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+ ¥ tee os ie 7 ir -eS r 2 a: Fe: JOH L, LETIS, ET AL DQPeENWIN VT To support this contention the United Mine Workers JOHN BERTHA pointed out that the Progressives performed certain (continued) manual labor relative to setting up equipment in the Armory for holding the election. Mr. BERTHA stated that the United Mine Workers were also ‘requested to assist in this matter but that they refused. According to custom this work was generally done by one or both of the participants in the election. . Relative to the seven men, former employees of Mine B who were on trial in the mine bombing case,Mr. BERTHA advieed that specific arrange- ments were made with the U.S. District Attorney and the Federal Court to permit these men to vote. There was no question but what they were employees at the time that the mine shut down May 12, 1937. So far as be knew kr. BERTEA stated that there was no criticism whatsoever. THW charged that the Progressives carried some of their members to the polls in automobiles. Undoubtedly, this was true. However, Mr. BERTHA pointed out that UM had an equal opportunity to take their members to vote at the polls also and that there was no evidence of coercion in that respect. Mr. BERTHA stated that it was significant to him that these charges by Cur were not brought locally. He and BAJORE had a felling throughout | | | \ \ the entire proceedings that the company under Elshoff and the UM was i simply stalling for time and that in this respect they were perhaps bein | | | assisted by National officials of the Labor Board at Washington, D.C. 4 The ¢ n made_at that definitely pro “E10 and Kir. pauses was inclined to true. The charges by ine Workers were never brought locally but the first that he heard of ‘them was from his headquarters in Yashington, D.C. He had the feeling that in Springfield 1 he and BAJORK were dealing first hand with the Progressives. However, with the United Mine Workers he felt that EDMUNDSON referred all of his ideas and objections to the Washington Headquarters of the United Mine Workers who in turn took it up with the Labor Board:there and eventually he was called by the Labor Board regarding these matters. Mr. BERTHA stated that when he first arrived in Springfield and reviewed the situation he immediately asked for an election and in fact repeated this advis@ many times to the Labor Board which was unusually slow in acting whereas generally in matters of this sort the Labor Board acts at least within 90 days. However, on this occasion it was six months before the Labor Board actually certified the electicn. Mr. BERTHA was present at the National Labor Board hearing in Chicago, Illinois on September 8, 1937 at which time representatives of both PLA and UMK were present. At al] fimes the Progressive produced evidanee showing that they held the majority of the memberg at Mine B. ; SO - eel - gs di Re