◆ SpookStack

RE: JOBN L. LEWIS, ET AL Lb) a bb INTERVIEW WITH was interviewed at his home, wae ringfield, Illinois Special Agents and at which time he executed = & sizued statement. appeared to be quite cooperative and mentioned at the outset of the interview thet he was cognizant of the purpose of same. He speaks and writes Fnelish, and appeared to have an average education. He should make & satisfactory witness except that his imowledge of pertinent facts is limited due to his working on the night shift at all times. He dem onstrated an animosity for and and repeatedly stated that the rank and file o e miners did no what it was all a- bout (refering to the union controversies). He is presently working at Mine. "B", and considers OSCAR FALCETTI as his yersonal friend. The following is the signed statement of Gi . "Springfield, Ill. August 28, 1945. "I: do make the following voluntary statement to Bpecial Agents a ay of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. No threats or promises of any have been made to get me to make this statement. wy ide at Springfield, Illinois and was born at *. "The first union I ever joined was the United Mine Workers of Amer~ ica when I was just a kid working at the Old North Mine out north of Spring- field. I remained in that union until I joined the Progressive Mine Workers of America while working at Mine "B" in 1932. I never held any offices in either union. “Prior to 1932 so far as I know the relations between Elshoff and the UNWA were fine. , "The Progressives star ecause the UMWNA atole the election and because a number of men like am a few others wanted offices and figured that they could ge ey formed a new union. “Towards the last, that is before the strike in May of 1937 there was considerable trouble between Elshoff and the Progressives represented by I should mention that ever since I was employed at Mine "3B" about 1930 I have worked nights, as mine examiner, and most of my informa- tion is not first hand but canes from hearsay. To my knowledge there were no strikes or close downs or attempts by the management to discredit the Progressives before the strike in May of 1957. ~ 5354 =