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INTERVIEW WITH on Sunday, Beptember Zl, 2641, at @ mass meeting of the GEORGE 3OTT members of the local union of FiéT, the local dissolved itselz (continued) and thereupon 199 of She former eanployees of Mine “A" signed © ‘ notarized applications for membership in UMT. Inmediately thereafter EDMUNDSON communicated with ELSHUFF and signed a contract with the company for the employees of Mine "A®, DMUNDSON told NAGNER that there ean~ ployees were undoubtedly afraid that ELSHOFF would mine the newly acquired property through Mine "B". He stated that despite the fact that he might re-. ceive criticism from UMW employees, he took the new Mine "A" employees end in- Bisted that both mines be operated as separate mines. .. By memorandum submitted by WAWWER it 1s reflected that ELSHOFF came to the NLRB on November 1, 1941. He told WAGNER he personally purchased assets and unexpired lease of Mine "A"; that these assets he had in turn leased to Mine "B" Coal Campany which is now operating Mine "A". He atated that he first hed hoped to mine the coal in Mine "A" from wine "B". He stated that when he purchased Mine "A" it was not in operstion. After he purchased the assets arrangenents were made to reopen the mine on September 23, 19413 that he sent notices toe all former employoes of Mine "A” advising them of the purchase, and that if eny of the employees deaired to continue work in that mine they should report to work within ten deys; that prior to the opening of the mine ELSHOFF wns informed by EDMUNDSON that UMW represented a majority of the former eme ployees of Nine “A"; that EDMUNDSON presented 199 notarized statements of former employees of Mine "4" which designated UMY as their bergrining representative. BDMUNDSON also received notarized copies of the minutes of the locel umion of the Progressive Mine Workers which union had been in existence at Mine *4". On the basis of thie evidense ELSHOFF said he signed an agreement with EDMUNDSCY, end thet ELANINDSON insisted that Mine "A" be opernted as a separate mine. At this time ELSHOFF stated that he did not believe that he was obligated to hire any of the former employees of Mine “A" since he had not taken over a corpora- — tion but had merely purchnsed some of the asaets of thet corporation. A memorendum for the file submitted by M.RTIN WAGNER indicates that he conferred with ELSHOFF on December 18, 1941. At this time MLSHOFF refused to turn over a copy of the minutes of the last meeting of PAY Mo. Sls that these were later obtained from EDMUNDSON. ELSHOFF permitted inspection of the list of the 199 names of individuels who had signed notarized statements des- ignating UM as the bargeining representative, He eteted thet a majority of the employees held a speciel mesting on Beptember }4, and changed their af- filiation fran PM to UM¥. ELSHOFF exhibited a oontract signed on Beptember 15 between Hine “A" and UMW. EDMUNDSON exhibited to WAGNER the authorization slips, a semple copy of which is included in the photostats, signed by 199 in- dividuzla on Sunday, September 14, when PMA Local 51 disbanded and new local 7840 was formed, 4 & copy of the misutes of the special meeting of Local Union Sl, Pua, dated at 2:30 p,m., September 14, 1941, at the Fiks Club, Springfield, Illinois, is also contained in the photostats. These minutes reflect that the report , of the committee elected at a specinl meeting held on Thursdey night, September 11, 1941, was approved. The report of the committee who conferred with OSCAR - 685 -