◆ SpookStack

Re: JOHN L. LEVIS, ETAL. On September 15, 1943 Special Agents and Wea illinois; at the time LK ro) é interview advised that he did not understand “Inglish well and the interview Was conducted through nis cm ampere advised that he had no criminal record; he was entireiy cooperative Bu ew Vv. little of what went on during the pertinent period. It is felt that is an honest and reliable person but that he could be used as a witness only if he had an interpreter. Agents obtained from him the following signed statement: — — = Sept. 15, 1943. nT give the following information a and who have 1aentified themselves as being Special agents of the F.B.T. can't understand English very well 2: Ty is acting as interpreter and this information is true to the best of my Pf knowledgc. I was born in & I came to the U.S. in & became a citizen 2 gjoipe eheAe in 1932 as I felt it was best union. I worked a_ Mine «4 | ES [ee & quit around 1943 and am now at Panther Creek #5 as P.M... is th€re & I like them, I rea in paper that ELSHOFF bot Mine 4 & I also gct a letter later from Mir. RYAN about 2 years ago. I thot that we would not be able to go to work there as the men talked t'is wey and they also talked that it would close unless it went over to U.l .. I believed that & then we had not worked for some time. We also knew .. Mine B trouble & didn't want that to happen to Mine A so local joined over to U.K.W. Jobs were scarce then too. When WYN was there PMA. got along fine with him & I was satisfied as I liked P.M.A. better. I also read in the papers that Mine B would take coal out from Mine A unless it went over to U.K.W. I also heard it from other miners & we were told it too at a meeting but I don't recall which onc it was. I felt like the others did and we all necded a job and we signed over so we could go to work. I went toa meeting on a Sunday at Elks Club when we signed up & also went to another one but I can't recall where it was held at. At the first meeting I went to there was no fights or trouble & we all wanted a job then & didn't want any trouble. T —eawd «af he mon ” Fase’ I heard of the meetings from others. They passed the hat too to pay for the halls. At meeting on Sunday we voted over to U.M.W, RAY EDMUNDSON also spoke to us after the officers were elected. aes new local. =: charge of meeting. Every lgned up right away to U.M.W. at the meeting. There was nothing else we could do as I had to go to work & didn't want the same trouble at Kine 4 like they hed at Mine B. We had no choice ~ we had to join or quit our jobs then as jobs were scarce then. I was not on any committee & I never went to office of ELSHOFF or EDMUNDSON. Since 1941 under U.M.W. at Line A things were same as under P.M.A. before. I have had Agent Say read to me an Gnas this three (3) page * - SBT = Spt nga he RO ne OT En oem nt, Age PROBE ETT ee Temes war