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k z RR RRR Fee OTT Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL ner Errererre 1 Illinois, was interviewed at his residence on September br Special agents is amployed as a dizper by the Tilinois. Ho sveaks ard wndcrstands Enclish well, but he igs not very intsliigent and Wows new make a satisfactory witnuss. Bras born as GEE and stated he has nover been arrested. QA furnished the following signed statement: Tll. Sept. 14, 1943 "I, Tid. p- e following ~ voluntary statcment to whom I know to be Special apints of th: Feders eau of investigation. I make it without fcar of thraat, force or promisc of any kind. "I was born gn I am presently employed as a dinger at the Ill, I first started working in coal mines when 4 ; dll. I joined the United Mine Workers of america Union in I first started to work at the Mins "A" in Springficld in about 1936. Iwas then a member of the Progressive Mine Workers of america Union. JI had join_ Pils in 1932 because the whole local went PMA from UMy. I did not work in the mincs from 1932 to 1936. - "J liked the Pla and wes satisfied with it. I thought it was an honest wiion. "In the fall of 1941 I read and heard that Elshoff bought Mine ‘Aa" from Ryan. The felloss from PKA wip_I talked to felt that Elshoff would nat operste Minc "1" exccpt under Ui. Bscause of the troubls there had been at Mince "2", I felt wa would have to join UL if we wanted to work at Hine "4". I never heard anything about anyone saying that the company ~ould operate Fine "A" thru iiine "B". I heard the PHA men say if we did not join Wa’ we would not get our jobs bick and I did not went to be out of a job. "No one from Ui’ tricd to get m to join UM, and no one frea the company told m I would have to join Ui to work at Hine "A", | I didn't know there were sny union meetings after tho minc was bought by Elshoff until I reac in th. pip:r that there was going to be a meeting at the Elks Club in Springfield on a Sunday. as was in charge of this meeting. 4ll the men’ - 482 - i ee ee ee ae ideumiemn dine adaneatammate dimen teaceietemdninamattettien adiemmmecienl tenia