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_ wae os Sa RD ae Sel lta oe Te ee TT to date has definitely proven that 12 individuals were members of the Union and at the same tine held membership in the Progressive Mine Worker Union prior to May 11, 1937. On this date 5 of these individuals were ex- pelled from the Progressive Mine Workers Union by ite members. Investigation’. shows that Elshoff refused to acquiese to the Progressive Mine Workers' demands and fire these five individuals which brought on the general strike. The investigation shows that Elshoff thereafter refused to negotiate or sign a contract with the Progressive Mine Workers Union and apparently did all in his power to favor the United Mjne Workers Union. In August, 1937, he signed a collective bargaining agency contract with the UMW although they apparently had only atout a score of members at that time. Elshoff then attempted to re- open Wine B, using only UMW members, apparently believing that the Progressives would change membership, which they failed to do, however. ~~ The National Labor Relations Board ordered an election held on December 15, 1937, which was won by the Progressive Mine Workers Union by a vote of 404 to 25. The NLRB certified the Progressive Mine Workers Union as the bargaining agent on January 4, 1938, and Elshoff thereafter shut down the mine completely. Elshoff reopened Wine B on November 6, 1939, as an open shop, at which time he permitted the UMW to organize on company property although the Mine Superintendent refused the same privilege to the Progressive Mine Workers Union. Under these circumstances the UMW finally gained a majority and won an election held by the NLRB in February, 1941, by a vote of 259 to 108. VINE A TRANSACTION In the fall of 1941, the UMW Union advanced $60,000 to Elshoff, with which he purchased Mine A, which is adjacent to and connected with Mine B. Wine A at that time was organized by the Progressive Mine Workers Union and was so recognized by the NLAB, Elshoff and the United Mine Yorkers, throujh certain mancuvers, succeeded in getting the miners at Mine A to dissolve the Progressive Union and affiliate with the UMW. Many of these individuals, upon interview, stated that they changed their membership to the UMW, believing that they had to do so in order te protect their jobs. In this connection, it is interesting to note that Mr. William HJ » owner of Mine A, stated upon interview that early in 1937 subject , dson, President of the UMW Iecal at Springfield, Illinois, approached him with a proposition to freeze thekrogressi ve Mine Workers cut of Mine A, but that he turned the proposition d flatiy. In this connection, Mr. Robert C,#Sclomon, President of the ~jPanther Creek Coal Kines, Springfield, Illinois, stated that in the early part of 1942, Elshoff attempted to purchase the Panther Creek Mines for $400,000 cash, The Panther Creek Mines were also organized by the Progressive Mine Workers Union. Mr. Sclomon stated that although the deal fell through, it was a matter of common knowledge that Elshoff had no money of his own and would be financed by the UMW of America.