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testify, hovever, it ia not belleved he vould bea astistactory witness. Be admits no criminal record. . am, ta "Soringfield, Tle | August 29, 1943. Fy S, @ It 1] ~ i nad o - Lig) oa aed 3 oin statement freely and . who huve identified thenselves to me as Speci: a re au of Investic¢ation. No threats or pronises have been made to me to obtain this statement. j Springfield, TL. I cave to the United ~ "I first joined a mine union when I joined the United Mine Torkers in I first started t> work at wine 3 about 1926 or 1927. In 1932 - I joined the Progressive i idge Tarkers of America. I rejoined the U.1L%. in 1940. At no time have I ever boen an officer of any union. "AS long as I have <orked in the mines it has made no differance to me as to which union I belonged to. I always have been inter: sted in making a living, and have not taken much interest in union activities, I have tried to vote with the majority of the workers so that we would always be able to work. "In 1937 I voted for the F.!.A. because I thought that the majore ity of the miners vanted th.t union. In 1941 I chanced my vote to U.ML.%, because at that time I thoucht the majority of the miners wanted that union. Some of the men had said that under the P.JLA. Hine B had remained ~ , closed, and they clso said that under U.IS°. the mine would reopen. They said that if the U.if.°. cot the majority of the miners, the mine. vould stay open. I don't renember the names of the men who were saying these things. -- "I don't remember signing any P.U.A, petition in 1937. I was not ae interested in union affairs. I don't recall that I went to a meeting of . r.H.A. on the night before the strike started in 1937. On the day of the Lo strike all that I renember is that the men did not go into the mine. I 4 Tew