◆ SpookStack

w~2ea of tha voting tally, the ballots were stolen, allegedly at the direction of lewis, whereupon lewis declared an emergency and signed a contract with the Coal Producers Association of Tilinois, assenting to reduction in wages, - The employees at many coal mines in Tilinois, including Mine B at Spring~- field, immediately revolted and formed the Progressive Mine Workers Union. The investigation in this case will show that Mine B is one of the largest and most strategicelly located mines which withdrew from the UMW in 1932, and, moreover, was located at Springfield, Dllincis, which is John L. Lewis? home town. From 1932 to 1937, a battle for supremacy was waged between the PMW and the UMW. This Bureau oonducted an investigation in the Tilinois coal fields during 1936 and 1937, and as a result forty-one persons were 4ndicted u under thse ant 1-Trust Laws, the Anti-Racketesring A aot st conspiracy to obstruct the mails. The majority of these persons were men bers of the PUW Union. Six of the individuals convicted were employees at Mine B, Springfield, Tlincis. C. Placement of Fourteen Spies in the PMW Union by Subject Lewis Prior to the strike which closed Mine B on May 12, 1937, Mine B was a closed shop mine under PMW contract. Investigation to date has definitely proven that twelve individuals were members of the UMW Union and at the same time beld mexbership in the PY Union prior to May 11, 1937. On this date, five of these individuals were expelled from the PAW Union by its members. The PMN Union demanded that Elshoff fire these five indi- widmals on Key 12, 1937; bowever, he and the Superintendent of line B, Gecar Falcetti, refused to comply with this demand, whereupon a general strike was called. at Mine B that the PMW Union was signing a contract ct with Elshoff without getting retroactive wages, which had been promised to the miners. These allegations were false and were apparently circulated by the so-called “spies” in an effort to cause dissatisfaction. Several of the expelled spies, upon interview, admitted belonging secretly to the UMW and attezpting to organize for that Union while being members of the PMA Union. QD. Refusal by Elshoff to Bargain with the PMW Union and Attempts to Open Mine B Using Only UMW Employees Investigation to date has uncovered & great deal of evidence teni- ing to show that Elahoff refused to negotiate or sign a contract with the PMW Union and he rather openly made known his preference for the TMW Union. Several individusls were interviewed who will be able to testify that Elshoff atated he would never sign «# contract with the PW Union. On July 29, 1937, a local unit of the UMW Union was chartered at Mine B by the national organization. This group apparently consisted of es |