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ron C 0 RE; JOHN L. LETS, ET AT. ee FO te 7 Springfield ’ Illinois, on t er 18, 1943, by Special Agents Se pte himseii Well, &d mas 6h elligence above that of the everege miner. He gave informe ion set out in the foilowing signed statement. + lr a fas p “Spcingfield, Ill. September 18, 1943. Imeke the following statement to who have identified themselves to me to be Special agents oy the Feccray Durvau of Investi- gation. No promises. threats, or consideration .f eny kind has been made to mc to make this evetament. “I have worked at Mine A since about I was employed there in 1941 when Ryan sold the mina to Elshoff. The mine was closed down that summer, but I was working thcre when the mine closed seasonly in harch or April. I intended on going back when the mine reopened. ons sbout that a + wa tr a + be I do not know much time. There had been no talk about cnanfing unions prior to the time that the announcement of the sale was made. JI think that the men were satisfied with that union, although I was not too interested in union affairs, and did not go to the meetings regularly. bout why the men changed un fo “after the mine was sold, I heard that the mine was going to be closed and the coel taken out through Mine B. I do not remember where I heard this, but I think th:t it was in the newspaper. I went to the meet- ing at the Elks's club when the men signed up for the United Mine \orkers. I had gone to no io other mectings. I went to that meeting for the purpose of signing up with the UMw. FI believed that if we joined the United Mine Yorkers, that wa would get back to work soonere That is the main thing that influenced mo in changing unions, and I think thet is what influenced tha other men. - "I do not recall what happened at the meeting at the Fiks's. There was so much noise that I could not hear very well, and I did not pay too much attention. Ray Edmv son talked that day, but I do not know what he said. I went to the Elk's Hall for the purpose of signing up with the Ua, because I thought thet if we were UMW men that the mine would be re- opened sooner. I believed this because I hed heard that if we did not the coal would bo taken out through Mine B. ~ 5358 = w