Mine B in 1932 I felt that everyone santed to new : union as the: did not want to take any cut in wages. ‘he trouble STarted ~ then when John L. Lewis signed a contract under an emergency, 1fter he said tne ballots were stolen from the second election and the miners did not like that. I think thet PMA operated pretty smoothly from 1932 until the mine closed down in 1937 and I never heard or knew of any trouble with Elshoff or Pi. officials. I never heard Elshoff or F.LCETTI conplzsin that PMa - 183 -