◆ SpookStack

JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL ie? w bAD . I was satisfied with it in eve way, an mkt P e len at the mine were pretty well satis- fied with the way the union was being run. I did not heer anyone criticize the union, even the men who were later expelled from the union. There vas some criticism of the union because of the heavy fines the union was putting on the men who were working over 335 a week. Other than that I think that most of the men were satisfied, and I, personally, would have preferred to comtinue in the Frogressive Union as it was. "On the day of ths strike I cmme up, and went home as soon as the stitke was calleds. I had not heard thet there was going to be a strike, I had not been at the mecting of the union the night before. TI did not know that there was one. The men vere bringing out small cars that day. I do not know why the men were loading small. "J did not know that there was to be a strike called, but I heard afterwards, that the strike was called because the men would ; not work with those men who had been expelled from the union, and who ; the company 1ould not discharge. I was not one of the men who had been discharged from the union, I was a hember of the Progressive Mine Workers’. in good standing until shortly efter the mine reopened in 1939. I had not attended any meetings at Redman's hall, or taken part in or heard of any discussions about svitching unions, There had been some discussion at the mine about a contract, and thet vas what the men who were expelled from the unien hed been complaining about, but that wes not the reason that the strike was called as far as I know, "efter the strike started I did not go back to the mine. I did not sign any petitions or papers of any kind that I can recall. I took no part in the organiz local for mine BR. In September 4 7 — and some man came to ny n, I iome and told my wife that went out to the mine the day that the mine “opened vith ee Ee | “e went out very carly, long before any men shoved up son the cound have the mules ell harnessed and ready to go rhen the mine opened. I stayed down all that day, hauling etc. When I came out that night all the men had gone from around the shaft. I heard that the Frogressives =~ 400 =