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Re; JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL. lo} Ce bap VIEW WITH ay Birney _ at Tiinois, was — at his home on August 31, 1943, by Special Agents makes a very good appearance and aooeee wery good English, with a slight QMMMBaccent. He gave his informatian , freely and voluntarily to the extent of his mowledge. It is believed that he would make a very good witness, He claimed to have no criminal record, is employed J € owing e ment was ottained from z a “ "Springfield, Tli. august 31, 1943 "I, make the following volimtary statement whom IT kno to he Snecial a ' = — — = FT, tigation, of my own * free will, with no force or duress used, and no promises made me. Springfield, Til. and came to J became @ naturalized citizen in "I presently live at I was bern the United federal court, ®T joined the United Mine Workers in Springfield in | and was a member of such union wtil 1932 when I joined the Progressive Wine Workers of America, I remained a member of this union mtil 1941, when I rejoined the U.U.W., when they signed a closed shop” agreement with the management of Mine B, ®] began work at Hine B in F | and worked there until 1942, with the exception of the time we were on strike. ee "Y did not take an active part in organizing the P.M.A. I just went along with the men. After its organization I attended several of the meetings. J was very well satisfied with the P.M.A., for it was rum by clean, honest men. The men running the P.M,A. tried to do what was right and best for the nen, and always gave a full explanation of all special assessments, The relations between the union and the management of Mine B, until 1937, were entirely satisfactory as far as I know. "T do not know of any activity on the part of U.M.W. agitators prior to the strike in 1937. I do know that no one tried to get me to join the U.M.u. before the strike. The night before the strike, in May of 1937, I remember attending a union meeting. I don't remember how [ - 407 « ' : re eRe am Re Se ane emer, ate ee age oS OE ee