◆ SpookStack

Res JOHN L. LIS, ET AL i Poa Far! LOn O° /R_ = sl) WITH I was working at Mino B on May 12, 1937, but I dontt - know what the true reasons for the strike were. (Continued * a “After the strike was a few weeks old, I recall that I signe? & P,.MeA. petition, At this time I was ir favor of the P.MeA. union. ’ “Sano ti lator, I don't recall the exact date, I signed another petition which IT kad been led to believe was a petition of the Pe ieAs, but it really ras a petition of the U.1.W. At that time I was living at 2029 N. lith Stes Springfieid. T11,., One day two men, whose names I think are Tony }iotch and Jog Alusacse came to my house. In the presenoe of my wife. they asked me if 1 wanted to work at Hine B, They e#aid that I could not get work there wilass I signed the petition which they had, and wh'ch they said they were teking from house to house for all miners to sign. They said they wanted me to sign the hiah +h be A + 4 paper sc the mine could reopen. The paper which they asked ms to sign had the work “progress 72" at the top of the page. The paper was one of a tablet. They talked me into signing th= paper, and I did sign the paper not knowing that theee won we7> reelly in favor of U.M.W., and not in favor of P.M.A., After I had eigned the paper and they left the house, /g I learned from JeyElunbo (PH), who is now dead, that these men were \7 trying to break up the F.M.A. and were for U.MWe me) “In the fall of 1939 I recall that I signed another petition (f Pee, at the office of the P.M.A. At the mine I learned that I had been vA tricked into signing a petition for U.M.W. I did not like this because use || fay at this time I really favored the F.H.A, : “Then T was living abi geeopringfieldys Tll., I recall that Tony Plotoh and Joe Albanese came £0 my house again. They again told me that I would have to eign their paper to get work at Mine B. They told me that if I signed with them my son could also get a Job at Mine B. At tha end of the wask they again returned to ny house, at which tine I signed my name to e paper which looked like a receipt. I knew that this was a membership receipt of the U.LLW., but I really did not want to eign it. The reason I did not want to Sign the Ueil.W. vas because I was in favor of the Progressive Mine Workers of America. I felt that I. had to sign with the U.M.W. in Wow ws order +o get a job at Pine B, which job I needed vols much because I had been on public relief. JI had no choice in the matter. I either had to eign with the U.iL. or go without works "JT don't recell the exsot time or place, but I do remember hearing that some of the money which was received by the U.M.W. from the fines imposed on members for “dirty coal* was boing used to pay trouble makers at Mine Be a ae ee a Rl Ae te oe ee et a ee ee a ee ee, ore oe ee a es