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a) © RE: JOHN L. LEVIS, ET AL. — “ITH On Septombor 14, 19435 ; TEESE = = ppeared to be cooperative prescn we Appecrance o of character and it is not believed that he would be better than a foir witness. it the present time he is and is not working in the mincs. Ho disclaims any criminal record. The following signed statement was cbtained fron "Springfield, Illinois Scptember 14, 1943. "T, Tllincis, de make the following Veluntary statemcor and | nc aerpen ra whom I know to be Spocial Agents cf the Fedcra of Investigation. Nc threats or promises cf any kind have been made to me; I have been tcld I need not make any statemert and that any stutonent 1 do make can be used in Ccurt. *I wos born in I began toe work as a miner in egan tc work at Mine “A in 7 a8 a United Hine worker, In 1932 I changed unions with the majority and became ea wo gressive Mine ‘iorker because I didn't like John L. Lewis and the way he ran the UM. "T first hcard nbcut the sale of Mine "AT to Elshoff through telk- ing to fellow miners. I perscnally didn't like this becauso Mr. Ryan was a gcod employer and e fine fellow to work for. I hid also been satisfied with the Progressive Mine Unicn cs they had fairly represented the miners. I heard the rumor thet the officials of Mine "BY were threatening to operate © Hine "4A" through Mine "B" and also that Elsheff would not operate Kine “a* except threugh United Linc Workers.Union. However, these stories did not influence me tc change over to the United Mine werkers, "I attended tho mccting at the Progressive Hine workors Hall where the sale of liinc “4" wes discussed. I noted that of the wion tock a premincnt part in getting the miners to switch ove the PUA to Ibi. Ho told mc that he ond the Miner's Committee had talked to Elshof_ end that Elshcf_is roported tc havo said that he wouldn't open Mino "4" with the P.M.w. but that he would reopen the mino within 30 days if the men would switch cver to U.L. a. : "I think that ocnditions under tho P.h.A. were botter than they were after Mine “A" wont U.H.w. because we no longor wero free to say whet we wanted and we no longer had a vcte as the U.U.ii. crganization railroade? - 314 - epee mall Tnhlntton : ca a re ene mm gh TS = . rr a EEeneaniaetanatediniedsesanmpetiien aniietetinmndaniasaitentitintte at aiete Deiat . .-