◆ SpookStack

Re: JOEN L. LEIS, ET AL , 2 ue Bi i 3 , ponies oe speaks and understands English very well. remory did not seem to be very goode He claimed to have no criminal record. if necessary, he is willing to testify. The following signed statement was obtained from "W pringfield, Ill. Sprin Sentomber 6 1943 eeptemoer Oo, peer WT make the fo llov'ng voluntary statement ‘ whom I Imor tc t- Special #tgents of the Federa Ou au oO made to me. "YT Tilinois, and am working at Mine 5, Iwas borr Qa oe I joined the United Mine workers at Springfield in was working at the Peabody kine, end we went on strike. I “didn't work in a mine until January of 1934, when I began work ct Mine B. I hed been a member of PllA for some time before beginning work at Mine B. I had not paid ducs in the P.M.A., but started to pay dues when I began working there. I had no part in the organ- izing cf P.M.i., and nave never held an office in any mine union. "From 1934 until 1937, I don't remember any trouble at the mine, between the management and the union. Iwas satisfied in the P.M.A. during that period, and heard or sew nothing to make me think the P.M.A. was not being run fair and square. I didn't hear of any talk on the part of the management which would shcw ea preferense for the U.M.. or against the P.M.A. "I don't remember any Pa elee mocting on the night before the trike. I went to the min the dey the strike, but didn't go dowm into the mine. I think the rike was caused beceuse therc was no contract between the P.M.é.and Mine 3, vind I'm net sure. I don't remember the union officials ever telling any of the men the reason for the strike, I don't remember, either, getting any explanation from the P.M.aA. officials why we only had an extension agreement. Q Q ct of c eg pu f et a hy "I remember thet, just before the strike, there was some agitation on the part of some men for the U.M..., or some union, WNo one talked to me aboeut joining the UN... at thet time end I lmew thet fjndy Schrel eee os bas Wear Rea gee kT TE Gy i Dominic Pesquele, and some others, were agitating for the U.M.. On: day I heard Pasquale and 4 man named arguing, and I supposed the argu= ment to be over union matters.