◆ SpookStack

i) a Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL INTERVIE” “ITH Springfield, 1il., was interviewed a as September 3, 1943, by Special Agents and ——— able to express himself clearly witho 1eSitablone pears y well, and is able to umerstand any tyne of questioninr. He advisec that he is willing to testify in court. ee to have no criminal record. The following is the sizned statement of SC eC “Springfield, Ill. September 3, 1943. make the folloving statement freely and voluntarily who have identified themselves to me as Special Afems o mu of Investigstion. No threxts or promises have been mice to me “to obtain this statement. " I, "I presently re Springfield, T1i. I was born on At present I working for the "I first joined a mine union, the United Mine ‘orkers, atout Jib, I stayed in this union until I joined the rrogressive line Workers of American in 1932. I rejoined the U.I.... sometime early in 1941. I don't recall whether it was =_ or after the February election in 1941. Si "J began to work at Nine B about Shen the P.M.A. was organizec in 1932, I had no part in its formation. merely went along with the majority when I joined P.¥.4. I sow that the majority of the miners wanted the P. M.A. union so I went along with then. I always like to go along with the majority. It seems to me that there was some wrangling at line B, but I don't recall vhat it vas about because I always tried to tend to me own business. I don't recoll any big trouble at Hine B prior to the strike in 1937. “after I joined P.l.a. I wis always satisfied with that union. The officers were a good bunch of nen, and treated the miners squarely. I did not vo to many of the union meétines bec2zuseo I was not interested in union affairs. I always considered the r.M.a. a good clean union. "I don't remember any ezitating on the part of any men to turn the miners over to U.M.~. before the strike started in 1937. tas I reeall the men in the spring of 1937 knew that they were work- ine without 2 permanent contract. All the men, so far as I know, thought ~165- at + wee ee ge tae ae 2 StU Dh oe o ak TRPT egettrg RAT