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t I } fs ‘J s +» Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL . - . f ‘ 0 % J a Ax *. INTERVIEW © Illinois, yoy aw wa viewed by Special Agents ” and Es:: September 12, - AS he noted o in his statement he ha about the Federal agents making instant . investigation but he said he wanted to tell his storv anyway and he ee ee Se ne eee ee ee Saaewe far appeaed very cooperative. He really is not illiterate but has difficulty in understanding and answering some questions. However, it is felt he vould make a fair witness if his testimony is needed. The following is the unsigned statement obtained from Tin “3 Sept. 12, 1943. uy give the following information ay wio are known to me to be Special Agents o € »Deds anises or threats have been made me to give this statement. "I was born ‘& I came in U.S. in & became a citizen years apo. I first joined U.M.W. in Wa: Ill. & I never have held any union office. I started at Mine B 936 as digger & extra driver and I was mem er of P.M.A. before then. a Till Mine B closed P.W.A. was good union & they were same as all others as they give you nothing & you have to work for everything. There was no trouble there before Mins EB closed. There were some men there before Mine B closed who wanted to form nev U.N.W. local but I kept on working. We were sitisfied before mine closed with P.M.A. local #54. I go once in awhile to meetings as I lived so far from Sprinrcfield, I11. P.M.A. charged just about same dues as other & U.M.W. there now charges more. There was . just check-eff & no special . asscssments. I was pleased with P.M.A. officials —. & I never nosed eround much but Committee protected our rights then 0.K. Before Mine B closed U.li.w. never picketed us but there wero some men who favored U.M.W. & I never got any literature from thom. I never heard of any parties given by Elshoff or Falcetti for U,M.W. Before Mine B closed we worked without a contract & Falcetti told us at Mine B with the Committee at the timber pile he told us that we should go to work & that they would fix up the contract & we would get back pay if contract was fixed that way. Some of the men didn't like working without a contract & it was about imc contract ran out. About 100 men stayed in washhouse then but old us to go to work & next day all vent to work again. I believed what Falcetti said then to us & kept on working. Falicetti said that the company would stand good on the contract. After this we all went to work & no trouble started over the pay. A few were saying we would not get a contract but I heard it but didn't believe them as I felt company would keep their word. I don't remenber if P.M.A. had a me:ting or not before hyn + 4 1 te, Ww : ees ~ 64 +