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6 Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL bic 470 NTERVIEW WITH ay was interviewed at his home in om eld, nois, by Special Agents aa. i) oe and on August 3 30, 1943. No * 2al a= ot was taken inasmuch as he appeared nostile toward any interrogation at outset of the interview. He expressed complete ignorance of this inveati- gation but stated he began workine in the Coal Mines when he was years old and at that time he joined U.M.W.A. He stated he was working at tle old Sangamon Mine in 1922, when the P.M.A. was organized and that he joined the P.M.A. only to hold his job at this mine. He stated his memory was bad but recalled that he was out of work for two or three years after he joined r.M.a. He stated he went to work at Mine "5" sometime prior to the strike in 1937. He said he thought th: strike was called because P. M.A. wanted to get rid of Lewis. He denied ever talking to any of the miners about joining a wnion or of the U.M.7.A. trying to get him to change from P.MLA. when the new U.N.W.A. Local was formed. He did say though, he joined U.N.#.A. shortly after the mine opened so he could hold his job. He could not recall signing any petitions of either union at any time. It should be noted here that he later said he csuld not recall anything about the strike or any other strike at Mine "7", at which time he also refused to talk to agents as he said he was not on trial and if agents wished to talk to him they could arrest him. He said he did not like any unions and they were tne — - all "rackets" and were operated only for the officials. 2-3 =356 = Sg ere a a nr N= A ee, Te rg SR Re