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ee cm me a i ec _—_ est RE: JOHN L. LBIIS, ET AL “ITH following investigetion was conducted by Special Agents at Springfield, Il1- inois, on September 16, 15458 At his errr “senate Tilinois, Agents interviewed Qin the oresence off and he advised he never has been arrested in his life. (Mad sone difficuity in understanding the questions asked as he is rather illiterate and he had some difficulty in expressing himself. It is felt that he would make 4 poor witness unless his testinony is necessary. Agents obtained from hin the following signed statements 3 Soringfield, Ill. Sept. 16, 1945, "TI FY give the following information to who have identified thenselves as Specinl Agente of the i.bel. No threets or promises have been made to me to give this statement. "Iwes born in & I came to U. S&S, in fy: becine « citizen abou at Springfield, Ill. I hnve been at Mine Aas en digger for abou years & am still there. I joined over to FMA. in 1932 es £11 others did. I like both unions ns they don't mike ony dif- ference to me at «ll. I recd in papers that Elshoff bot Mine A & people also triked cbout it. I didn't think it would make any difference to me who owned it or whet union I belonged to. I Liked PMs. while at Mine & & they were elright tome. No one & asked me about joining over to Use. in 1941. I don’t renenber of he ring thet Elshoff might teke con) out of Mine & thru Mine B, Everyone wos telking that ELshoff would open Mine A as U-Het felt & believed that way & then figured I would be out of a job maybe too as jobs were hard to get. I heard they had some meetings but I dontt understand whet they say so I never went to many meetings. 1 don't know or remember if I was at Redman's Hell but I think I was at Elk's Club meeting on a Sunday when the men stood up & voted. I don't know what they said. We «11 signed up to go back to U.M... then. I signed up with U.M.*. in order to heve a job. Everyone was smying if we dic not eign up we would have no job and I have a lerge fenily eo had to have a job. I did not belong to any Coumittes. I don't know what else wes seid at the meeting & I went right back home after the meeting. I find no difference in ps union from enother & we have to work under both of then. I herve had 4gent read to me this two (2) page state- ment & it is true & correct to the best of my kmowledge and I heve signed this - of my own free will.” /:/ "- reciel agent F.Bale (Milw.)® - 467 - fe ee ne i A I I EC EL SN ot