◆ SpookStack

Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ETAL. was interviewed at his residence, pringfield, Illinois, on 1943 by Special Agents a 95 BETS SSCA make @ good witness, ne has af intelligence above that of the average miner. He makes a good appearance, and can express himself well. He gave information set forth in the following statement: SO “Springfield, Ill. September 15, 1943 EY name is er I was born in I am now working at e owing statement to W wno have identified themselves to me to a) e Federal Bureau of Investigation. No promises, threats, or consideration of any kind has been made to me to make this statement, "I worked at Mine A off and on four about a: ending in November 1941, I worked at the mine at the he ti_ e that it ciosed for the summer of 1941, At that time, and up until the mine Was sold, there had been no talk about changing unions. I had heard of none at all. Although the men were not entirely satisfied with the way the Progressive Mine Workers were taking care of them, they would have gone back to work as Progressives, and continued to work that way if nothing had happened. I am not sure what happened there to cause the men to change over, I was not seeing the men much in those days. were close friends of mine, and they came to my house on_ night, and ta to me about the situation. JI did not go to any meetings except the meeting at the Elks' Club when the vote was taken to go over to the UMW. As I understand, the men were told that they would have a better chance of getting the mine opened if they joined the Ub. Most of them wanted to get pack to work pretty badly, and I think that is the reason that they changed. "I personally did not care much which union I belonged to. I was a little disgusted with the Progressives at that time, and was willing to go over to the ULW if there was a chance that the mine would open any sooner. That is the reason that I joined the UMV. JI do not know that there was any talk made to the men that ELSHOFF would close the mine down, or that he would not operate with PMW men. I de not know that the men thought that ELSHOFF had anything to do with unions or preferred one over the other, "The night that the vote was taken te change unions, EDRUNSON talked. I cannot remember what it was that was said. I was not interested, and wanted to get home, I knew that they were going UMW and so I did not pay much attention to the details. "I had ridden to the meeting with They were - 384 - 2 te rae ee ee Sateen ashame age anammeebie anaes adil ww