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1d WENDELL BERGE C : ~ @ASIRETANT ATTORNEY Gann. ern -~ — aa SO a hi gf COFFIN, ~ Moa ; Miashingion ~ Oy e wt Bee SON r Rae OPIES DESTROYED a R421 JAN 15 1962 gep- Yao yt July 24 1943/, My memorandum to you dated July 20, 1943, which you have approved, recommended full and complete investigation into charges that John L. Lewis, Ray Edmondson, and Walter 7, James, officials of the Tnited Mine Workers of America, and Gar) H, HYishoff, omer of Mine "B", Springfield, Iilinole, conspired during the years 1957 to 1941, in wiolation of Section 51, Title 18, United States Code, to injure and oppress Elahoff's exployees in the free exercise of the rights secured to thea by the National Labor Relations Act. The present memorandum outlines the scope of the investigation and the precise in- quiries desired. It is designed for transmittal by you to the Director of the Fedsral Bureau of Investigation. Attached t emorandum of July 20 and f ose will suffice to give the Director a Somprehensive background of fact. The legal aspects of the offense to be investigated are set forth on pages one end two of the memorandum of July 80. BASIC OBJECT OF THE INQUIRY It is established that the three union officials named above paid, and that Eishoff, a min received suns eta a near eciiaaeilataiiiltes «:-: period when the Duivted bine Workers of America Were engaged in a bitter, and finally evccessful, struggle to wrest contrel ef Mine "B" from its rival union, the Progressive Mine workers of Anori¢a. ; The basic object of the investigation will be to as- certain whether these payments were made and received with en 4ntent to induce Elshoff to impose unfeir labor practices on his employees, members of the Progressive Union. RELATED INVESTIGATIONS HERETOFORE CONDUCTED 1. 1934-1957: Comprehensive investigation by the Fed- eral Bureau of Investigation into indvetrial strife in Illinois fe eT woe