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Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL NTERVIEW WITH | present. I believe “gevpral other persons also attended a. Se: this meeting but 1 an unable to recall their amas, . ee vee ae *EDMUNDSON had instructod me Ep nacortain from these men what could be done to obtain for Uli a “ma jority of. “the men employed at Mine "ER", Accordingly, I took this matter up with thease mon and their proposition was that if they were given $10,000,00 ther feit donfident | ‘they would be able to swing 4 majority of the men to UMW. They gtated they would have to spend a good deal of money to work their way into the PMA monbership. BOHANNON was the principal spokesman for these men in Presenting this proprsition. "In the presence of these men 1 “bel ephoned to RAY EDMUNDSOM and, after I explained their proposition to him, he instructed me to turn it down, commenting that he could buy the mine for $10,000.00, Accordingly, I informed the men that their proposition was not satisfactory to EDMUNDSON. "Dubing the noxt few weeks I saw various individuals mentioned above around UM Feadquarters from time to time, but I had no further formal discussion with them concerning the Mine "B" matter. \ - "Near the end of July, 1957, I was instructed by EDMUNDSON to — install the officers of a new UMW local which had been organized at Mine "pe", I md nothing to do with the organization of this local and did not know it had been organized until EDMUNDSON instructed me to install the officers. About 25 membors attended the meeting whon the officers were installed and I understood that all these members had been employed at Pine "B" prior to the strike. "On August 20, 1937, I signed a working agresment for Mine “apm with CARL H, CLSHOFF. This Gontract wee signed at UM; Headquarters. I had nothing to do with the preparation of this contract and I [pet signed as Foard Membor at EDMUNDSON's instruction, ELSHOFF:- was therg At the time the contract was signed but I do not recall that we had any di sion con- cerning putting the mine in opsration. Agents Paes ; displayed to me &@ photostatic copy of a contract dated at Whicago, Illinois, August 18, 1937, which contract was signed by RAY EDMUNDSON and CARL KE. ELSFOFF. I wish to state that I have nevor seen the original of this contract and did not know of the existence of this contract until the photostatic copy was displayed to me by Special fgents B : a "Prior to the time the contract was signod on August 20, 1937, I had understood that ELSHOFF had applied for whembership in the Illinois Coal Operetors Association. I do not recall exactly how this in? “ation came to oa bo+ IT think o8 ibly I was told by © ts. - 425 =