◆ SpookStack

’ ino1ls, Was join in at his residence tember 10, 1943 by Special Agents ae: peaks very broken English and hac cmiy a fair erstanding ©: e ac es at Hine “He was repeately contacted by an UM organizer, until he finally joined ‘ UM/ to hold his job. He executed the following written statement, "Springfield, Illinois September 10, 1943 e following signed state- ment to a whom I know to be Special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U. S. Depart~ ment of Justice, "I reside a unemployed, I was the United States, entering a I became a naturalized U.S, citiz and I am presently i in pringtie Tliinois. "The first minc union I joined was the United Mine Vorkers of AMcrica at Mine A, Springfield, Illinois in I only worked at Mine A for three or four months a en sta working at Mine B about worked at Mine B continuously from until the 0 ray 12, 1937. I went back to iline B wien, it re-opened in November, 1939 and worked in this mine until Hay, 1943. I quit at this time as the work was too hard for me, "J joined the United Mine Workers, referred to hereinafter as the UN., in and remained a member of that union until 1932 when the Progressive J'ine “workers of amorica, referred to hereinafter as the Pua, was organized at "ine B. I joined this union when Carl Eishoff signed a contract with this union at Mine B, [I did not take any active part in the formation of this union, I never held an office in any union. It was my belicf that the PMA fought morc for the rights of the miners than the ULM did, I thought the PMA was a good union and had good leaders, "Prior to 1932, Elshoff had trouble with the UM! in settling grievances, but from 1932 to 1937 he had more trouble with the FMA. T feel that Falcetti and Elshoff favored the Wt! because that union did not cause him 80 much trouble, That union did not fight so hard for the miners rights, I never heard either Elshoff or Falecetti - 116 -