◆ SpookStack

Re: JOHN L. LEsIS, ETAL. INTERVIEW WITH | Springfield, Tll. was interviewed at his home on September 16, 1943 _ by Special Agents ont SB: .=* he did not have a criminal record. s able to spea gis well, but would not make a good witness es he is ano man and he has no in- formation to offer. “Springfield, Tl. September 16, 1943 "T, Springfield, Tl. make the following voluntary statement to and ercem ra whom I know to be Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. o force, threats or promises have been made in obtaining this statement and I know that what I may say may be used in a court of law. UT was employed at Mine 'A' in about 1932 and remained in the employ~ ment of Mine 'A' until Feb. 1942. I stopped working at Mine 'A' on account of my health. tI became a member of a miners union, in in and I joined U.M.W. in about n I remained a member of U.b.#. until 1932 at which time I joined P.K.A. I changed from U.M.W. to P.M.A., be- cause U.Y.i/. wanted to cut the wage scale. I took no active part in the forma- tion of P.W.A. I was not active in union activities and I have never held office in any union. In about Sept. 1941 I read in the newspaper that ELSHOFF bought Mine 'A' from RYAN. I thought at that time that ELSHOFF would make Mine ‘At an U.M.W. mine as he changed Mine 'B' from P.M.A. to U.M.W. It made no difference to me that ELSHOFF bought Mine 'A‘, "Before ELSHOFF bought Mine 'A' the cmployees of Mine 'A' were satisfied with P.M.A. I thought P.M.A. was a good union, being operated for its members, but it made no difference to me whether I was a member of P.L.A. or U.K.W. as both unions were alike. “No U.M.W. organizer attempted to get me to join U.Mh. "] heard a rumor from an unknown source that Mine 'A' could be operated through Mine 'B't. JI thought at this time that Mine 'A' would be operated through Mine 'B' if the employees of Mine ‘A' did not join U.k.W. I also heard from an unknown source that ELSHOFF would not operate Mine 'A' un- less the employees of Mine 'A' joined U.M.W. I decided at this time that I would join U.M.W. if it would make it possible for me to go back to work.