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Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ETAL. ‘vas interviewed at his residence, errr pringfield, Illinois, on the afternoon o 1943 by Special Agents and is a person who has gooa coumand ol the Ng.iS. t2pu.ze, can express RAimself well, end has an int:iligeme ubove that of thc averege miner. de was uncooperative, and it ecspearei to interviewii.g agents thet he was concealing fects, and relating circumstances which did not correspond with his knowledge of the situation at Mine A. He studied the statement set forth below, and then startcd folding it, prepsratory to putting it into his pocket, and stated that he would have to see his attorney about it. He was advised that the statement was for the use of Agents in preparing a report, ar? tnat he need not sign it if he did not care to sign it. He vhen studiec the statement. at some length. During this study he stated tral the statement would not hold any weight unless he Signed it. Upon the curmpletion of the stuity he r2turred it to Agents saying that there was nothing in it amnway, and he guessed it could do no harm. He was asked if it was true, and he stated that it was, and related what he had told the Agents. "Springfield, Til. September 15, 1943 “Wy name is I was born in I am an American citizen. I make the following statement to and a_i who have identified themsclves to me to pecial Agents o ¢ rederal Bureau of Investigation. No promises, threats, or consideration of amy kind has been made to me to get me to make this statement. WT was @ member o @ rrogrcssive Line the Mine was sold. Prior to the sale of the mine, there had not been any discussion or agitation thet I know of among the mcn to change unions. I do not know what they were thinking. I personally, did not care much which union I belonged to. I was satisfied then and I am satisfied now under the Ubi. tT did not attend many of the meetings. I was at one meeting at the Progressive Hall, but did not stay long enough to know what happened, i was out of town on the day that the meeting was held when the men voted about changing the unions. When I came back, I went and signed up with the UMW. There was no compulsion excrcised by the Progressive Mine Workers to keep me or any of the men in the PLiv that I know of, and there was no compulsion by the United Kine Workers. I do not know why the men changed. I had heard some rumors about working the mine from Mine B, tut 1 did not pay any attention to it. I had not taken part in the discussions or heard much about changing until after the meeting when they did change. I did not - 543 - Oty tet ete oe ag i NTE et te Tp Gh tg Ba ae Te ae Spat, He EN oat emt at oat :