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% ~ 2~ In general, the above mentioned 79 individuals advised that the Progressive Mine Workers of America was formed at Mine B, Springfield, Illinois, in 1932 due to the fact that lewis attempted to impose a lower wage scale on the miners. In general, #11 of these individuals agreed that conditions were rather quiet and employee—employer relations good at ‘atine B until shortly before May of 1937. At this time it was discovered that a number of members of the Progressive Mine Workers at Mine B were actually spies for the United Mine Workers Union and were on the latter's pay roll. Many of the miners interviewed will be able to testify .that they attended a pit grievance committee meeting at Mine B on the evening of May 11, 1937, at which time five alleged spies were expelied from the Progressive Vine Workers Union. Thereafter, the Union insisted that Elshoff fire these five expelled individuals, and when Elshoff and the Mine officials refused to discharge these individuals, a strike was called on May 12, 1937. Most of the 79 individuals mentioned above will testify that they were at that time and still are in favor of the Progressive Mine Workers (Union; how- ever, after May of 1937 it appeared that Elshoff was definitely in favor of the United Mine Workers Union and would not cooperate in any way in attenpt~ ing to get the Mine back into operation. A mumber of the men stated that Elshoff received money from John L. Lewis in order to pay the expense of the Mine during the time it was closed down; however, few of the miners have anything but hearsay evidence in this regard. INTERVIEWS REGARDING PURCHASE OF MINE A BY ELSHOFF IN 1941 FOR THE UNITED MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA * In the fall of 1941, Carl] H. Elshoff, owner of Mine B,purchased Mine A, which adjoins Mine B,from Mr. William H. Ryan for the sum of $60,000 paid in cash. It was alleged that this money was supplied directly by the United Mine Workers of America and that Elshoff was merely acting as a front in order that the UMW might take over Mine A, which was controlled by the Prorpressive Mine Workere Union, Mr. William H. Ryan, upon interview, tended to substantiate the ebove allegation and stated that prior to the consum- mation of the sale of Mine A, it became apparent that Elshoff was merely acting as a front for John L. Lewis. In this cormection, Mr. Robert C. Solomon, President of tha Panther Creek Coal Mines, Springfield, Illinois, stated that in the sarly part of 1942, Elshoff attempted to purchase the Panther Creek Mines for $400,000 cash. Mr. Solomon stated that although the deal fell through, it was a matter of common knowledge that Elshoff had no money of his gan and would be financed by the UMW of America. It is of interest to note that Mr. Kyan stated that early in 1937, Ray Edmundson, a subject in this case and President of the UMW Local in Springfield, approached him with @ proposition to freeze the Progressive Mine Workers Union out of Mine A. Mr. Ryan advisec he turned this proposi- tion down flatly. ‘ re