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samp \) (), INTERVIES WITH Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL bIt po wos intorvicwed on August 28, 1943, at his Ve home by Spocial Agents a: See He was coopcritive 2nd expressed a willingnoss to tos if this caso comes to trial. speaks in a vory low voieo, anc it DW. ataédenA #&» lane 4g not believod that he would make an effective witness. Ho ¢ifimea to nav neo crimires] record. . a The following is a signed stetoment obtained from (a aE August 28, 1943 "I, make the following statomont freely and voluntarily to rapeseed and samarop ase a.+tan il have identificd thomscives to mé as Spccitl accents 0 aie cau of Investigation. No threats or promises have been made to me to obtain this statemont. Wit oresent T live RF” Tll. I wos born in I came to the Unitod States in was maturalized in Springfield, Ill., in "Tl first joines o union when I worked in the mincs at This was the United Mine Workers union. J] atayed in the UsMa. ~ until 1932 when I joined the Progrossive Minc workers of Amorica. J rejoined the United Kine Jorkers some timc Idté tH 1940 or oorly in 1941, While I have been in these unions, I never held an office, , - "1 started to work at Mine B, Springfield, I11., in Gi I had no part in the formation of the Progressive Linc .orkors of Amorica, but I joined the P.M.A. when it was organizoc because I wanted to bo with the majority of the minors at Mine B who favored the P.I.a. I, es well as the other miners, felt that thot the U.M... was docking its members too much without showing the members what they wero getting for their money. After J joincd the F,H.A,, that union always explained why they docked us, and they aid not dock us very much. "In the period from 1932 until tho strike at tine B in 1957, thore was no troublo at the mine to my knowledge. I don't romomber ony strikes or shut-downs during this time, J con't remember any efforts on the part of the mine management to influencc tho mincrs about their union. No membars of the U.M.%. asked me to join this union during this time. "£11 during tho period from 1932 to 1937 I liked the P.M.A, union very much. I alwoys thought that the leaders of tho P.M.A, were trying to help the members. I attended a few mcetings of the P.W.A., and I could have spoken it any ono of thom if I had wanted to speak, At the meetings