◆ SpookStack

gee. OE 1. TaWwIS, ET AL ee veprarrerarn ee FP inois, was interview $5 residen ce on September 17, 1943 by Special agents yy | ae... as 4 divver at Mine "Lh", He was born . orks as a digger ss to the U. S. in mB: became a U. S. citizen in at opringticid, Tilinots. He does not speak or umerstand English very we and would make an unsatisfactory witness. He advised he has never been arrested, FY furnished the following signed statement: "Springfield, Ill. Sept. 17, 1943 ield "I, >» Spri 1i., make the following voluntary statcment to an -whom I know to be Special aunts of t eau of Investifation. make it without fear of threat, foree or promise of any kind. I "T am employed as a digzer at Hine "..". I was born in came to the U.S, in and became a U5. citigen 1n I became @ member of UMW in I started to work in Minc *a®, Springficld, in about In 1932 IT joined the Progrcssive Union bccause we did not want tne reduction in wae scale which UMF wantcd to give us. No one forced or threatcued me in any way. "In early fell of 1941 I rcad in the paper that Ryan sold Mine "A" to Elshoff. at a PY. meetin, rizht at that oc, QI 22 us that RY.i had said Elshoff said if we wont ULE, Elshoff would opon Mine %." and if we did not the coal could bu hculed from Mine "A" thru Mine "B", No one from UM! or the Compeny told us we would have to join UM and no one forecd or threatcned me in any.wey to join UMy, I felt if I wentcd to work at Mine "A" I would huve to join UMW. It mede no difference to me if I was iHA or UM, just so I could keep my job. This first PMA meeting was at the Phi. lieve Scpt. 13,1941, I went to a Meeting at the Elks Club where wo votid to join » and right after the meetins I sizned up With UM. Th: committee told us at this mecting that they had seen Elshoff who said if we sould zo UMW the mine would open. I joined UM bocause I wunted my job. Edmundson tilked to us und welcomed us to UN». hall, and then on Sunday, I be- "T notice no difference at Mince "4" under UMW or PM. except PHA could settle things with the committee, but UMY has to go to hizhr officials bu I do not carewhich I bwlongz to, just so I work. ba | re