◆ SpookStack

et eee et a a Co O Re: JOHN L, LEWIS, BT AL mi C ‘ y Special Agents “1 . ~ keatae him- English, which is below po is cape the avera-e miner, makes it di ff ga ioe him to ly answer questions siened statement: Tllincsis September 4, 1943 ni, - id’ : make the following voluntory statement to ; 3 whom have identified themselves as of Investigation. No threats make & tatement. I was born on U. S. in I became a U. S. citizen t n working in the mines I started te work at Ht 1935 and am still employed there. joined Progressive in 1932 and have never held an office in any union. "Progressive was started in 1932 when John lewis stole some ballots. I had nothing to do with starting PMA. I do not go to many union meetings. ‘is I remember, we had no trouble at Mine B in 1937 because of rages or contracts. ‘ve did have trouble with some spies, men who wate working for U.M.%. Some of these men were Cotton, Tony Plotch, Bowling Green, and other's. Thera wer2 about twelve or fourteen of these men. They never talked to me. P.M.A. gave these men lay off, (expelled) because they were spies. This happened at a PMA meeting. I wasn't there but I heard ahout it the next day. The company wouldn't fire these men although they were supnosed to. The rest of the PHA men got mad because the company wouldn't fire these men. I don't remember any talk-about wares at this time, although I recall that we were supposed to get some back pay when the new contract was signed. “e felt that P.'.A. would get 2 good contract, as good as U.H.. . "On the day of the strike I wes working as a digger went down in tho pit that morning, same as usual, and I don't remember any trouble or argument that morninz. I don’t remember any cars being loaded short maybe I heard about it, but I am not sure. As I remember wa were | called out of the mine early that day, the men were mad because of the spies working there to. “hon I came out of the pit, I went on home. I am not sure when I learned there wasa strike, whether it was that day or the next. | The reason for the strike was beeause the mon wouldn't work with those spies. } “T do not recall signine any retitions that summer, maybe I did ~ld= Frag pee ee aR Ee pe ere ae me ne ee RR pe oe eee eer