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bIe b ID INT BITE always been in charge or connected with Union mines." He did not say with what Union he would sign or that ee he would sign a contract with the Progressives. He stated that he would let us kmow on the following Monday whether or not he would return the petition. "On September 8, 1937, I went to Chicago, Illinois, being driven : Accompanying me were po At Chicago, 7m 7 ‘and proceeded to the office o e Le . Bajork, who ywOS ThE regional Uirector of the Thirteenth Region, National Labor Relations Board. ‘When we arrived at his office, Ray Edmundson, Provisional President of District No. 12, United Mine workers of America, was already there. There were no terms of settlement arrived eat to open the mine. Spokesman for our group wes os who presented the petitions and evidence that the employees of Manes desired to be repre~ sented by the PMA and requested that an election be held. Ray Edmundson objected to an election, stating that the United Mine workers already had a contract with Elshoff, He claimed many names signed on cards requesting representation by the Ufiik&. He claimed 357 names. However, upon request, he refused to submit any cvidence of these signatures, saying that when the right time came, he would produce them. He insisted that employees of Mine B who belonged to the UWA would put the mine into operation. "The question also arose as to whether the men suspended from the Progressive Organization, which at this time had reached twelve, would be put back to work. Bajork did not commit himself at all upon this question. Edmundson insisted that these men should be put back to work. Our spokesman : stated that they should not be put bask to work and insisted that ene tion be held to. determine vhat organization would represent the em- ployees of Mine B. "On Jugust 28, 1937, e contract was signed between the Scale Committees of the PMA and the Coal Producers Association of Illinois. This contract wes formally ratified and state-wide referendum as of September 10, 1937, by the Progressive Locals. On September 10, 1943, a new petition was Signed by members of Local No. 54 at the office of the PMA as they came in te vete on the referendum. "On September 17, 1937, I _ to locate Elshoff at his office about a new contract. I talked te ° dae vho advised thut Elshoff was in Vyisconsin. I again tried to locate Orf at the Mine B Office on September 18, 1937, without results. I attempted again to locate Elshoff September 20, 1937, at both Mine B and at his home. 4c was reported to be out of the city and would probebly be back on September 21, 1937. "On September 21, 1937, I, with the Committee includin: “im and Attorney Dowell, conferred with the Governor of the State of ifinot®, = 412 =