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STRRERTT e TR = Fe: JOHN L. LOWIS, ET AL TERI: WITH jointly interviewed Poe oa and _— at his Fie oo I oo cared to’ Tilinois on September 15, 1943. He speaks appeared to have little understandiug of the pertinent issues involved in this case. His appearance is poor. ae vould be Veena to testify to the facts as set ] stat ar. forth in the "Springfield, Dlinois September 15, 1943 ay make the following voluntary statement to an , thom I know to be Special Agents of r ureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice. I reside at es Syring? teld, Tl. 7 da an ; as a et ——, I ¥as born nf, ived in the United States i Iwas Natu ze chile I was in the Army. I started nz H 42. 734 and have worked there continuously ever since, The first mine union I ever joined tas the United Hine Yorkers of America, referred to hereinafter as the UM:, at the Peabody Mine, which — is nov mine #59, at Springfield, Til. in I was forking at that mine in 1932 as a nenber of the U., when that mine closed on strike. The men voted for the Progressive jiine l.orkers of America, referred to here- inafter as the Ptia, and 1 voted for the PIA with the majority of the miners, This mine dad not open, so I tent over to IMine A and Forked as 4 member of the PIA. Jt did not make any difference to me vhich union I belonzed to, just so I could vrork. After I joined the Pla, I liked that union. "J first heard that dleshoff had bought Nine A in 1941 from the newspapers and later, ir. Ryan sent me a letter saying he had sold this mine, ‘hen I heard this, it did not make any difference to me vho owned the mine, or vho tas operating it. ™ hen I vorked in line A under the PHA I was satisfied. No one contacted mc about joining the UI), I did not attend many union moetings. I did not hear that Elshoff might operate Mine A through Hine B, or that he would open it if the men joined the Uf. Even if this was true, it rould make no difference to me. J know that if I domy work, I will get my pay. "In September, 1941, when the niners at mine A vere discussing joining the UF, I attended two meetings, one at the PMA Hall and one at the Elks Club. I learned of the meetings through the newspapers. - 345 = ne nr ea ie ne ce, egal ae mr line Alar i A "4 oe : :