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Cc ° © RE: JOHN L. LEIS, ET AL b> > brah fo INTERVIE,, isITH "Later in the day, I was again informed that [a on had been run off his job at Mine B, This time, 1 = continued supposed to have been done by fend two others with Charies Bohannon. I know t : wa hired by John L. Lewis as an investigator for the United Mine Workers. has told me thet he was employed by John L. Lewis; that when Lewis told him to do a thing, he did it. "In the local newspaper, we were advised that Mine B would open on September 27, 1937, for work. I addressed a meeting cf Local No. 54, PMA, on September 26, 1937, at which time 1 told them all to report for work on that morning. “On Monday morning, September 27, 1937, I went to Mine B with about 300 men cf the PMA whe were reporting for work with their dinner pais. I talked to Oscar Falcetti, who, at first, weuld give me no answer at all. Leter he came cut of the office and asked the UinA to furnish 50 men for work, I told him these men who were members of the PMA were insisting on their rights under the National Lebor Relations act and are demanding pay for any displacement of men of our organization from their jobs. 10 so- called UNA men went below to work, and three reported for work on top. I told the men that dey te go in individually and report to work to Falcetti. Faleetti refused to take any of their names, end in less than a minute, left the office. However, the men continued to report for work, consulting Sa EE or anyone who happened to be in the office. ‘when Faleetti for the 50 mon, he said that he was only recognizing the United Mine “Workers e "It was about this time that I, along with cthers, heard that the UMWA was going to try to put the mine in cperation with imported strike- breakers from downstate Illinois. There was also a rumor that they would bring some men in from Taylorville and the Midland Track, which is in - Christian County, Illinois, and in which is situated four mines operated> ~ s by the Peabody Coal Company and crganized by the UMWA. AS et ee ee ee vege "On September 28, 1937, the men again went cut to the mine to re~ “aig port for work and demanded their jobs. On this date, no one went down in ay the mine to werk, In view of the rumor thet we had heard about imported strike-breakers, the men determined to protect their jobs and simply stayed on the company property. dit no time did we consider that we were striking against the company but at all times had informed the company that we were ready to go back to work. The men continued to stay at the mine until they were enjoined from doing so by an order of the United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois, on or about November 23, 1937. During this time, no violence of any sort occurred upon the mine property, and . when the order was issued, the men complied with it. "or October 8, 1937, I, with