◆ SpookStack

t 2 a c. . Aa oR "I presently reside Geecesccweerece Springfield, Ill,, and am employed in Mine A. was ene ee en a - O O RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL Springfield, Illinois, was interviewed at his residence on September 15, 1945, by Special Agents ae During the —- 8 8 was present, : nd understands English well. He was friendly, but was reticent, He said that he has always preferred the TE te che PMA. refused to sign the statement set out below withour the consent anc approval of his attorney. He said he did not know the name_of his attorney, but admitted that it was the attorney for the UMW. Wa: that no one had told him not te cooperate with Federal Agents and to refuse to sign any statements. He said that he has always declined to sign any statements. ere. said all the facts set forth in the statement are true an nat he will stick to the truth, IVTPOVIEW WITH "Springfield, Ill. September 15, 1943 "I, make the following stutement freely and volun- tarily to and who have identified them- = Teen ntl wa ti nn selves to me as special Agents Ol Une recerai bureau of LUVGSTAIZS VON. No threats or promises have been made to me to obtain this statement, I came to the United States and n Springfield, Tll., in In States became @ Citizen o € started to work in Mine A, At that time, "About I was in the United Mine “orkeré Union, In 1932 I joined the Progressive Mine Yorkers of America with the rest of the miners, I went along with the majority of the miners, Personally I would have preferred to have UMW at Mine A because I had always liked UMW, All the time I was in PMA I would have preferred to be in UMW, "T read in the newspapers that Mr. Ryan had sold or transferred his interest in Finc A to Mr. Elshoff, I did not have any ideas as to how this change would affect me, I remember that I heard some of the miners talking in town and saying that the mine was going to sign a contract with UM, but I did not hear anything about the miners having to join UMW to save their jobs at Mine A, "I did not go to any PMA meetings in the summer or fall of 1941, I don't recall signing up with UMY. It seems to me that I merely started to pay dues to UM, When J went back to work ot Wine A, it felt good to be back in ULV. I don't know anything about any discussions or talks in meetings of the unions in the summer of 1941. =» 270 =