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Lae at IT C | O Re: JOM L. LEWIS, ET AL INTIRVID. TITH "st the Elks Club meoting we explained to the mon what had happened. ‘se had previcusly seen Edmundson and he hac said he would be zilad t> hove us return. Te told the mon what Folsett and Edmundson had told us anc that Edmundson was in town and would come up and talk to us, this was after the vote ts return to U.K... this was a standing vote and there wos not o on. against it, Another fellow and I vent down and asked Edmundson to como up which he dic. He gave a short talk and told the men when they came over to U.lienve he would do 211 he could to keep Eine A going. "The men were zivan carcs for the U.u.., that night so thoy would f rs : . ow miny members wo hac, That same evening Union officers were elected er on I think we went over t.1 Edcmincsons effico an” wore sworn in, iar - Pp ct Oo Edrmuncson that nicht wo askod him if he ecsulin't cet the mine opened right away, he tol¢ us that he would see if he could get in touch with him. We then went to tho Leland anc hac ¢: cr and then over to Elshoffts office where we waited until he ¢ came down. I cont know how Edmundson rot in touch ah Ptetawoe mA Agr Teh a with Elshoff. Edmundson explainc? to Ulshoff that the men wanted to ao over to U.'0. and ho wanted Elshoff to sign a contract. Elshoff saic he didntt want ts siztn until he kmew the men had made up their mind and wouldn't change back te F.M.A, and I both told Dlshoff thet we had over 240 at the meeting and mc mat 12 others on tho strect and they had signed up. “oe told him he noces not warry that there would be no trouble, “e waited till aftcr 12 midnite before sizning a contract as Dlshoff didn't want to sign cn Sunday. YT dont kmow of their being anythin; spociol about this contract. The mine cpened in about o week aftcr this, All tho mon joined the U.H... of thoir own free will, The men joined to keep Vine A from being shut cown anc to get away from the hizh P.ti.a,. duos. I don't recall anything about any letter invitins the Minc "A" mon to join the U.U.7, It is possible to oporate Minc "A" thr ough the shaft of “ino "B" and at one time they actually started t. tunneling and went about 40 fect anc stopped. I heard n-thinz about where Elshoff got the monoy to buy Mine “A". I nevor received one penny far anything I did in rogards to this mttcr. Ny intorost was just to keep Mino A seine and to keop a job for myself and the other men. "I have had Azont{mms rcad this 9 paso handwritten statement to me. It is to the best of my Me isetce and belief o11 the truth and just as I] havo told it to tho atents, I am sicning this of my own free will, "Sioned ee: / + - — | ot ae ae ee Spec. Apt. F.BoI. (Milv.) Special Agent, F.Bele, St. Paul, Minn. *“Sprinzficid, Ill. ee on oe Sept, io, 1948 ,* ee