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Re: JOCN L. LEWIS, ET at IPTORVIEW WITE eects gacpermimrmenasisey Springfield, Tllinois, PF was jointly interviewed by opec oot: AT an} EM, 2. -o-idence on September [5, . he witlinegd, answered RR to nim, and he indicated he would be willing to testify. Eccnauess of his age, is not mentally alert and generally w7uld not make e good witness. He Furnished the following signed statement: “Springfield, Illinois September 15, 1943 ", BR the following voluntary statement to rT os . ——————— es I mov to be Special Agente of the Federal Fureau of Investigation, U. 5. Departmert cof Justite. "I resije e presently unemployed, Springfield, Illinois. I am I was last employed at Mine A, and I stepped working because of physical disability. I was born in I arrived in the United States jin and I became &@ na G Closzen at Springfield, Illinois i "The first mine union I joined was the United line “orkers of America, referred to hereinafter as the UM’, at I worked as a member of thc UM in the State of Iilinois About I went to work in minc A and worked there until "In a932, I was working at Mine A and joinod the Progressive Mine Workers of America, referred to hereinaftcr as the PMA. I joined when the majority voted that way. It did not make any difference to me which union had the bargaining rights, Aft2r I joined the PMA in 1932, I was satisfied. "In 1941, I first learned in the nowspaper that Elshoff had purchased Minc A. I was glad he bought it, because it had been closed all summer, and I wanted to go beck to work. Mo on* asked mc to join the UMT at this time. The working conditions hac been satisfactory in Hine A under the FMA. "Tl heard a rumor that Elshoff might operate Mine A through Nine B, but did not know if he would, and it did not make any difference to me, I also heard a rumor that Lklshoff might open Mine A upon the condition that the mincrs would join the UMi. I did not know if it was true, but I was in favor of joining Tify to ect some money. "The only PMA meeting I attended when Mine A miners swung over to the UM’ was at the Flks Club on a Sunday. Some of the miners told me about the meeting. The fire boss at the mine, (phonetic), presided at the meeting at the Elks club, They hac o door keeper and no one got in except PMA members of the local. A vote was taken as soon as the mecting = 507 - (ne Soa Slhayt ep ramoe es oT ees 2 Pe