◆ SpookStack

Re: JOHN I, WEIS, ETAL | J 4 Zz On Sentember 4, 1943, S ? : > a n@ advised that he has no Talli record. During the course of the interview it was observed thn? had a much better than average roggilegtion of events which occurred at sine 8 durin’ the period in question. ee carces cooperative and he is believed to be honest and ” t is felt that he would make a muci better than averare witness. turned over to avents a letter received by him from Chariecs Bohannon, rresident of the UM’ local in Sorin field, tellins him | to report at the UM? building for initiation into the JM\. This letter been properly ijentified by arents and is being rvtained in the exhibit file of this case. GW gave the follovwinc stotonent: Sept. 4, 1943. "Ty, stitement toy ” ay nc : Special Agents of the FE » U. S. ‘Departmen ° have been made me to rive this stitement. am making this free and voluntary who are known to me to. be ustice. No threats or promises nl have been employed at Mine B in Springfield, Iil., f. ars and am still there as a coal dige Iwas born EuaB2nd came to the United St-tes io es became 1 citizen at Sprin-field, 111. I w.s a miner i @ old country and did not belong . to any union over there. I first joined the United Mine “orkers about at Sprinsfield, Ill. I never have been an officer of any union. Before the UH. union was morc of « company union and they_along with Carl Elshoff fine and gave him everythin. it was just like adictator then and WT got anything they wanted. About 1932 or so I joined the FPropressive Union vith the rest of the men and that was when John Levis wanted us to take a cut and he was supnosed to have stolen the ballots.” I did not take any active part in starting the PMA union. Between 1932 and the time the mine closed PA got along fine with Kr. Elshoff and nothing was wrong at all then. I don't recall of any little strikes or walk outs during the same period before the mine closed. I never heard anything about Faleetti of | ae Elshoff not getting along with PMA officials during that pertod of time TG before the mine closed, I never heard anything about anyone wanting PMA : men to change back to UM, The Procrasstyes-wad a ctood union and it was not run by rackcte. rs and everyone wee satisfied with it excent for a few men were who were for UL’. I only went to meetings onoe in awhile as it was tco far to go to Springfield, 111. to attend thems I never paid any sttention - -1l27< a te me gan a re te or ee er ee perme mms mee ewe was entirelr