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' a . . f RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, BYAL INTERVIE! WITH wag interviewed at his residence, ———e, pringfield, Tllinois, on the afternoon of Sep 17,1943, by Special Agents [_— as has a heavy accent but is not too diffisu understand. He hag 4 rather quiet voice. His mental capacity pro mbly exceed: thas of the average miner. He gavs information set forth in the following s.atements ; Springfield, TL. f° September 17, 1945 "uy name Qs P| I was born in am an American izen., Iam now employed at Min: £. I make the following statement to le eee who hes identified himself to me to be @ Speaial Agent o a rederal berecau of Investigation. Wo promises, ty threats, or consideracion of any kind has been made to me to make this state- ment. "I have worked at Mine A for about @ yoors. I wes employed at Mine 4 when RYAN sold the mine to ELSHOFF. Before 1932 we had belonged to the United Mine Workers, and after 1932 tho Progressive Mine Workers of Americe. Soon after the mine was sold, tho mon changed back again to the UM: "I remember reading in the paper that the mine had been sold. Soon after that there was a mesting at the Progrossive Hall. We talked about changing that night. itineeeanes }. e UM =) us that night. As I recall, he told us . ELSHOFF had said that he would opon the mine up if we joined the United | Mine Workers, and if we did not, he would olose Mine 4 and take the ooal out through Mine B. Tho men at that meeting felt thet they wonted to join the UMi. Some mon, whom I do not know, came up to the meeting, and said that if we wanted to join the UMi that maybe they would olean out the Progressive Hall. To avoid trouble, that meeting wes adjourned then. i souple of days later, we had ancther meeting at the Red Man's Hall on Monroe Street. QM taiced to us again thet night, ond told us that if we joined the UM that we would not hove to pay initiation feos, and that they would teke us back as before. He also said that ELSHOFF had told him that if we did not join the UM! that he would take the coal out through Mine B, ond we would not have our jobs. "Soon after that meeting there wos another meeting at the Enights of Columbus Holl, I think. At this meeting lked again. EDMUNSON came over to the meeting when the men invite » and told we that we could go back to the UMi without paying any fees, and that it would #11 bo as before. He said that there might be some tro..ble, that the PMY - 498 - a