◆ SpookStack

C O re; JOW L. LuwIS, 2 al. b? ce 22D INTERVIGW wITH nafter april 1, 1937, I knew that P.U.a. was work- ing under a temporary agreement with the mine (Continued } managenent. I think that the miners ali were aware of the extension, and I think that they were satisfied with this arrangenent. I did not hear any talk to the effect that U.ILW. would be able to get a better contract than P.M.a. Elshoff was an independent operator at that time, and could not sign a contract with any wion until the association of mune omers signed mth a union, Host of the men knew this, and I think that the men had no fault to find with P,i.u, in this matter. "I can’t recall attendiueg a meeting of P.N.A. on the night before the strike started in 1937, and I don't renember whether or not I had 4 notice of this meeting. "T wert to work on the day that the strike started. I remember tnat some of the miners loaded their cars with snort weights. I remember that the strike was finally called, but I don't remember if the men were called out of the mine during the day, or if they were told of the strike after they came up from tie mine at the end of the day, "1 really don't knivi the reasons for the strike, J had heard that charges had been preferred agaimst sone of the men previous to the strike, These nen, I think, were supposed to be U.M.uw. men. I don't remember any- thirg more about this matter. I remember that some men were accused, but I don't know whether they had to stand trial, or what happened to them, I don't know whether the strike was called because the company refused to fire thesc men or because of some other reason. "I recall that I signed a petition for P.M.a., but I don'tt recall shat the petition was about. Iwas not forced to sig this petition. I newer Signed a petition for U.M.+. "] don't recall petting a notice about the reopening of the mine in September 1937. I saw in the newspater that the mine was going to re~ open, I went out to ine B with the intention of going to work. When I got te tha mine, a committce of P.U.a. men had met with the management, and were told that th. nA at kal +h TY maa thet ana WS we Wik Managen nént had a contract with T.H,' 7.20 that the P.Hen. men cou not work wiless they up with UU... The men wers told this by Elshoff. Twelve men went into the mine, and were not molested at all. The rest of the mon, all of them P.1L4., refused to go into the mine, The next day the P.M.a. started to pickct the mine so the company could not bring any outsiders into the mnc. I was on the picket line several days, I saw umly Mine B men in the picket line, There were no strangers. I vent to the picket line because 1 wanted to. No force was used against me. » 364 «