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RE: JOHN La LEIS, ET AL. } Oo?) c_ br, who resides at a) 3 : ty NI IKTOR 3 tT mN » opringfield, Illinot*, - was interviewed ot nis home by Special Agents etive end it is believed that he would maxe a good witness inasmuch as he appeared to have a good knowledge of some carténzant facts in this case, is Ps retive born ard speaks English well. He has nc mown criminal record. The following signed statement was obtained from fe "Soringfield, Ill. September 7, 1943. "Ty, co voauntarily give the follow- ing statement to and Special dgents of the Federal Burcau of Investigation. No thcats or promises have bean made to cause me to make tii. statenent. "Tl wos born My present address is I started Wer.ang in the Jewson Mine in joining “Ine workers of americe at that time. I started at e B in the rite WHER but wos discharged carly in I returncd to Mine B in AB A agigger. I still belonged to Uh... a 1is time. Between and 2 the Uidek end the Mine B officiels got along fine. "The Progressive Mine workers of amcrice was formed to get away from Jom L. Lewis, “the dictator”. I attended a meeting at Reservor Park in Springfield wherc the new union was discussed but I took no active part in its organization. J never held an office in PliA or Ui. IT joined PMA alcng with ell the other miners at Mino B, The new Progressive union got along swoll with kr. Elshoff. I liked the Bis because it was formed on democratic principles, and I liked tle union officials. I attended about 1/3 of the PUA meetings. The PAA didn't have as many special assessments as Wis. ; "During the month or two before the strike in May of 1957 about a dozen men were “spies” or "organizers" by the PMA members who were work~ ing out there. These men were: Frank Austin, androw Schrelevious, Tony Plotch, Dominic Pasquale, Joe albaneso, Jimmy Hale, Charles Bohannon, “Bi1l" Sitrout, Pete Carter, John (Cotton) anenias, Emory Jacaway, and Harry McDonald. These men were PMA but they were trying to organize for IMA. It was gossip at the mine that Charles Bohannon held a card in UMA while he was working at Mine B under PUA. I undorstood that a few of tho above men were discharged but never attended any mecting oat which these men were discharged or suspended, -263-