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ca ei cere tn a re alte Cc. O Re: JOHN L. LEcIS, ET AL INTSRVIE WITH to those men who were convicted for bor ws and I os have no opinion about them and I never heard anyone else continue talk about it. I never suspected any of the rMa officials of doing wrong with the money. The local was a man's union and not 2 slave union. Before Mine B closed UM’ never sent any men out. to picket the mine nor do I recall of petting any literature from UMW then. Before the mine B closed there were about 12 men or so in the PMA who were for UI. I recall on one time while I was in Hogan's Saloon in Springfield, Tll., Andy SCHRELZEVIOUS asked me there to join over to UM and he took my address down and he ssid he would come over to see me but he never showed up. This vas before wine B closed. These 12 men were to my knowledge Sarmy who is also know as Joe; andy nent‘oned above; and I heard that Emory Jacavay carried the tales back to the company. These and several others were the ones I heard te be men who liked the UM’, they were, Fasquale, Sirtout, Jim H3le and several others. I just heard that. I never heard a thing sbout any parties given by Elshoff or UH’ men. wee recall when the contract expired in March, 1937 and I think thet or some other official of FA told us that they had a temporary agreement and that if they fot more pay it would go back. I never have believed anything until I sze the money itself but I felt that Ma could make a contract but I heard that Elshoff was ag-vinst making a contrict. Before the strike_ miners never complained about this wage question on pay dys and there was no other trouble over the wage question and I think that things went nlongs pretty nice and steady. I heard that these 12 men would tilk both for and azsinst the Pia just before the mine closed. I did not po to the meeting nirpht before the mine closed and I don't remember if they had one or not. “When I went to work on the morning the mine closed I did not know at all of any trouble out there and I never hod any idea there would be any trouble until eee us out of the mine that after- noon. That day I heard a 110 methine about several men, including Frank Austin, being expelled from rid but I don't reesll of the company refusing to fire them. I heard that the reason why the strike was called wis beeause we did not hcve any contract then. ‘Ye PMa 311 respected the law and felt if those 12 men wanted to lecve they could ra back to UM., On the day the mine closed I heard something about cars being loaded short but I did not load any short and no one told me to load them short. I was working in box @ when and there was no talk of any strike that day nor about the men being expelled, Sever2l we ks after the mine closed I signed a petition for PMA and I think it wis to show the Labor Board or someone we hid a majority of the men and no one f<« d me to sign it and I did sign it because I winted to. I recall thot (phonetic) a committeeman, brot it to my home and I signed it. I ota ti on for UMY but Ll heard about it but they never came t+ Sage was 211 FMa. I think that same f2ll another petitis Dy PMA and I -128-— cre Dy OT he SR See re re er Dn goa me nm fem omen we ee