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RE: JOHN L. LEVIS, ET AL INTERVIEN WITH BP arLerpoon Of Seprembper 13, 1943, by Special & ie: make a fair witness due to his average ability to express himse anc bc understood. He gave information set forth in the following signed statement: . + “Springfield, T11 September 135, 1943, Ae "My nano ie MIMD ves born ‘AS 2 @ © I am now an “merican citezo rough my father. I make the following state~ - selves to trai, Bburoau of Investigation. No. promises, threats, or consideration of any kind has beon mado to me to make this statement. It is sl11 true and accurate. "I wont to work at Mine A in 1935 or_1936. I worked there until about February of 1943. I am now employed at When I went to Mine A I was a mambor of the Progressive Mino Workers o erica. I joined tho Unitee Mine Workers in 1941 when ELSHOFF bought the mine and it was reoponed, because I wanted to work. - "Until the timc that I heard that ELSHOFF had bought Mine A, I heard no talk about changing unions, or any disatisfaction with the Progressive Mine Workers of America. There were same mectings about tho change of ownership and what we would heve to do about it. I went to a couple of meetings at the Progressive Hall, but did not go to eny other meetings. As I understand and remember, we wore told that they were going to take the coal out of Mine A through Mine B. They told us that they would close Mino A and mot open it unless we would join the Uiiw. a: the one who did most of tho talking and said this at tho meetings attended. "I did not go to the mecting when they voted to join the UMN. I did not went to becomc a member of the UMY, and did not go back tc work at the Mine for about two weeks after it was reopened bocause I did not want to join the UMY. However, I finally joined the UMN beenuse I wanted to work. "After the mine reopened thore wns 4 lot of things that wont on out thore. They triod to get those of us who were still strongly Pit to quit, and gave us poor rooms, “docked” us, and had difforont woights. They also f threatendod us, and fined us 41] the time or threatened to fino us for every- "I steycd at Mine 4 until I could got another job ot a Progrossive - $386 - Ce (ieee alerted oie Katies eden PT eG a —AP A SnS —A —