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INTERVIE. ulTH SY © 12<25-12, | Illincis was jointly interviewed at his residence on September 14, 1943 by Bpecial Agonts ond SS This individual is presently employed by anther Creek Minc #5, Springfield, Illincis, which is e PLA mine. He can read English, wos ccoperntive, and answered questions in a straight forward manner. He wes under the impression Elshoff would force Mine & employees to join Wii steting he kmew Mine B would not opon until Elshoff had signed with Ui. He executed the following written statemont: "Springfield, Illinois Scptember 14, 1943 . "I make the following foluntary statenent tc whom I know to be Special Agents of ederel Bureau of Investiration, U.S.Department of Justice, . Springfield, » Springfield, eas I arrived in the U,8. wos Noturalized at Springfield, Illinois "I presently reside at Illinois, and I am employed at the a digeer. I was born in in t the Port of New fork. in The first mine wion I jcined wes the United Mine lorkers of america, referred to hereinafter es the UMW, at the Peabody Mine #6, near. Sherman, Illincis in Novenber to 1935, I worked in Mines in the Soringficld eres fr "On 1935 I started working at Mine « as a member of the krogressive Mine workers cf Amerj referred to hereinafter as the Pu. I worked at that mine until omits I quit on that date as the ranther Creek Mine #6 wos closer to my home, and I started working there. a "I was working at Peabody Mine #57 at Springfield in 1932 when thet mine went Pik. I went along with the majority and voluntarily joined that union, to have steady work. I never had any trouble with any union, after I joined the PMA 1 Liked that union. "I heerd that Elshoff hed bought Mine & through the newspapers. IT also heard a rumor that the mine would open under the (iT, I theught I might lose my job if we did nct sign up with the Iii, as Mine B did not epen until they signed with the US. I decided to go with the mojority. The mine undor the HIA and Er, Ryan was oporating satisfootorily. “T heard runors that Elshoff might operate Mino A through Mine B, cr on the condition the men would join the U7. I do not know the source of the rumors or whether they were true. It locked like Elshoff was - 341 -