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mg. word L. LOIS, ET AL . ~ bac . s brD ation was conducted by nd fy ct Cf as pringfield, Iilinois on September At his ena ee Springfield, Illinois, Agents intervier. 3 and he advised he never has been arrested in his wife. It was noted that he is not an intelliyvent person and he had creat di:ficult in undersvending questions and he stuttered when he ansrered the same. It is felt that he would rake a very poor witness. He could not write his name so si,nea "K" on his statement and on all.nages. Agents obteined the following statement from him: foe TD wfield, li, Sept. &, 1943 i. —_— rom Sprin: gave the following statement ic’ a oo who are known to me to be Special Avents of the r. BI. No threats or promises whatever have been male me to procure this statement. "TJ am presenti: emploved at Panther Creek Mine #5. I have been there about 3 mont. I quite Mine cue atter being there about 16 or 18 years. Twas br. 2s 2 IT came here when I wa. anout or and ‘ave Ct itizen Tor ae IM seers now. I first joined a mine ten. rears azo. JI have never been a union officer. There was- never any trouble at mine B prior to 1932 the union alvezs zot along with the Co. J joined the rroszressives at mine B in 1932 because everyone else did. From 1732 to 1937 ever,’ thin:, was 211 right between the Co. and the union. J never neari Elshoff or Falsetti say an:thing ahout not likeing the P.M.A. men and officials and the P/EVA. local was ran by all the men. I only attended a few meetings during this time. There were not many special he men vere alvwa: as satismied with the ay thea maney wag as essments and Loe Tel al Walt EARS LA I fierens) handled. J never saw any U.M. 7. men picket mine B or distribute any literature there before the sine closed, JI did not at that time know of any Ul! *’ organizers in Mine 5. JI never heard of any parties being given by Elshoff for the U.M... men. I remember that in 1937 the union contract ran out. I heard talk of this but we viorked any vay. I don't know what agreement there was between the Co. and the P.M.A. I don't recéll there being any trouble over this. 4 "T did not attend any P.M.,A. meeting the nizht berore the strike. was workin, in the mine the last day it worked. About a quarter to three the mine started closing down. I worked the full day. I came on top and - 375 -