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C © Re: JORN L, LUOVIS, ET AL BI7e Dpon the telephonic request of Special Agent ay = Mr. “ILLIAM M. RYAN, the formor owner o in ", Springfield, Tllinois, came te the Svringfield Office. At this ti i: AN wos approached by Special scont and Special agent relative to a signee statement regarding his conversations with £ in the eerly part of 1557 a.d the complete details of the ssle of Mine "A", Mr. RYAN flatly refused to execute a Signed statement unless he consulted his attorne:;. He said that he was ‘willing to testify in the instant trial ana thet he would be glad to confer with those handling the prosecution before taking the witness stand, REINTERVIED ITH “TLLIAM Ni. RYAY Mr, RYAN was interrogated in minvte detail relative to this conversation with EMUNDSSN in 1957 in an effort to get the exact words or their essence. It appears that EDRVKDSCN did not reaci the point where he made a definite proprsition to RYAN to close down his mine in order that the United Mine ‘Torkcrs could organize it. Neither was any offer made to RYAN to subsidize him in case any financial losses were sustained and the mine had to be shut down- To the best of his recollection, Mr. RYAN stated that EDMUNDSON called him in ths carly part of 1937 approximately three months beforc Mine "B" actually closed down, requesting him to come down to the United Minc Workers! office, Mr. RYAN stated that he complicd with this telephonic request and in the initial part of the conversation with EDMUNDSON thore was « general discussion about the weather and othcr non-controversial issues. EDMUNDSON at length asked RYAN whet he thought ef the United Mine Workers 2nd the Progrcssive Mine Workers. Mr. RYAN stated he sensed o proposition was in the offing and in order te forestall this he definitcly statcd his position, saying: I do not see any difference betycen cither one. They have the same contracts, the same grievance procedure and the operator expsricnces the same griof with both.!' RYAY stated that he was already treating with one union and did not sec why he should consider any other. Ho told ECDMUNLSON that if he should commit himself in that fashion, by and by these two unions would go back together, compare notes and then they would really put the pressure on him. EDRUMDSON then asked RYAN how he thought GEORGE SOLOMON of the Panther Creek Mines, Inc., would fecl about the United Mine “orkers and Progressive Mine Workers. He also asked RYAN the same question concerning CARL I. ELSHOFF. ‘“r. RYAN adviscd that he told EDMUNDSON that he did not know how either of these two men felt about that question and if EDMUNDSON wanted to know he would have to see ELSHOFF or SOLOMON, In Mr. RYAN's explanation of the conversation, he advised that due to their background in the mining industry and labor relations, a great dcal was understood between them without the actual expression in words. : RYAN was certain that he was being approached by EDMUNDSON in order to moke a deal with the United Mine Workers. Howevor, it is difficult for - 432 =