◆ SpookStack

RE: JOHN L. LEVIS, ET ob was interviewed at his residense, Springfield, Illinois, by Spe- nd nm iia eek wITH Et ci gente September 7, 1943 ‘ae ::: born in He sturted working at Mine "B” in the summer © ¢ : of union activity et Mine "B". He understands and speaks English well. | advised thet when « young man he was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge for being drunk, and spent severel days in jafl. “Soringfield, lll. fant 7 1943 = wuple tg a0 eu "I, , Springfield, Ii1., make the following voluntary stetement to and cere whom I know to be Special Agents of the Federel Buresu of Investigation. make it without fear of threat, force or pramise of any kind. "I wes born in working in coal mines joined the United Mine “orkers of America Uni UMN ever since. I have never been e member o I first started , when I first en «a member of any other union. Mm oO "For ebout yeers before the summer of 1940 I didn't work and in the s Springfield, Tll., cannot spell, ‘ riend of mine, sen where 1 wes living on a ferm, thet Mine "5" wes hiring a would get a job. So I ceme up to Springfield and went to work in Mine "B". No one ever seid anything rbout me working there because I was UMW. I've been working at Mine "B" ever since. "During the time I have been employed at Mine "B" I heve never seen any efforts on the part of either Udi or Phi, the Progressive Union, to organ- ize ct Mine "B", Beck in 1940 I heerd there were some fights, but I never heve geen any. "I remember voting in a Netional Lebor Reletions Board election in Feb. of 1942 when UMW beat PMA. I wes not forced or threatened in any way end I believe it was a fair election. "I have never held an office in eny local] aroun Springfield, and I do not false any interest in union activities ond I attend very fow UMW meet~ ings. "I think the UMY is the best org¢nizotion in the world, altho I do jeve some of the officials are not true to the orginization. I would not work in the mines under any other union. - 200-