◆ SpookStack

Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL. INTERVIEW WITH minen the operator tried to open the mine in EE September, 1937 I went out to the mine but the PMA Continued) miners would not work because the Ulie miners, about twenty five in all, went down in the mine to work. i ku.cw the mine was going to try to open that day from the notice in the T: "inen the mine did open in November, 1939 I went back to work at Mine B. & week or two after 1 started workin came to my room in the mne where I was digging coal. He asked me if I wanted to join the UM/. I said no. JI was working on the open shop basis and I did not have to pay dues and I did not want to pay dues to any union. said I had to pay dues to one of the unions. He said that when there was a vote I had better sign for UM and not the Pl, because the Tee has a lot of money. We Nee Ch bak et cone -_ "a day or two later, Big George, whose name I do not know, came to my room in the mine and asked me if I wanted to join UM/. I said no. Big George said I'd better join Ulfi or some day I would 'get something good,' "On January 16, 1941, Big George came to me and asked me agein if I wanted to join Ul. I saidno. He said, tsuit yourself, care thw ese TA 1 some of these days you will get it.! "The next morning I went te the mine wash house to put on my work clothcs. and Bowlinggreen were hiding in a small hallway in connection vatn the wash house and when I went into this haliwa “wags on one side and 3owlinggreen was on the other. when I went in ween them they both hit me with their fists I think they had brass knuckles on their hands as it felt like that, but T did not sec the brass knuckles, I started yelling and a deputy sheriff who was the step-brother of the man who was sheriff at that time stopped these men and I believe he put them in jail wnder a bond. “Palcetti told me to go to the company doctor Whose name wis Deal and the company would pay the bill. After three days the doc~ tor told mc the company would not pay the bill so I did not go again. eh, The doctor sent me three bilis. _ and Bowlinggreen had cut my lip, and had kicked me. The doctor put four stitches in my lip. "pout a month after I was bcaten I went back to the mine to get my tools. aT told me 1 could not go down into 2h aa Tose ry Tris T did not tel 11 hi I was the mine wiless 7 signed With tne Umar. a #7 nlm - 75 «