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a ee ae ri . . me a * - : - es = . _ Re: JOFN L, LEWIS, PT AL os / pati ie * . i. A : 40 é vas interviewed at his home, OR = Springfield, Illinois, on the aft } = oa — ~ Special Agente peiiiie : oe pees ae a : ie 8 naoturealica Mord oan Te Be is presently employed was quite definite in : \\ . his statement. He does not recall the dc Te what happened at the mine nA 4 ané apparently was not too interested, mainly just wanting to work, He is a Vv an aggressive sort of individual and would not raver on cross-examination, x re requested one statement to be deleted from his signed statement bccause he did not want anyonc to have the idea that anyone would think that any Py member of the Progressiva hino Sorkers would threaten or cause any violence. N Ec: spcaks good English, is easy to understand and would mako a good witnesra ‘ Ue filin es tak in covery particular except that he docs not have moh information of value. Upon interview he executcd the following signed stutomont: ; "Springfield, Ohio ae : August 26, 1945. om make the following statement to » who have identified themselves reau of Investigation. No promises, statouont, ‘It is true and aceurate and I am willing to appear in court if necessary snd make this atetment again, sila "I first was employed at ths }ine B two or three years before 1932. “thon I first was employed there I belonged to the United Mine Workers because J] had to belong in order te work. In 1932 there was trouble and I sent over to the Progr: ussive Ming “orkers because that was what all the recat of the mcn at ‘ins B did. I had not objection to the United Mine ‘orkers thon, but I had no objection to joining tho Progressive Mine *orkers. Both Unions treated mo alright, and I would belong to cither one in order to work, I joined the Frogressivcs becausc the majority of the men at Hine B joincd. Thors was no trouble at the mino with the Progressives so far as I imow. I was viry satisfied with the Progrcssive Union. They wera s fine bunch of men, I am still 2 mumbcr of the Frogressive Mince Vorkors, “hen I was ot ine B I used to go to the Union mectings of the FMY regularly. For a while J ves coor keeper at the union mectings. Most of men “vhen to 211 the meetings. I do not r:eall how many thers were, but therc were quito _ a crowd at many of the meetings, There were so many at the mectings because the men were interested in «hat wes going on. There was no disatisfaction with the way the Union wes being run. —_ "On the day the atrikc started I was working on the track below. I hed not heard of any trouble, and was surprised when somncone came down - 197 ~