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RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL a at Bpring- oia, on September . 6 appeared cooperative and alert. The following signed statement was obtained tron (iy “Springfield, Illinois September 9, 1943, > Ciel a 3 once open te whom I know to be Special Agents of the recerar pureau of vests cation, U.S. Department of Justice. "I am presently residing at CAD 882688022, J; Illinois. TI am emplo e Parther Creek Kine pringfield. I was | born on "The first mine union I ever joined was the United Mine Workers of America, referred to hereinafter as the Un, in at Mine B. This was the first time I ever worked in a mine. I wor here continuously from that date until May 12, 1937 when it closed on strike. I returned to mine B in November, 1939, worked there two days and then quit and never went back to mine B. “The only office I ever held with either union was as a member of the Trial Committee of the Progressive Mine Workers of America, referred to hereinafter as the PKA, about 1936. I attended very few UMW and PMA meetings. I took no active part in the formation of the PiA in 1932, but merely went along with the rest of the miners when they joined the Pha, As far as I knew, the officials of PilA were good leaders and treated the rank and file miners fairly. The PA was run right as far as I mew. I believe the other miners felt the same way. — "The relations between Elshoff and the Uw at Mine B prior to September, 1932 seemed to be satisfactory but from April, 1937 until the mine closed on May 12, 1937, Elshoff was not getting along well with the PUA due to the negotiations on the sentract. Neither “lshoff or Falcetti made any remarks to my kmowledge indicating they favored the UMW at this made any remarks indicating rored thi time, but he was definitely dissatisfied with the negotiations on a new contract with PAA and I was told on May 12, 1937 that he refused to sign a new contract. "To my knowledge, the UMW never had a picket line and never distributed literature at Mine B prior to May, 1937. a: how is ©