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C’ Oo Re: JOHN L, LEWIS, ET AL IVTERVIEW WITT The following investigation was conducted at Springfield, nois, on September 16, 1943: At his residence Springfield, Illinois, ‘ ssents interviowed ; Wao advised he never has been arrested in l.s life. He afso advised agents he was not contacted by anyone P| avy miinatiane Nat olla Sat in regard to being seen by Federal men and }.s said he would answer any ques he could, It was noted that =: rather intelligent and appears to know a lot about union matters and, as noted in his statement, he is in favor of UMW and has been for years. | It is to be noted that wovld not sign the statement which he gave and which is set out hereinafter. It is felt that BBroulc make a rather impressive witness, ; ——_ = =3h—hah ‘ron i pringfield, . Sept. 16, 1943. " give the following information Nien orem eee wha have identified themselves as Special Agents of the f.B.i.- o threats or promises have been made me to give this information, & became a citizen thru my father. I have been at Mine A since am still thore as @ company man. In 1932 I went Progressive because everybody else did & I would never have split if I had anything to do with it. I did not have ee ae anything to do with getting U.H.W. back again at Mine A. Oo. The following is the unsigned statement obtaine "I was born i & came to U. &. in "I read in the paper in 1941 that Ryan sold Mine A to Elshoff & I was worried a lot about it as I felt Line A would shut down as I felt that Elshoff would not operate Mine A. While P.U.A. was at Mine A I had no complaint against them at all, Fo one saw me in regard to going back to UH... at all. I heard that they were going to drive an entry from Mine B into Mine A & I know that could not be done as it would cost too mich to do it altho it could be done. JI never heard that Elshoff would open Mine A . if men joined U.M.. I attended a mecting at Frogressive Hall. That was a oy regular meeting If I remembor right & that was the last P.M.A. meeting I ; attended, They discussed the matter & they had a controversy there so I left + went home, ne. 01 us all it was one of those bad situations ?: that we would have to wait till the whistle blew. I heard they had an argument or fight down stairs later on but I had gone. 1 heard later on there were some atrong arm men there at the meeting from the southern part of Illinois. No committes were appointed while I wes there, I also ~ 298 ~