◆ SpookStack

Ret JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL INTERVIE.. VITH “J don't remember anything about a meeting the night before the mine shut down, Wher I went to work on May 12, 1937 I did continyed ) not know there was to be any strike. J did not know anything about it wotil they called us out just before quitting time. I can't say what the strike was for. I did not load any cars short but I did not load any that way and no one told m to load any short. I don't remember whether P.M.A. picketed the mine at this time or not. I recall sign- ing a petition for P.M.A. night after the mine closed. No one forced me to sign_ I did it of my own free will because I was for the Progressives. I did not sign any petition for U.M.W. and I don't remember any P.M.A. petition in the fall of 1937. "During the summer of 1937 I read in the paper that U.M.W. was forming a local in Springfield, no one contacted me to join, "I don't recall anythins clse unusual happening during the summer & Fell of 1937. Vhen they reopened the mine in the fall of 1937, I did not go out the first day I think I went the 2nd day. During the sit-down I was there part of the time. I was there of my own free will no one forced m to go. The strike was peaceful and the men there were all local men. “We where there to protect our jobs and the property. JI don't think I was at th mine the night the Marshall came over and ordered us off. after this I never went back to Mine B until it 2spened for good. I did not go there in Dec. 1937 or Jan. 1938. "I voted at the first N.L.R.E. election I voted the way I wanted, no one forcedme to vote. I voted for the Progressives because I wis with the: It looked to me like it was a straight election. The P.M.a. won this electic. I don't know why Elshoff would not make a contract with us. I don't know where Elshoff got the money to keep the mine closed. I never heard a thing about Elshoff owning or anyone from bine B going to work at the Jefferson Mine. then the Mine opened in the fall of 1939 I got a letter telling me to come back towork. I went there the next day and they put my name on the list as my section was not ready. In a few days they called me back. I understood at the time the miners were to get the regular Progress . ive wage scale. When we went back to the mine towork it was in bad shape_ tots of cave ins. I had not heard of any fire there while it ws closed. When I went back I paid dues to P.M.A. Fron the time I went to work until I joined the U.M.W. some fellow asked me what I thought about 2 unions at the mine I told him I did not think it was right, it shouldbe one way or the other. He did not ask me to join U.k.W. No one ever came to my home or bothered me to join U.M.¥. When I saw most of the men were joining the DNL. I joined to. I think I joined before the 2nd N.L.R.B. election. I joined - 83 «-