◆ SpookStack

—_—-— Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL. 1 ble bp was interviewed at his resicence, paper Springfield, Tilinoia, by e, a 2 one e and is employed at ne "3" as an entrynan. He infurns that he has never been convicted of a major crime, but refused to state whether he had ever been con-icted of any crimes, appears intelligent for a miner but conveniently forgets things. He — ot: not make a good government witness, The following signed statement was obtained fron fF "Springfield, 11. August 29, 1943 ees ee —_: "TI, of ingfieidc, Ti. nace ihc ere Tee eae whom I know to be Special Agents of the . Bureau of Investigation. J make it without fear of threat _ forees or pro=- mise of any kind. "Iwas born in ae -: came to the U. S$, in about 7 I derived my U. 5. citizership from my father, who was naturalized in Springfield, Il1. in "I first started miri:g when I started work in Mine 'B! in Springfield in about QF I belonged to the United Mine ‘orkers ~of America at that time. In 1932 our UL") local went ever to join the -rogressive }iine jforkers of.amcrica, and i became a PIA in 1932. JI changed because the majority of the men wanted to change. I was a PHA from 1932 wtil the strike at Hine 'B' in 1937. During this time I never noticed any attempts on the part of the WW to or- ganize a picket of Mine '3' and I never noticed that any of the eamnany affseiale in ary way influenced the men far aither Ma ar SCMpany Cis itiasd’ afi Gly WEY Asie Git nee ate Sa eis wie Se Pik. During this time I noticed no strikes or closodowns at Hine | ‘Bt, I thought the Pifi wnion was all right and the PMA officials honest. I read of the bonbing cases about this time but I am not familiar enough with this situation to be able to mike a state- ment. “*. "J remember some of the men were expelled from PNA but I do not know why and I never asked why, JI had very lit le activity with the Urion, Pia, altho = had been elected to the PMA Pit Comittee in Dec., 1936. In about jarch, 1937, one of the Pua olTicrais wise name I don't remember, suzgested I resign from the Pit Committee -380- Ling mee ere ree ere HA rn“ —PR P—FPPc A ”