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CO. O Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET Ali bIC- bID INTERVICW WITH WEEE vias interviewed at his residence, pringfield, Illinois, by Special er Tlinois, He says he Ras no > criminal record, S presently employed at a He widerstands English fairly well, speaks English brokenly, but appears to have a good memory and thinks coherently. It is felt he would make a fair witness, The following signed statement was obtained from GiNCI. "Springfield, i721, ofring voluntary state= ment te whom I know to be Special «zante os he — Borcau o astigation & make it without fear of threat; force or promise of any kind, svarted working 1n coal mines in Spring- field, and I joined the United Mine Workers of america union in I stayed a UMT witil 1932 whon the Thar went Progressive, is joined the Progressive Mine Wi of Y america and I became PMs in 1932, "In Qs started working for Mine tt, : When the Puli was organized in 1932 I joined it because the majority of our local wanted to and it didn't make any dif- ferenee whethcr I was UMW or PMi. I took no active part in the organizing of PMA. wine Dan ‘During the time betwoen 1932 to 1937 I did not notice that the company, Elshoff, or Oscar Falectti favored either PA. or UT. During this time I noticed no attempts of - UM to organize in Mine 'B' and no one ever tried to get me to join UM/ during this timc, I thought PMi was a good union and 1 did not think any onc in Phi was crooked hought PM, was an honest union "Between 1932 and 1937 I nover saw any offort by UMY to pickc*.- i organize or distribute literature at Mine 'B!. = 293 =