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ST TE I ER AE RE: JOHN L. LEwIS, ETAL. Intervier with . home by Special Agents and oe He appeared cooperative but it is no that he would make a good witness because of his lack of knowledge of pertinent facts in this se and the fact that he never returned to the mine after May 12, 1937. » wii denied amy criminal record and furnished the following signed sState- ment: "Springfield, Ill. September 9, 1943. uy do make the following voluntary statement to and who have made themselves knowm to me as special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. No threats or promises of any kind have been made to cause me to make this statement. "I was born on I am presently residing Yingfield, Ill. and longer working. irst started working at about or iGinine the United Mine workers of America a started at Mine a: continued there until the trouble in "1937. Between Wan a e U.ehete-A. EOt along alright with the Mine B officials. "The Progressive kine Workers of America was formed in 1932 because of trouble over a wage cut and the theft of the referendum votes. I took no active part in the formation of the P.M.A. but I joined P.M.A. along with all of ny local. As far as unions go the new F.h.s4. Was about the same as the U.k.iW.a. aS for officers, and settlement of grievances, however, there was more special assessments under P.M.A. I never attended very many P.K.A. = ] j “union meetings. Between and during perioa enacd nearly all of the meetings. "The new Progressive union seemed to get along harmoniously with the line B officials. Between 1932 and 1937 the F.E.A. and Mine B officials got along fine. "The trouble in May of 1937 started over an argument about a new contract. I recall some argument over a temporary contract concerning retro-~ ' a@tive wages from April 1. On about April 3 or 4 I heard a rumor et the mine that there were five or six men at the mine who were U.K.W.A. orgenizers, These men were PETE CARTER, ANDFE.. SCHTELEVIOUS, CHARLES BOHANNAN, FRANK AUSTIN. and one or two others. Some time later I heard at the mines that these men had been suspended for 99 years. ANDRE. SCHRELEVIOUS told me personally that he hau been suspended. The P...A. then tried to ret Mr. ELSHOFF to fire these sus- pended men, he refused, and the men went out on strike. I'm not sure whether Re a a -~ 16 = .