◆ SpookStack

+ ~ k t P, Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL INTERVIEW WITH i: interviewod at hie residence, Springfield, Illinois, on tho} a \ | 1943, by Special Agents would make | an aver ess 8 young, has an intelligence above that of the average miner, and can e xpress him self quite well. He gave information set forth in the following statement: “Soringfield, Tllinois September 15, 1543 owing statement to —° have identified thomselves to me to be epecial Agents or a0 o al Bureau of Investigotion. No promiese, threats, or consideration ef any kind hes been mide to me to make this statement. "I worked at Mine A for throe winters. I quit there inthe fall of 1941, two or three months after Mine 4 wos sold. At the time “that Mine A wos sold, en¢ prior to that time, I had never heard anyone talk about chenging the unions for Minc A. Everyone seemed to be setified when the mine closed in March. I was satisfiod with the Progressive Mine Workers, and would hove been satisfied te continue working under them. I do not kriow exactly what happened when the mine wes sold. _ Se enme nrovund to my house end telre Bees +t we ik Go S then thet they went around and talked to all of the men. I do not recall exactly whet it wes thot they told us, but it wos something about having to get « mijority of the men to sign up with the UMW before the mine would reopen. I do not recall exactly, but I think that they said thet Elshoff would not opon the mine ond work it with Progressive members » "T know that there were severe] meetings, but I only went to ed a oe Po oo +, TIL af Lm —— One meeting, that being the oné at the BLS Hall. That wos on a Sundoy efternoon. I hed heard some talk about things out there, and went to this meeting to sve what was poing to be donee I do not recall exactly what was said at that mecting. ns talked and some others, but I do not re~ eall now who they were. Someone tulked and snid that Elshoff would not epen up the mine unless we went back to w ork as United Nine dorlers. They shid thot ho would take the cool out through Mine B. They said thet he was digging out some entry's on the Mine B sido to run into A, m that the coal could be taken out that way. Scvercl men tolked. They oll stressed going back to work. They seemed to be of the opinion thet they could not york as Frogressive Miners. One man got up and said how much he needed ~- 56] =