◆ SpookStack

é VO n . RE; JORN L. LEWIS, ET AL / ERVIEW WITH Spring~ field, Illinois, was interviewed ome by Special Agents SAA aa Wi He was very cooperative and it is believed he will make a good witness. He speaks English well and was Pit Committeeman at Mine “B* when it reopened. He appeared intelligent and familiar with the pertinent facts of this case. He has no known criminal record other than an admitted traffic violation, He submitted the following signed statement and an addendum thereto: "springfield, Ill. September 6, 1943. "I, meke the following voluntary statement an who are Special Agents of the Federal Surcaiu of Investigation. No threats or prom~ ua ises of any kind havc been made by them to get me to make a statoment. “T was born ceca cr eremercrnancice I first joined U.M.¥. about when I began to work @ ring Gresk Mine near Springfield. Tf began working at Mine "B" about "In 1932 when P.H.a. was formed, I attended several of the meet- ings but was never an officer until 1937 when I was on the Pit Committee. I wanted to join P.M.A. because I didn't like the cut in wages which U.M.W,. proposed on the wage contract. "For the first 3 or 4 years P.M.4. had the contract at Mine “B" everything seemed to go along smoothiy. There wero no strikes or closedowns and only some minor arguments took place in the office over settling grievonces, "Prior to the strike in 1937, there were some pamphlets were placed on Windshields of the cars urging us to join U.M.a. There was a group of just before the strike, They Joe Albanese who was also k.uwn es Sam Catalino, end 4ndrew Skrelivicus, Dominio Pasquele, Pete Carter, Frunk Austin, Tony Plotch, John d4nanias, John Sirtout, Geo. Jucaway, Emory Jacaway, Charles Roharmon, and Jame Hnle. These men were frequently seen at parties of a social nature et various homes including Falsetti. "it the time when the wage contract held by P.M 4. ran out in 1937, WHR cad 2 temporary agrecment to the miners at the mine explaining that they would get retroactive pay if the new contract was higher. Soon after this U.M.W. obtained a wage scelc which was higher than the P.U.&. contract: ~ 92 - oom |