◆ SpookStack

{ RE: JOHN L, LEVIS, RT AL bic’ b7D INTERVIDY WITH ena: interviewed at his hone, po Horinefield, Illinois by Bracial Agents , ba-eute eer erat! and ie of sligh* build and very nervous. eld bac ormation for fear of retaliation by UMWA membera, incsmuch os he wea badly beaten by them during the labor ; trouble. His wife often interrupted him and gave information that he at- ot tempted to hide. For this reason it is not felt that he would make a good, “~ witness. The following signed statement was given vy Ser "Springfield, Ill. August 51, 1943. "1, 2, do voluntarily mnke the following signed state- ments to eee Special Agents of the Federsl Bureau of Investigation. No eate or promises of any kind hive been made to cause mé to make this statement. "I started working at Mine "B" on ER foi the Unitsc Mine Workers of Americe at thet time. I started as & rt picher™ and om presently employed at Mine "B" os a ear blocker. "Between QR and 1932 the UMYA end the mine monsgement got along fine. In 1932 the mine turned Progressive Mine ‘Jorkers of America and I joined up with them. o fer as i know the theft of votes on wages was what started the new Progressive Union. Y%elations between Mr. ELSHOFF and the Progressives seaned alright to me until the contract troubles in 1957 when the old contract expired the Progressives & Mr. ELSHOFF couldn't seem to get together. I don't lmow whose feult it wes, "I never attended cny Progressive meeting the night before the strike and I never heard ony of the men talking about 5 of the Progressives being expelled for being spies. "The first I knew about the strike in May of 1937 was when I heard the men trlking ebout it about noon and the strike waa celled that afternoon. trouble. "During the picketing of the mine by the Progressives in the foll of 1937 I wns out there occassionally eat nights on picket duty. I apent nbout . = SST =