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Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ETAL —- NS perovier WITH - ‘The following investigation wes conducted by Special =~ 3 BD corer and at $ pringfield, Yllinois on Septe , At his ‘a rcrrarccorren pre MEE Tilinois, Agents interviewed and he advisec fe never boen in any trouble nor has he ever been arrested, ove appeared to be fairly coopera~ tive and it is believed that he would/make a very good witness unless his testimony was necessary. He appeared to understand questions and gave an- swers to them, but cannot read the kngliish language very well. He indicated he did not know mech about the trouble and this may be true, because he was working nights and never attendsd an’nn m stings. The foilowving signed statement was obtained from him, ; Springfield, a Sept. 5, 1949 "Ty Give the following statement to and \ who arc knorm tc re to be Spec, Agts. of the F.p.1. No eats or promises have been made to to procure this statement and TI give it of my own free will, J started at mine 'Rt in Feb. 1937 as a timbernan_ od tor cver since working from 9:00 Pit to 4:30 AM. JT tias born in I came to the U.S. in and ame a citizen in at Springticld, J first joined.a minc union in ite: was all... union. J have mever been a union officer. TI ropped Ui... and became P.M.A. when I went to work at Mine 'BY. T joined P.U.A. because at that time I had to_to work at mine ‘Bt. During the few months I was at mine 'R' the P.M.A,. and Zlshoff got along alright so far as I knox, I was working nights and knew nothing of what happened in th: day time. So far as J know the F.}.4,. men got on alright with their officials. I did not attend meetings as I worked nights. I just did my job and paid my dues. Before the mine closed the P.M.A. scomed to be taking morc dues than they should_ I dont know whet this was for but they would take from $1.50 to “3.00 When they were only supposed to take $1.50. The only special assessments were death benefits. I never san tho U.H.. picket mine 'B' prior to the strike. I no nothing of any efforts of any kind to switch the men from P.M.A. to U.M.T. "JT never heard anything about any parties being given by Elshoff to U.M.W. | a then the union contract ran out in 1937 I saw in the papers that there was to be a temporary agroement until final settlement could © be reached. we felt settlement could be reached, We felt that any contract. gotten by either U.N... or P.Med. Would be the same, There were no disputes at the mine on paydays just prior to the strike nor were <