◆ SpookStack

te Ne me el, al et tt at nee i ; CO ELE RT OE ET Re: JOAN L. LEWIS, ET AL } ine - = ” “72° bap "TI do not recall any slow-downs or: stoppages at this time, but the 12 above mentioned U LW in Mine "B* tried to convert P. members into U ki W membership. "I felt that the actinne of the above named twelve riners con- sisted of attenpting to recruit members of P Kk W however I do} not know any threats or promises were made b these twelve men. "Y understand the operators of Mine B clained they had no existing contract with P UW owith retroactive pay. I understand that new contracts were orecented to the operators by P UW officials, but the operator refused to Sign. P&M WwW officials claimed that they were "stalled-off" by operators of Mine *B", I dic not attend the P EW meeting held on the nisht of May 11, 1937. Jo was told bv i Mw miners that this was an cmergency meeting. I , was invited to this meetins & I believe the other P Mw miners were irwited. I mer by word of mouth & I ocleve the ovher P 4 miners knaw in the same nanner about the attempted dischar~c ~u1.. the actual expulsion from P Ue of the 12 men namd above, "T believe all of the P LW members wanted the expulsion and dis- cuarge of these men and as a metter of fact I recall that the feeling for this movenent ran high in the mine on May 12, 1937. Durinz fais time I was working below the surface "pullinz coal® and I know that ‘coal dars were coming up short, which I understood from conversation hac with piners was duc to the fact that the above 12 men vere still being purmitted to_ work, and not because of any wage problems, : NAll dey on May 12, 1937 I noticed a groring indication of a strike threat. I believe the miners struck because the above mentioned) | 12 mcn were still emploved & not because of wage troubles. ®t sioned the petition of Mey 26, 1937. In regard to sizing this petition I was contacted at the headquarters of P MW at 6th & Washington Streets, Springfield, T1l, by a member of P MF who ask if I would be wiliing to sign it. E *T knov of no UKM petition which was made up in the Summer of Poe 1937. I know of no other petiti n presented in the sumer of 1937 which ¥ referred to the miners returning to work regardless of the pnion under aa which they vould work, I have never been thrvatencd in connection with union or mine matters, . : On Sept. 27, 1937 I went to Mine "B" te vars arriving there at : 6:30 A. M, however r notlegd § ot Y formed &, I was teld L 7 and Glens Stuff folbcd® not the prove. I was not threate ened by Fr . x o EO om Tene it} ae ‘ T officials or representatives.