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FEDERAL: BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
JOHN L. LEWIS
PART 10 OF 13
FILE NUMBER: 44-345
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RB: JOHN L. LEWIS, ETAL
was interviewed at his residence,1d, Illinois, on t aft r ocn c!
a1 Agents ,'~ 1is exceedingly i iioa- to
can not rend English. He was born
and has been an American eitize for aboutthat he joined the u.m.w. in hways U.HJW. better than any other union because ofthis. He did not like to get in trouble that was caused over the unions.He did not go to any cf the meetings wherein the matter of changing unionswas discussed. Eb wanted to change back to the U.M.W. so that therewould be no union trouble, but did not go to any of the meetings because hewas afraid that there might be trouole. He signed up for the U.H;W. atthe U.M.W. Building in Springfield, on the lest deg, after everyone elsehad signed apnlicetirns. Ho know nothing of the reasons the other men had
for joining the U.MJL-
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Re: JUFII L. LEWIS, ET AL
srsovlst ctr: springfieldL» Asen1=B_'I-i et his residence or. Se;It ,
1945. E0 appeared wi ing o answer e questions put to him, but due to his
ago, and yo: knowledge of English, he would not make a good witness. Ha
furnish:-Q 13,-: ;"ollo*.'.'ing signed statement: -
, - "Springfield, Illinois
' September 15, 1943
__ :rnke the following voluntary statement to_::hom I know to be Special Agents of the Federal
Bureau o nves igstion, U. S. Department of Justice.
"I was born I entered the United Statesn and was naturalized at Springfie , linois in-. I live at
, Springfield, Ill., and I am not employed because I am
too old.
"The first mine union I joined was the United .1-line Tiorkers of America
which will be referred to hereinafter as the II}.1r'-'. I joined this union at theQ Springfield, Ill. in- I worked at various mines in the
Springfiel 1reo under the U35?
"I started working at ?'ine A under the UMP. oboutQ I left
Ifino A in April, 1941. The mine shut down and I never returne to work when
it opened up again under Elshoff. I was too old to work any longer.
92 "I was in favor of the change at I-ins A from the ULW to the PM in
1952. I do not want to work in a union thatnis led by John L. Lewis. I
always liked the Progressive Mine Workers of America, which will be referred
to hereinafter as the PM-r'l.
"I heard about the operator, 1'11. Ryan, of I-line A selling out to
Clrl Elshoff because it was mentioned in the PMA meeting at the PMA Hell
about e. week after Elshoff bought the mine.
"1 did not want Elshoff to buy Mine A because he would try to get
the UM? in the mine. There was some talk about this at the HER meeting which
I attended. I did not want to join the UM?-, so I quit the first part of
April, 1941.
Everyone seemed to be satisfied when they worked under the Pm».
"No one talked to me about joining Ull. I attended two PEA
meetings at the PEA Hall. It was brought of at these PMA meetings that
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Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
Elshoff said he wanted to operate the mine under the UH.
FMA eetin s at the PMA Hall were in September, 1941. These * m g
The notice of these meetings was posted on a bulletin Board
h at the PEA Hall. I do not remember who presided at t eeeINTERVIEW WITH
!!ll!ll'lL1I;u. I
meetings.
I v~= not on any eomnittees.
no fight. At these meetings the miners were telling about
and that they had to keep on working. and so to keep their having familiesjobs they had to join the UMW. I know nothing about the union trouble at
Kine B."I saw
"I saw no agitators or organizers for UMW at Nine A, or at the PEA
meetings. I do not know the names of the men who aid most of the talking at
these meetings, bet they said when Elshoff bought the mine he use going to get
the UMW the bargaining rights.
"I did not go to the meeting at Redman's Hall.
"I went to the meetinr at the Elks Club on Sunday afternoon, inSeptember, 1941. A man named unhonetic! was in charge of thie
meeting.
""stand much of what was said st this meeting. I ' J. C-DL'liC1 DOT: L1I1ClEI'
never knew any UHW organizers, so I can not say if there were any at thi
meeting. As I said, I had quit at Hine A, and was just intere;ted in what
went on. Host of the talked I could not understand.
"I can not read the English language, so I have hadq, read this statement to me which consists of two and one a -
and i is true and correct, and I understand what it says.
"His I mark
igned!
signed!.B.I.
igned!
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Re: JOHN L. LE-T15, ET AL
We 1' IITH ~=1==1ne1@1¢- I
Illin-'-is, was jointly interviewe- at his residencell en Sc ltcrtber 16 1945 by Special Agents
? is presently working at the Panther
. I .~ no '" , pr f 1.0 , inois under the H5». I-1: is alert,
IJ'ITO _.L 1.11
readily answ."-_rod all questions, but did not attend any of the Plli».
:1eetin;s in L»fp'GcZ.'1b01, 1941 when the FLUX Local at Mine L was discussing
joining the 1_1'..£.'J_ 1-b stated he -mas centaoted by former non to jointhe Ufif and didlso merely to keep his job, He executed the following,
written statement:
Springfield, Illinois
_ . September 16, 1945
. " are the follewink voluntszrj statement to
-ii--f_, , when I know: to be Special Ilgents
~ :2 ' ' . Deaprtnent of Justice-
,--- 1;~-_r of thu Federal Bure u of I1'1V05C1,:C't1O!1, U E»
Al: I reside s". Springfield, Illinois.
I on presently enplcyed n 1e I-an .er rear. Iline =55, Qrinffield,
r'-- Illinois, which job I have h::.d since about the first of Iarch, 19-33. I
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L,.,__s"v92."*.-_' T'- ~ d cf iaweriea referred to hereinofter as the UEIT iLt L Q in I worked in the nines in
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ill
a 1. . 5'._-or.was enployed at Tine I. from about -until February, 1943- I quit
vex-3:in~ at that nine ta r'ct 0. job nearer ry hone. I was born inI I arrived in the U. s. mg Inns naturalized an- -octane a -. S. citizen at Springfield, Il s about
"_
The first nine union I joined was the Uni
cone J Spring ield In 1932 I wee 70I'l..1D_ o re.-:.'eod;y -369 and I
joined the Pro;-ressivc Iline '."orkers of Lnerica, referred to hereinafter
as the PILL, at this nine of rfy own free will. I worked there untilI went to Iiine .5. in Q I was satisfied working under the P31». I
first learned that Els eff had boufht Fine L, in 1941 by talk the
miners. I did not welcome the change it-on Ryan to Elsheff, because I
thoufht the conditions at the nine wnuld be better under Ryan, and the
FYI. and as it wcrked out, that was true. Under Ryan and the P?-Ia, the
werkin-1* conditions were [ood-
No organizers approached rm to join the U251, butm
recall, cone to my hJ92I80a gold no if I wanted te keep my job, I
had to join the U111 ns the rs. would not open unless the miners joined
the TIITT. He di not use any threats or explain why he thought it wouldbe like this. hand several men with him were talking to the otherE-,~,: ; -phonetic!, a PISA nan and five er six others whose names
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Re: J01-'.'* L. LEIIIS, rr AL
I1-T31.-'1.T.r '.i1'T"H miners to get them to join the U'1."W._contaoted mew about e. week after the Elks Club meeting. I did not go
_c0ntir;ue»:i' to this meeting.
I heard e. rumor that Elshoff might try to operate I-fine A
through the Iiine B tipple, but I did not believe it because it was not
practical. This did not bother me, and I told the other miners so.
I heard the rumor before-contacted me that Elshoff would
open the mine on the condition the men joined the Uiff. I believed this
to be true as I knew about Eiine B not opening until the miners working,
mine joined the TJ1'.£*'='. Sine-e Elshoff wee new the operator oi both
mines, I thought the some would be true at Iiine A. I joined the BMW
only to keep my job. I would here rather been a PISA member. I feel
most of the miners vented the PILA because they knew about the Liino B
trouble. They did not want to be out of work, so they -joined the UHI.in that
I heard from other miners about the meetings when the local
of P11 at Iiine A was meeting and talking about changing to the Uldf. I
did not go to er;-,' of the meetings. I thought the miners would join the
U311. I decided not to go to the meetings. I only went to the "' '
Hell and signed up with that union.Ulfll
"When Elshofi first started operating mine A in 1941, the
conditions in the mine were not ee good es the;'_hed been under Ryan and
the P11». Under Elshoff and the Tfi2'., they refused to provide good at
in the ztino and did away with the measures token by Ryan to improve
this situation. They docked us excessively and did not tell us why.
it that time, men were easy to get. How, the conditions are better
because men can get jobs elsewhere, and do not have to put up with that
sort of thing.
I have read and fully understand the two and one half pages
of this statement and it is true and correct.
Witnessods
Y C16 GX1 IE0 In
Special Ea 11913. I.
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. i . -.R6: JOHh L. LEWIS, ET AL
pring ie , inois, was J0 n y in erviewed at
his residence on September 18, 1943, by SpecialAgents He was cooperative, answered I11
o P = o ; ~ ~ 1 he no i ormation of particular value relative quosti o. e_h- .owevor, to . b
to this inqui-y. He executed the following statement:
"Springfield,
September 18,
make the following voluntary statement to
uhom I know to be Special Agents of
U S. Department of Justice, the
I am presently residing at Springfield,
end I am employed at Kine A as e digger.
and have worked there ever since. I was bornarrived in the U. S. in- and was naturalized
P ' to 1932 I was a hooker of tho United Mine Workers of America, y riorre erred to hereinafter as the UAW, but in 1932 I voluntarily Joined the
' ' i ft as the PEA, to Pro ressivo Mine Workers of America, referred to here no er E
got away from John L. Lewis. I was well satisfied with the PMA.
"I first learned Elshoff had bought Kine A, from the miners. Ryan
was a good operator and I would have rather worked under him. I knew
working conditions under him were good.
"Ho UEW organizers tried to got me to join the BMW. It made no
difP¢rcnC¬ which union I belonged to. .
"I heard a rumor that Elshoff might operate Mine A through Mine B,
and also that the mine might not open unless the men joined the UMW. I did
2E_care. I thought I would have my job anyway.
"When the miners were discussing joining the UMW, I only went to
one PEA meeting and this was at the Elks Club in September 1941.
I hoard about the meeting from the miners. presided
at this meeting. I believe the men had made up their min s to Join the UNW
before tho meeting. They took a standing vote to join the UHF and it carried
almost 100%. There were no UHF organizers in the meeting and no fights. p
After the vote, Eduonson of the UMK was sent for to take us into the UHW.
Edmonson arrived_§ith a notary public and the m ners signed UH? membership
E§Fd§:_Edmonson made a speech welcoming the miners back to the UHW, and told
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Re: JOHN L. HETIS, FT AL
IYVTEIFIVIETJ TIT!-3 us the mine would open within a week, and it did
! ".t' ~ I was not on any committee and had no contact with' ' ' ' der both unions are about£3. .
001 lnoeoff1c1a1s. The cond1t1ons un
the same,
slgn d!
Kitnessed: ,
signed!Spacial Agenti, F.B.I.
_-Sime!Special Agent, F.E.I.
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Re: JOHN L. ms, 1:-r u,4
1:":-eerie» wire , Spri eld 1119101»,_ was Join v 1.!! ervlewe y spec Agentsand his ragjdn on eptem er , .lie v:-1"_1i_n;.;]"_'; answel ed Huesglonr put bu him, and he indicated he would b9willing to testify. Ec'.P..!'£1=. of his age, gas not mentally alert and
generally would not make a good witness. e urnis ed the following signed
statement:
A "Springfield, Illinois
September 15, 1943
"1. _make the following voluntary statement to Q
whom I know to be Special Agents of the Federal -
L , U S Departmert of Justi e. 1'1 I1 . . .. 3
"I resiie a 5*ring""ie1d 111111015 1 am .|. , npresently was last employed at Mine A, and I stepped working
e of physical disability. I was born inI arrived in the United States in-and I
Izen at Sgringfield, 111111015 1-
1 The first mine union I joined was the
America, referred to hereinafter as the L'M?'.', at
I worked as a member of the in the State ofAbout-I went to work in mine A and worked there until
"In a932, I was working at Mine A and joined the Progressive Mine
Workers of America, referred to hereinafter as the PEA. I joined when the
majority voted that way. It did not make any difference to me which union
had the bargaining rights, After I joined the PEA in 1932, I was satisfied.
In 1941, I first learned in the newspaper that Elshoff had purchased
Iiino A. I was glad he bought it, because it had been closed all summer, and
I wanted to go back to work. I-To one asked me to join the UHE-'2' at this time.
The working conditions had been satisfactory in Rina A under the P1-KA.
"I heard a rumor that Elshoff might operate Mine A through Mine B,
but did not know if he would, and it did not make any difference to me. I
a1 so heard a rumor that Elshoff might open Mine A upon the condition that the
miners would join the Ul. I did not know if it was true, but I was in favor
of joining UHF? to get some money.
"The only PEA meeting I attended when Mine A miners swung over to
the BE-' was at the Elks Club on a Sunday. Some of the miners told me aboutthe meeting. The fire boss at the mine, * phonetic!, presided
at the meeting at the Elks club. They had a oor eeper and no one got in
except PMA mmbors of the local. A vote was taken as soon as the meeting
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Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
t di vote all the men voted for the NTERVIEW WITH started. In a s an ngp Ulfii. I was not named on any of these committees. After -
continued the vote, Edmundson, of the UME was called in to take us
' Ed dson arrived with another man. as a looal of UMW. mun
On whet Tdmundson said, but he had everyone sign up for th UHF. I do not kn " -
"I nc"er telked to any officials of the UMW, but went with the majorit
d t u right away. The mine 1 was 515»: Elshoff nought the mine as he opcne 1 p
had been closed all summr. I did not care what union they had at the mine.
I have read this statement of two pages and it is the truth to the
best of my knowledge-
Titnessed:
Special Agcn F.E.I.
51 ma» s
Special Agent, F.B.I.
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ls: JOZIIY L. Letxs, ET AL
interviewed at his
Special Agents
on September 15,
ore is not easily
red to have no knowledge of pertinent facts and would
' edI1T'¬F'~'IE'.' YIITH
1943. This T-'itn ess
-understo-ad. He a,.:pee.
not appesr .;o be a good fitness. He furnished the I'O1lUi"'ing sign
statement: -
"Springfield, Illinois
September 15, 1943
the folloring voluntary statement to
when I know to be Special Agents of
on, U.S. Department of Justice. _ - It 1-1 G
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,492 ".. I? :1 1"-.-as born entered the UnitedStates in pend 1-':.s nsturalize a 11 abo, linois about
' ow r:"od in I-tLne A as a digger, and live at ._- an present y ..p_ _, ._ Springfield, Illinois. ' _
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Ir;{.g,
T-die-.=,';' lned T"1' the dnited Nine Yorkers of "Tin. first mine union I Jo I .3
13.;11crica 1n-zich will be referred to l~-- P-miter as the U151. I joined
this union at
"I do not remember exactlv when I started "working in Nine A,but I think it was m yeam before the Progressive
Kline workers of America orgamzed at I ' o 11. This union 1'ri.].l be re-
ferred to hereinafter as the PI-L-..
"I started working at that mine under the UIIT. I was in favor
of the P33. organizers at the mine :i_n 1932, because everyone said it
would be better than UM}. I did not see my difference. I Pas satisfie-
with the PIL-'., and liked to york under that union,
"I did not care whether Elshoff or Ryan operated the mine. I
just Wanted to work. Lhen the majority of the miners joined the IJLE7. in
1941, I joined too. I knew that Elshofi Wanted the UH. in this mine from
talking with other miners.
" h- 'n'=rs liked to vork under the P111. before 1941. Those miners T L U11 92-x
1-ere as satisfied as I was, working under the P}-U...
"I heard mi.n<;-rs say that Fshofi said he was going to try to
operate Liine 1. through Iiine B.
"I attended the two PIL1 meetings held at the H-U. Hall,
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Re: JOHN L. Lewis, ET AL
GTERY E WITH Springfield, Ill. at that time in September, 1941 when
the miners were telling about joining the UHW and shortly
c ' * : after Elshoff became the operator of Mine A. ontinee
"I knew about.these meetings from-notices posted at the P H A
t th se meetings. I Hall. The President of the PEA local presided a e
did not hear much of the conversation at these meetings because they talked
too fast or I mas too far away. I saw no fights. I was not a member
of any cdnnittee. The conversation I heard was by the PEA local President
who asked the men to decide what to do and ask them if anything was wrong
with the working conditions at the mine, and such questions as that.
"I did not go to any other union meetings. I did not go to
Redmans Hall or the Elk's Club, meetings.
"Conditions at Mine A have been the same as far as I know
under the UHW as they were under the PMA.
<sie@d> i
WITHZSSEB:
Eiiii.....,.I.pecia Agent .B.I."
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IN'IERVIE'f. T,-IT?!
Special Lgents . B
ind 92me".st2:1'ls n WC-5 porn Q
is willing to testify if necessary. denied having £1. criminal record-
The i:-lluwing signed statement was obtninee from _
"Springfield, I11.
September 15, 1943-
"I, the e lowing statement freely
and vgluntgrily tg WhG hV6 idtifid
themselves tc re as Lpucial agents c mi lsu 1.1 Investigation.
Ne threats cr preniscs have been made to ne to obtain this statement.
I resid' nt Springfield, Il1., and em em-
pleyec. at Peabody Lline #59»
w; was hem on issue
5 t th t time I was e. member of the - I began to work in Liine A. ricr o rt
United Mine licrkers, and ctntinued in that union after I started at Hine A-
"In 1932 I was in fever of the switch from UJIJF. to Progressive
Liine "..e:-lccrs ti America. I was fed up with the way that U.H.'-5. was running
' * 'th the things at that time. -11011 the men switched ever I went along m. ma
From 1952 tc 1941 I 1.-:c.s completely satisfied with P.L£.Ia.-
_ Q~_+~_u-_ GL1 T ham A +u+ Hr E1lhrPP Hni bnnht 92|o-_..4-.-.... _92JLLlL4'92rJ.LJ-u v-.,yu<-luv»-1 4.--xi + 1u.~.Iu umiv -- I -i.-1...-... .....92.. e- D
. ti.Kine 1; from Fir. Ryan. I heard that there was to be a special union mee
ing sf P.li.I.. to discuss this new development at Liine IL. As I recall thismeeting was held cn 1: Sunday in the Elks Club, nndmrsn it.
There W-:.s iiscussicn in the meeting about switching rem . . . to Ualifi.
This discussion was brought about because cf the talk going nrommd that
ht b the we, the miners, had to join U.M.T.. because 1-Zine A had been bong y
:r::ner cf liine B, and because we wouldn't be able to get jobs in mm A un-
less we joined U.l.l.'-H "
I don't remember hearing any talk sbeut we rking Hine {'1' through
Iline B, er about Elshofi refusing to do business with two unions.-
"There was no rumpus in the meeting at the E11-as Club. I think
th t 11 1 the miners were afraid that Mine A would net open up in the B D. C
fall of 1941 unless they joined UJLI-~ I recall that somebody sent for
Edmundsen, but I think this was after the vote when the miners voted to
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RE: JOHN L. LEHIS, ET AL.
INTERVIET" " turn over to U.H.§. I only recall that -
Edmundaen thanked the men for turning over -
ccn Inuei $0 U-M~§~
At this eating I signed up with U.E.T. I went along with the
' Ir 0 ihe men I figured that if I didn't go along with the major- magori L .. .ity, I nculd not get my job back. I didn't went to have the trcdble at
Line L like they had at Eine B.
"I dcn't recall going to any other uniun meetings in September1941. I hea say that he ma seen Elshcff but I iiw
remember if he U ne w a hey talked about. I remember that
said scmething abcut his not being Lble tc stay out of work all suma!-so
he got wise and started to talk to miners eb-ut swinging cvcr to U.E.Z.
"Qhcn I heard that Elshsff bcught Kine L, I thcught he would
Sm:-t I1: wcrk it I'i}__1lt away. I didn't give the sale any thought until
the meeting at the like Club. éfter that I theught that there might be
trouble at Kine A like there hai been at Line B.
II ' Lnv-{'1 TQAZ7 +n .-'a+ Q 'ha++.|=>r- ir*1'§_ I -gag !92_Qt_ llI 1 9+ an In xéd-L 4.-1-» -iv D-v" 5- -,-v..v- d...--
dissatisfied with U.L.U. when I left nine A.
"I have read this statement consisting cf this and two other
haniwritten pages, and I state that it is true to the best of my knowledge
and reccllection.
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Zitnesses:
Springfield, Ill.
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J,_; 92.R93 JOHN L. LPLIS,
It-!?1P.r~z.-"13"; TIITH Springfield, Illinois, was inter-
I Agents
does not understand
During, the "xntcrviev-
pa-eter. According
no criminal record. _Lnter-
c-_4__ ' 1 . Qp{LH5f1e;d, I11.
September 15, 1943
the follo1"ing voluntary statement tc
nhom I know: to be Special Agents of the
ion, of my o1'n free rill, with no threats or
promises made to me. .
"I an lining; at Sozin"iifield, I11. andan 92*'orl»cing at Pantl:-=2: Green no. I 1-as b
* * - ' ' h . * - a ers and and cs.:.e to the United States 1:1 I ave "0 en rt, 1r~= p p ,an not yet a citizen. I joined t 8 .Ii.L.. innand stayed in that
union until 1932, when I vent along with the Lune over to the Pro essiveMine I.or1-zero of America. I began at Mine A about - 'and'quit
oi" 1943, because the air was bad, and was making me sick. I 1-a.S satls 1
Pith the stitch from U.I1.T'.. to P.£I.A. in 1932. As far as I T'&S concerned,
it made no difference to me. I was villing to do what the men did.
"I ea? that the dine A Was sold to J-T.Lshofi' in the newspapers,
and thought I might lose my job on account of the sale, because I figured
Inns .1. would go 11.11}. ., and only U.E.Z.T.. men be employed there. I knew
whet had happened at Liine B, and thought the sane thing might happen at
Mine A ii the men didn't join U.lI.T.. Ho one talked to me about joining
U.I-l.; . before Ivan sold it.
"I vent to a P.I-LA. neetin," held, I think, some place on 5thStreet, in September oi l941.*v'as one of the sneahers,but I don't know the name of the meeting. Qtold themen that Els'noif planned to operate lline A through Mine B, an at he
~ouldn't operate Fine A unless the men joined U.Id.'l'.'. I felt that I would
have to join the U.H. . or I'd lose my job. Hofever, it didn't make any
difference to me that union I belong to. I don't knot? of any special
committee being appointed, and didn't go to am; other meetings. I signed
up with the U.!.I.- . at that sane meeting, on a Sunday. I only signed because
I thought I'd lose my job if I didn't. Since the U.I=i.Y.. has been back
at Eiine 5., conditions have been .....'~"l right.
has explained this statement, -
consisting o 15 an one o her page o me and I state that it is true
- 515 ..
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to the best of ml 1,qngw]_edg8-mwmwmt v1"r1~1
Signed!COD J1-I!-!!l!
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Springfield; 111'" '
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RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, sr AL
Springfiel , mois, nus in erviewe s
home on SeEtomber 1'7. 1943. I3: Special Jagents
OJCS 1!: 118}! ° " we ersan 1 wo cnou o o 1 w c ho soidhcis g; swilling to do. Ho said he has no arimin--3 record. The following
signs-o Bt'l.3". .':Ilt was obtained £1-an him:
"Springfield, I11.
Scptcnbor 1?, 194-5.
-"In ~"1rn 4-'|-92n 'Fn'92'| rwri 1'10 n+|'92'hnhPY'|+. ffggly
and voluntaril to who have Y
identified t11ez::solv»s to me Rs poeicl 1'.-_',onts of L Burocu
oi Invostigoti oh. To throats or prcmiaes h..vo Loon mode to mo to _
obtuin this statencxs.
"I P!'G'3..llt1}" rosido at
Ill. and um empl od in Miio J-LOInch: onno to the United ,
"I begun to work in Mine A in Qwhen I was n nmbor of
tho Unitod Mine Workers. In 1932 I joins o Progressive Mine Tlorkors
oi Amorico. I was in favor of tho switch bocuuso of the rim doui tho
minors got under tho IIHW. when the ballots were stolen} and when tho
U.M."-I. signod a contract giving the minors L cut in pay. All tho
time I was in the P.2.1.ii. I was entirely satisifod with that union.
"Some time in September 1941 I saw in the 110$-ISp£.p01' that Hr;
ELSHOFF had bought Mine is from 1-Er. RYnN. Bcforc I went book to work
in the fall of 1941 I signed up with UJIW. c.t the UJIJI. building.
I heard muny minors saying that if tho non did not sign up with U.l{.lT.
They would not have any jobs -at M5110 xi. I un on old nan, und I lmow
that if I did not have c. job ct Llino 1., I could not got u job in any
other mine because I was too old. I signed up with U.1-1.11. only boot-use
I was ofrsid thlt I would not be Gblc to got u job in um; other mine.
I ignod with 'J.}--I.-I. after most of the minors lied signed up at the
meeting in the Elks Club.
"Previous to my signing up with 11.1-Ur. I wont to c union
mting at P.I-5.11. hall whore the non discussed whether they should
join tho U.H.?I. in order to work at Mine 4.. The local union proaidnnt
o ' ' .. Th 0 voted 'pr.s1dod at this meeting. I think it vr s Q o n n
uguinst joining the U.H.T at this meeting. on r mcnbor anyone
-515-
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RE Lo
IN'f111'¬92-IE7 "IITH talking for U.I&-Us, and I don't renalber any ocu-
nittee being appointed at this neetingo_ can oinued
"I heard that ELSHOFF was going; to pull '
000-1 f'T~:'n Iline A through Mine B. I knew that ELSE-{OFF could not do this
bcczium tlr-i-2 hid to be e lot of d:1.gg'.i_ng 4.'i!'sl'..»
' "1 heard about n second nesting of the miners in Pam. hel,
but I did not go to this metingo I heard that acne non tulksd for
UMM-, and that there Ins u fight, but I don't know what the fight was
about ¢ -
It seems to no that I reseived £1 letter from RYAN and EISHOFF
ndvisinr; that RY»-.N In-i sold 1--iine A to E:L"H-SPF. I think that the letter
stated that FKHCF? 1t~.s g0ir.{; to open liine Jk xzmier u U.1'i...T. OOI113l GO'l7¢
When I vmnt be-ck to work in llino A, the company was Bring-
ing: in nen from sl; over the country. They began to double up in
some of the rooms , The cozxxpunj got non th.t did not lmew how to work
in this kind of u nine. Some of the non began to quit. Conditions at
3-Aime ii n-av: are just as gem as they wares at first itsoened that the
oompsny was trying to push all the old nen out, but now tho war is
en, the Gu1"1_D-Dy seems to be satisfied with the old non-
"I heard the 1000.1 nrosident tell sme of - I '
the non that if the federal agents cone to teir HoU§5s,' they shouldtell the agents that they do not knew anything. The men wha:1
told were formerly employed at Mine B. He never said anything-, o ne-
'"=Fr1dor- the J.i-i.fI. o en have to do just as the preside
says. If they question what he says, they nay get bent up. This iswhet happened under but conditions are better new. I
was at one nesting 11 on 1. 1:1 nor was beaten up, but I don't know his nu-no.
"This statement consisting cf this Lnd one other typcmrritten
pI.:;0 has been read to me, and I state that it is true to the best of
my knowledge and recollection» A
Witnesses:
SpGC1i'=11 Agents, FBI,
Springfield, Ill. _
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RE: JOHH L. IEHIS, ETAL
mrssvxsr mars , Springfield, 111.,_ was in erviewe.. o. ns resi once on Sogtembor 18, 1943, by" _""_"__' Special -'~.?;<>n1=s
-» which non speaks end understands Englis su 1e on y we nevi, e es .1 y,
ho will d" i necessary. Ho admitted having been errestozi for drunkenness
in'Spri:r;iie1d, Illinois, but claimed to hr.-"re no other arrest record.
" I - ' Springfield, Illinois
September 18, 1943
make the following voluntary statementto - when I know to be Special igonts of the
Forlor e u. go n, 1:3; o-rn free "will, with no throats or C .. _. Q
promises mo-do to mo. .
, end
and c the
p when I nan livin" '
em working at Mine A. I was born
United States when I wt-5 about e. year roe
my father was neturelizocl. I started working at Hino having been
e member oi the I.1,1~.1,w, sinoo when 1 joined n In 19:52,I switched over to the Prcgronm Mine Workers of for the
moritoh, end was in fever cf it, thinking it would be e ohzmge for the better.
In 1941 , I rejoined the U.h{.§{.
" '"FF"I sew in the newspapers that RYiLN Ind sold Hines 1;; to nwnu
I didn't think anything about it, and didn't hour any rumors that he might
operate Mine A through Mine B, or that he would work with U-ILTI. men only
" H n tolko to mo about joining the U HM. at the time I sow in Lino L. o 0 0 _ ". . -
the notice. I joined the U.Ii.n'., signing up at E.li.'¥?. Hell. I }'*.*:.von't goneto any meetings at ell, either of the P-ILA. or U.M.1I. I sew *
uptown one day, and ho told. me there was going; to be a meeting at UJ1- .
Hall for tho non to sign up. I don*t know of any other meetings whioh might
have boon held, end don't icnow any-thing; more about the matter. Since I have
been wcrkinrr under 11.1 .J. et biino A I have seen no difference in oonditiens
from whet 1-[slay were under P-Mel. et the mine. I signed with U.M.W. because
I thought I he-cl to to keep my job, and know I oou.ldn't got any other job.
"I have had reed the foregoing; to me, ané state tint it istrue to the best of my lmowledgo. / /S
Springfield, I11 ."
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Re: J01-N L. LEWIS, ET AL-
1mm>.v1:=.=; WITH Inh '"° 11., 191.3 by
Special Agents I This man statedthat-he is n;" he cannot read or
~.=rite 5-.1?li'=1, and is not even able to write his cg] gene He does notunderstand E-a,g1_~i_sh except-short, simple words.*.'.'as present during the interview. 3he rea e_s :-1 emen
or .1 o or: and advised that it contained everything thathad said in the ittt-rv1ew._<.1e¢1ined to sign thea mark, but said that every-thing 1.11 92.-He stitewnt is true.
said he has never been arrested.
"Springfield, Ill.
3-3-Ptcmbcr 11+, 1943.
1 _ _'_ meat the r llowin statementfrezly and vo v.n;;:;"ily to andwho have identif-.+d the;r..;]vt-s to ms as Specie gt.--1. s 0 .
Fed;r;1 Bureau of In92'eSti,";;;.i0n. No throats or promises have
been made to me to obtain this statement. =
I presently reside at 5PI"l1'I'?f1C1dI11.i and I Cm. emoloiwd in iéine A. .1 was !orn oI to the United =.» " W. ve
no! Peon; a United gates citizen.
I joined tho United nine Jorkers in - and stayed in
that union until 1932 when I joined the Progressive Mine I-orkers
of America. I rejoined the U.iI,*.'f. in 1941 when I was working atIiir.-2 A. I began to work at iiine A in - ' '
"It rr.i1<t-s no difference to me to which union I belong I
think that P.3~;.1=. is as good es U.}<I.!-'.
"I saw in the n-swspapur that 3-tr. Jillshoff bought Mine ii
from 15:. Ryan. n
"Before -L went to work in the fall of 1941, the pit committee
of P.1&.A. told me that I would have to join the U.M.W. before I
wont back to work at liine A. I did not know why I had t0 join the
UJ.-I.W. I heard that 5-lshoff wanted both bfinc A and Mine B to
have the same union.
I signed up with U.H.?-I at :1 meeting on a Sunday in September
1941 at the ll-cs Club. it 1 Alf on iiondey morning lllshofi signed a
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EHir:1"ERvI:»;.r JITH contract with the 0,551. I don't know whyEf thi ¢¢ tr2ct was not signed on 5unday. A nun:3 by thv r..1me oi ran this meeting. Hc -r; told the men ppQ¬~ that if they_wanted tn
* go to tank in it: M, they had to sign up witn U.K,W, Eimudnen alo
i_ was it z.; nostirg, Ha szid that if the nun did nut sign up with U.H{E.,
tn.y would LOt git a 39> at the mine.
- "I do Rut know anything about any special mcetings other
" than the one I 1.1£:nti01'.cd, I don't 1-mow anything about any special com-
ndttcto bging appointed to talk things over with the mine :.92:-msgcxnent.
1 "Thu rcascr I joincd th; 7.K.1 was only to kcgp my job at
" }_ 2.11:1: .1, 1 was on-old t-.'1.'1t I would n-"t E-_:.v: a job if I did not sign up
' with U,l,, 5inCC than U,H;H, has trcatcd nc 0.h, It makes no dif-
fzrance to rnc wr.icr. L'J.iC1'. has the coiztrzict tn A.
Pk "This stafcrcnt, consisting of this and one other t -
cf? riiiquf iigt, has h;-n orplaiati to :1 by Q tk=t it is true to t e cs o myi new edge I In and I gtntg '-it "
" and recollection.
:1
Q sai in t ir orvico. c
statement was true, but declined to
vr_ Spe F_B,I, Sign it with a mark.!
*' Spring. 5 _., Illo"
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_ read this statement
' "iitnessesz an std ~ * * ' contained everything
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RE: JOHN L. 1-E-"IIS, ETLL
INT;'3RVIF'f-U 1-ms ,pringfie , Illinois, was interviewe d
on Sr-otombor l8, i943, by 3pocie1 Ago:-eztand spooks iiiirstenris Eng] ish very well.
The st c oz sit orth below ms reed by ho hated that every-'
thing in it LE true. Es;-rover, he declined to sign it without giving any
reasons. It is b'.3J_iQ'V'Dd his position on toe U.M.N. Pit Committee my have
influenced his refusal.
H " Springfield, I11.
September 18, 1943
stato-
mcnt freely uni vvlunterily to _n who
have identified lh <I.5;1l7'JS to mo as .'lger.os
of Investigation. lie threats or promises hove been mode to me to obtain
this statement.
"I presently reside at
Srinrifioldl E11 and sen employed in kno n. was
"In 1932 I began to work ot Mine A under the United
ljine Yicrkers. 4 few months loter I joint-5. the Progressive Mine Workers
of America when they obtained the bargaining contract with Mine IL. In
1941 I rejoined the U.lI.*.2'. it present I am on the Pit Committee for U.H.Fi.
at Mine I».
"I don't know any reasons for the switch from U.H.'£'J.
to P.i..--. in 1952. I was not too satisfied P.h¬.A. at E-Sine It eeoouso
it seemed to no that the union didn't oven try to enforce the rights of
the minors under their contract. -
In Sentombor 1941 I read in the newspaper that
an-. stssorr bought Mine 1.}-5m':s-. ans. ht the time I did not think um
idiino J. would r-pen up because I thought thet ELSHOFF would try to operate
Mine 11 thrcur-h lline B. it that time Mine B did not hove sufficient
facilities odd equipment to [;eb full production from both Mine A and I-Kine
B at the some time. Before ELSHOFF bought Mine A, I heard some men soy
that Mine 13- could be operated througgh Hine B.
"lfine B was e. newer mine, and the shaft of Mine B
diggings in iii:-.o ;~. than the short of M.__Le 5. I was really closer to
thought I would got a job ct Eine B if they attempted to mine Mine A through
k t llino runes. x knew that 1 would have to join U.1;.w. in order to wer s.
B. I did not hour any rumors that Mine I. would be operated only with U.ll.W.
mn.
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RE: JOHN L. LE'n'IS, ETAL
' " "In September 1941 I went to o. P.H.1i. meeting at_ P.M.!>. Hell. At this meeting we elected a oemitteo '
_ C0I92'T_IDfu'.F.D_!___A_ * ' of six to moot with EIBHOFF to ascertain if he was
77% j I I I I ' going to open Mine L. I don't rumczioer who was
elected t: this ozmmittee. Lftor the cem:r..":toe was elected, I left tho
1r.eetin;;. I hco.rd_ that there was a fight at this meeting, but I did not see
it, or knew the reason for it.
I went to no other group meetings except a meeting
at the Elks Club on a Sunday in September 1941. I don't remember who told
me about this meeting. The purpose of this meeting was to sec if the men
wanted to stey in P.L£.f.. or swing; over to U.Ii..l. Some big nan whose nameI donlt know presided at the mocting,.".'as the man who pro.-
posed the question as to whether we sheuic ntay 1-: . .H..'.. or go into UJLTE.
A -vote on secret ballot was had, and the mjority favored going into U.M..i.
liter the vote, RAY EDLIUNIJSEH came to the meeting. He said he was glad to
have the men back. Lt this meeting u committee was elected to go to seo
11 F was elecwd to this committee. A15 this committee was
I don't remember
' - - * s committee. {Io me I-IOFF in EDI-JUNDSEINS office. if any others were on 1
OSCAR F..LCEI'TI was also there. For scne reason urzknmrn to mo we could not
make a contract with Mine A at that time because it was Sunday. Ls I re-
call EDLIUNDSEN called EISHOFF by phone and asked him to come to his office.
I think EDIIUIDSEII called ELSHOFF two tines. This meeting in EDlEU'NDSE192I'S .
office was about 5 p.m. Y.-'0 discussed some provisions of the oontract and
the pay rate. There wasn't much argument ever the contract. ELSHOFF
60012105 agreeable.
£..f.tor this meeting I wont hone, and about Igdinight
I went to ELSHOFF'S office. ELSHOFF signed the contract without any trouble.
Sinco 1941 conditions at Mine A seem to "be better.
The men got everything they want. I think ELSHOFF is easier to get along
with than RY.'.I~1 was. _
"I joined U.n.w. in 1941 of my own accord. I was
getting tired of P.II.A. I did not have any reason to believe that I would
not get my job back at iiine A ii I did not join J.hi-?|'-
"I have read this statement consisting of this and two
other handwritten pages, and I state that it is true to the best of nw know-
ledge and recollection.
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RE: JOHN L. I.E'I-'13, ETLL
I F~T|T'?|T ' "W1 tnessos:
Zco::T11Tm3Dj 7 I'OELd this statement and Btu-bod
ta everything in it is true, but ho declined to
it!
Springfield, Ill."
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Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
p1-m.-:.r1e1<1.Illinois, was interviewed in is residen onSeetember 15, 1943, by Special Agents h
This men does not speck English too we ,
and st times he has trouble expressing himself. He is also herd of hear-
ing. H- uz"_:|.rsts.nds English when it is spo..en slowly and zvleerly. Ifnecessary, he -will testify.said he has no criminal record.
" Springfield, I11.
September 15, 19415.
1.-ml-ce the following voluntrrry statement to
whozr. I know to be Special Agents of the
, of .1-5 mm free will, with no threats or
promises made to me.
"I om living 111., and em working
at Mine A. I was br
the United States in _ become o. citizen F and came to
I joined the U. ls. If. end was e member e, ..
0. member of the Progressive Workers of hmerice. I never held an oi-
fico in any union. In all the time I was e member of the P. H. A., I
liked the union, was satisfied with it, and didn't vmnt to rejoin the U.
3&0 "25::
"I sew in the paper that Ryan had sold the mine, and Elshoff
bought it. Just after this, 2. special P. Li. A. meeting was held at Pro-
gressive Hall. Notices of the meeting had been sent out by e committee.
The meeting was for the purpose of finding out what was going on, and a
committee was appointed to find out whether Liine A was going to Ity
closed, or whether it would operate. The pit committee of the P. hi. A.
refused to go see Elshoff at liine B, and refused to have anything to do
with him. There was e lo of or uin'-, and almost some fights. This meet-ing w'=.e presided over by I think thaws the name, presi-
dent oi the P. M. A. local. There e o much confusion in the hall to
know whet was happening, end I don't lmow how the committee was appointed.
The special committee went out, I thought to see Elshofi and weren't gonemore than ten or fifteen minutes, when they c..xne back. s
. . _ __ Hon this committee. rihen they c..me beck to the hell, they 0 men
that Elshofi would operate Kine A, but only with U. Ii. "i., P-nd thst the ,
men c ould go back to ork only if they joined the U. Ii. I. I don't know
whether they soy Elshoff or not.
_ " -ahen I first heard that Elahoff had bought Mine A, I did wonder
whnt would happen to me. Regardless of the union Elshoff vmnted, I would
have to work there, because I was too old to get 0. job somewhere else. I
Ira:-.s satisfied with P. I-1. 11., and he-dnt been approached by any U. 1-1. TI,
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RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
? " WITH men, but would join U. ll. TI. only to keep e
my job at Mine A. I didn't hear anything about
COICILMJED Elshoff working Mine A though Mine B and didn't
hear anything about having to join U. la. IT. to
work in the mine, before the union meetings, where these things were dis-
cussed. 'i'3:".: action at the meeting c:-.:ne so quickly that it looked like
it was pl?-.11.n'3l.
"About three days after the P. 11. A. meeting mentioned ab veI went to o.notherone at Progressive Hall. At this time, i
was the lender of a special committee, and reported to the men for t e
committee. He said thtit the men would have to join U. H. W. to work in
I-line A, that Elshoff told the committee this, and Elshcff would open the
mine if the men went U. M. '-I. The c:-.::.i"..-tee was then told to find out if
Elshoff was Planning to work Mine A through Mine B. Another meeting wasset for the next wee... At this meeting, wheretmreported, some of
the younger Progressives got up and left, and n come back. I didn't
go to the next mz;-eting, beceuse I was disgusted and told them that if
everyone else jOi5{1 United, I would. I don't think there were any U. M.
'-'1'. organizers at these two m~.-stings, although there might have been. I
wanted to soy something at these meetings, but was afraid Id lose my
chance to go beck to work if I did, and also because I didn't think it
would do any good.
"I sivned up with the U. M. W. st a Sunday meeting at the ElksClub. led the meeting and told us, Boys, you see whet hop-
poned in ..;1l'l¬ . f we went to go to work, we have to join U. ll. W. I
was one of the last to sigi up that day. Edmundson spoke to the men, said
the way they voted was up to them, and that he would stick behind them if
they got in trouble. I joined the U. M. W., not because I wanted to, but
because I had to, to keep my job. I still prefer the P. 1!. A., but con-
ditions st the mine under the U. It-i. Ii. are entirely satisfactory, end as
good as under P. Li. A.
I have had the foregoing, consisting of approximately three
pcges, rend to me, and state it is true to the best of my knowledge.
/°/
/=*~/
Special Agent - FBI
Springfield, Ill."
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_ . ro, --=-1e= JOHN L. Lnris, ILL
It ~ In
Spring .19 e, _.F1Ol5 ras lI'.9292.E1"VlET.'8C1 at his
residen on Sentenher 15 1943, by Special
wirlers,-Land
eiglist ' - -" = " e"-' ;,' '-"e._ o .es i.;r. 1'1.-§uC3£.=¬~.Ij, he 1111
no c*'1'r'.;_nal recoréi._- RC1 ._':.w§Cr.....- 1 ~11- 1'11 nu
te:.ti;'_,'. IL. said he has -1
The "_"o11or.'in£; _is the signed stnte1'.ent esceczzted by-
"Springfield, Ill.
September 15, 191.3.
nenttn
of the .'n».1;e the foT'_1or"ir,'; voluntary state-
1-"1021 I ::1c"v to be Special Agents
u. . J. . _ of my o n free rill, with no threats
or promises made to ne.
I <1, 73.1., and an " an living at
'r"orkin: at Iiine H I vas bu. theUnited States mg. I 92"a.s na
joined the United _- .:e llorlzers was a until
1932, Then I joined the P1"O{"!"853Sl'VO _e vrorkirzg at Peabochr
11o. 53. In 1938, I began to tor}: at Ilinu A, and "res e member of the 1.H.A.
tmtil 1941, when I rejoined the U.I1,T , In 1932, T.'hGI1 I joined the P.H.A.,
I 5'-litclxed because 1 thought vre T'ould have better conditions. I was sat-
isfied with the P.".A. never found anything; bad in it, and never regretted
joining the P.. ,
.?I.A.
"I saw" in the paper that Flshoff bought {line A from Rran. I
never thought that it would affect my job. I felt that I92'.'OL1ld. have a job !
there regardless of who o'v'nc-d Tina: A. I Yes not approached by anyone to
join the U.l After gran sold the nine, I 1:ne"-. , in general talk vith some
of tn: men, that Psfioff might O,1Gl"{.T.¬3 Iiine A tE1nou;;jh Iiine B. I thought that
. .~ . - hif this s01....'_d T163831 that the union would lmve to chzmse in line A before t e L1
men could _",o back to For}: there, it Tould nalze no difference to me. I -
ranted to York, and had to work, and I Yes willing to vo:-1: under either
union, just so I could work. I never did hear anything about Elshoff opera-
ting Iiine A titlz U.I1.T'. men only, and figured that that vas vhat the question
$35-
"The
one on Sunday
heard that it
the U.'3¥."A. I
it res, askedonly P.!Z.A. meeting I vent to in September of 1941, was the
at the Elias Club. I heard of this nesting from the men, and
92-as to decide vhethcr the nen would stay P.I.{.A., or join
don't re.-member the person 92 ho conducted the meeting. Thoever
the nan to raise their hands if they ranted to join the UJ-i.Y;.
. 92
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- ed and waid he was "lad to T@1C7n8 theT . - -= . .;:gnba;k into the U**TQ I Signed up tlh
, - d ne or threaten"T, .!_ _ Sn I xantpd -to h-1-V9 4 Jgb, TIL, DI18 fOIC0 :U.U.~. oi¢~1 ' ' ' . 1 - + 'y 53° been at'19 '11. 1 _; _.,_-L-Ed IT!? J19 U014! Q 1 Q '*- J '- * ' '1 _ . - ,. - the ' were UDCGI P.1- A--mine A, conc1.1ons nave bgen Junt as good os 3 -con 1RuG&
ed
_ " - - +- P .0 a es read to me"I have mad the foregolng, c0n51$~1nC °* tv P 5 '
and state it is true to the best oi" rry kncw»'1<><1se- '
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Witncssas:
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RE: JOB]? L. LEXIS, ET LL.
I}92Z'1E}?_'&TI§f,[ LITE v.-as interviewed a s residence on Se tember 19, 1945, by .i~genth He gave information willingly an re y.
He stated he had nave? Y:-"earrestad.
11.; following igned statement was obtained fr
Springfield, Illinois
September 19, 1943. _
I know to be Special Agents of the Fe eral
u o my own irze will, with no threats or promises
made me.
"1 an li work-
ing a and
came t I was
the United Mine horkers in auburn, Ill., and was union until
1952, when I joined tho sslvo Mine llorkers of America, at Hine A. I
never held any offioe in any u1'1ion= I was in favor of the switch from
U.I*>£... to P.li.A. in 1932, and was entirely satisfied with PHI; all the time
I was a member of that union.
I received a letter from Hr. Ryan in September of 1941, saying
that he had sold liine A. Tho men that I saw and talked to, from Mine A,
were all saying that the thing to do was to join U.lL'u., that there
wouldn't be any jobs for us at Mine A if we didn't. They were all saying
that Elshoff would only operate with U.lI.'.T. men. I also heard, in conver-
sation with the men, that Elshoff might pull coal from dine A through liine
B. This talk made me feel that I had to join U.l-1.7;. if I wanted to keep
my job at the mine. It didn't maloo a lot of difference to me which union
I belonged to. I was satisfied to go along, with the majority of the men.
"I signed up with the U.Li.'J.. at the U.l1I.'-.4. Hall. I was told, at
Line A, that all the men who wanted to sign up with U.l.{.*.a. should go down
to their hall, and do it, that we had to do it to keep our jobs. I didn't
go to any union meetings during that time, so don't know anything that went
on. I signed up to keep my job, and no one threatened me in any way.
After the U.ll.?i. got control at Mine A, the condition weren't
as good as they were under lran. The rooms were bad, and generally, 0011-
ditions were unsatisfactory. I quit working at Mine 5. in Hay, 1943, after
I had asked for better conditions and had been refused.
This statement, consisting of this and one other page, has been
-527-make the following voluntary statement top
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RE: JOHN L. LECIS,
i~w'P"I'_' .'i -". ' 'T" B
'uitI1CS S; $1j a 1 state it is true to the best of my
read to me»_5n
knowledge-
/vi
Special agents;Springfield, I11-
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Re: JOHN L. LETIS, ET AL
IYTEYVITWBITH
.; I "press ling} isn language. E1 give 1'1- 1 1* J
set ior+?1 in the iellevring statement:wed at his residence," was intorvie "
Springfield, Illinois, on the of ornoon o
1943, by Special Aggents ar.a
would not make a good ritness due to his
' ' nf nation ior
V A i'Springfield, I11
September 14, 1§Z3.
is 1 "as born 1*-_ I a:aanf§.mer-icon Citezerz. I am oreseitly em~;T.5TT!"at »..1:e the f';,llo";:inj; s"o:~.tem._'.'E';_'F5- and no -0 LG pecial Agents
"110 " I re"V.hCJ have identified tn;::~clv92
the Federal urcau of Ir~vesti;:.tion. 27;» threats, or
of any kind has been E12: to no to Tconsideration
"I have work:-i at 3' i~:c A since I was onployed at Mine A
at the time that Ryan sol: the mine to Elsh ff. Before that time no one
to the United Mine
t "iv A fr'r1 the Progressives warltsd to chanfe the union a J -J- . _
ilorl-'-rs. Tie wanted to stay Progressive. That is the way that I felt. When
' - t lk. I went to some meetings Elshoff bought the mine, there was 1 lot of a
" ' " i / t the Elks's hall when the men voted to go to at the Progressive 1.5111, and o. __
' h' told me but 1 remember thwt the UIT.-T. I Co not rememb-2r wh- it was w 1 ,
they t: 1:3 me that Flshvff was nit going to open up Ifiine A an-:
t l sod and take the coal out sires, ans. that he would keep 1 c J _
The Engineer told us one day at a Progressive Booting that if
"' -» ob back. I do not remember his name. Ute. we coul-o. get our 3 s
about things at Kine B, and they said that Elshoff would keep
like he he/I at Efine E if ho hm. to work with the Progressives
th U1" I voted to join the U157,nire rrogres-
through Nine B.
we jiinad the
I had heard
Pine A closed
. I voted to
because I wanted join the U11."-', and did jr-in o W.
oi" that we would have to join 13> keep my job, inc. wanted to work. They s u
_ ' ur ">bs. I did not want to be a UIILT member. I the U?"".1 in oroer to keep o 3_
""' Thinrs are nwt as r-ood at the mine new would rather belong to the rim now. _, . U
' - t b our coal from L-Tine A, as they v-ere before. We got fined, and have o uy
' wt »r things that we did not have to do when the ULTFA made this rule! and no
Fir. Ryan ran liino A.
d it remember "I remember getting a e
who it was from or what it said.1 ttcr about the mine, but I o n-. .
t on this name and one other. It is "I have read the above statemon _ V
all true and accurate. _
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-- .:RE, 30121 L. LEWIS, ETAL
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Illinois
He advised that he was
in .i=.p1;'.»T T94?
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just be a waste of time.
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RE: JOHN L. Lsns, m .u.
IYTERVIE!- WITH was interviewed at his residencmq
1d, Illinois, on the afternoon o
Special Agentsit speaks English so "gocrly
-. L ere .= asked him, and his enswere could
not be uadexs" nod. Due to this, no statemsnlz was taken. He tried to explain
to iriter~:ic:»v1;.g £.ge:.ts why it was that he had joined the UMW when he was s
strong Progressi re. He assured that d rather be a member of the Pro-
gressive 3-line -iorkers. He was born He is
not e. citizen of the United States no A-we I
eoneareo "ha
iiiiiliilh-ii
ewed at his residence
Springfield, Illinois,
6 1943, by Spec-ial Agents Q is aperson having an l3.pp3. J1 e s er. He
was extremely uncooperative d1-.i.'i".g the entire interview. His answer to all
questions was that he hnd no comment.
He stated that he had no interest in unions, never went to any of
the meetings, end did not care which union he belonged to. He claimed to
h ve been out of the city at the time of the meeting when the vote was token
to go to the ULI-T and he did not attend any of the other meetings. when asked
if he wvzs satisfied with the union es it was before Ryan sold Liine "A", he
would only any that he hnd no eonrnent. He said there had been no discussion
of changing unions when the mine had closed in Hersh. "
He was questioned regarding whether he had been contacted in ref-
erence to the investigation, and stated that he had not. However, upo theA "its reaching for e. typewriter preparatory to preparing e ste.te~::1ent,9
stated that he would sign nothing. "hen Agents advised him t
e wou c not have to sign c-.nything'but that they Imnted to write the statement
so that he could look at it, he said that it would be useless as he would not
reed it. Becfzuse of this no stntement was prepared. Urigins-1 notes made by
interviewing Agents following the above interview ere being retained in the
D was born files 0 h s r n field Field ivision. m_
is employed at Mine A.
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InRe: Jon: L. inns, so tr,
n~:r2t~;92r1:.*.* tors who resides at #_ Illinois, was iX1t6I'VleW6 on
bv S .018-1azents Jno" cor d ' B 1» »1-*1 t urn ers and:..-.~_e_; O1
English lane lee ard his accent which is difficult to u1derstand. K1-
though he reiosed to sign the following statement,he assured agents
that it was true and correct.
"Springfield, Ill
September 1.4, 197:3.
111,- na e i was born in E
I an an ~'i *~-' -i.ozen. I neke t.e o on-
inp s a emen o who
hate identified t'!~:m.".»2lv<:.=. to me to be opecia. .".g.ntE Oi one
Federal Bureau of investigation. No promises, threats or considera-
tion of any kind L-: ¬Fl been made to me to get me to make this state-
ment.
"I worked at Liinu. n for about il December 1941,
"htn "°= ' * Cd. I am now working
I was employed ' c . at no A a
the mine wa so o by Ryan to Elshoff. Jeforc that time the men at
the nine were members of tn: ?rogressivo Hine Workers of America,
They liked that union, and there was not much talk about changing.
There might have been some. I liked tho Progressive Kine Workers,
and would have liked to stay in that union. I do not know what
happened that mad; tho non change. I do not go to the meetings
very often because I cannot h;ar very well. I only vent to the
meeting at the nlk's Club when thcy Signcd up for the UMW. I
signed up that night, but I do not r;memb0r what else happened.
I wanted to work, and so I signed up because the whole rcst of the
1l--1 - ;Aiucal Elgcu HP.
"l do not recall g".-tting any letters about changing Unions.
I did rot care riuch which union I belong-L-d to, just as long as I I
could work, but I was satisfied with the way things were going
before.
"I have read the above statement on this page. It is all
true and accurate.
/s/ F.B.I.
FBI"
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am JOHN 1.. Lens, em.
II¥TERVIE.". WITH interviewed at his residence, _
ld, linois the aft rnoone ember 17 , ts an¢s a person having an n e igenoe e. out the o e average
miner. e wou make e good witness. He claimed to have never been con-
tacted in reference to this ease and knew nothing about it. However, he re-
fused to answer som questions as being too personal, he had
' ' 1 for the Ul. While waitingsigned the eppliont on
e sitting in front of his homee stated, "Ah, F.B.I."have known nothin o e resent investigation. to interview-' ants that ivras not giving all inforsntiontin his possession.
A " 1'1 he assured that it wasing Ag
Be refused to sign tko fo owing statement, elthoug
true 1
" Springfield, I11.
September 17, 1943
I was born ithe follwin
who have identified themselves to me to
i Investigation. No promises, 0
to make thisbe Special Age '
threats, or consideration of any kind have been made to mo
statement ."My name 1
I have worked at Mine A for almost 20 years. I was employed
there in 1941 when RYAN sold the mine. I remember that the men at the local
changed from the Progressive Mine Workers to the United Mine Workers at that
» Before that time there had time. I do not know why the men made e. ohango.
o t ohangins unions as far as I can recall. I
dbeen no talk among; the men a on . D
not interested in union activities very much. I live too far out, an
oh which union I belongedwas
did not go__t_he meetings often. I did not oars mu __
to es I had to work, and either union was alright. I did not g0_1_:_ to any
' d changing over to the U!-W. I signed of.the meetings where the men disousse
up after the meeting when the men voted to go to the UM-I. I have no further
comment to make.
"I have read the above statement on this page. It is true
and accurate .
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Re: JOEY L. LERIS, 3T AL
IlTTE;2VIL'i' '.'¢'lTH who resides at_ S rfiold Illinois was inc e on no inr pr1n_ , ,
tcrmer 14 1945, by Special Agentso.nd would make 1:1 good xvi ncss. -.;Q s
"n" ' t l" E lish on intel,.;-..; noose too i - average nincr. Ho spea;s good ng
and can LxPrUJS himself well. He gave the information set forth in the
follcwinr si!LPd statmcnt:
"Springfield, Ill
September 14, IQI3.
nqy nmfa is I was born in
* "*. " cger no the fD1lDvJ.1f S _ U Au -
who have identified thonsulvss so mo o no po c gen 5 *
Bureau Jf Investigation. o pron<so, threats, or considera-
tion of any kind has been mode to me to make this-statement.
"I worked at Tin; A from Juno 1954 until the nine was sold to
Carl Elshoff in the summer of 1341. In l9él when the mine was sold, it
was closed tocausc of s_dsonn1 closure, as was the usuol custom. I was
on the pit committee of the local Erogressivo Hine orkers of America union
ct Tine A, locol #51. Until the time that thc mine was sold, there had been
no talk that I heard of about anyone wanting to change unions. The men were
ell satisfied with the operation of the lrogrossivcs, and the local.
"'.'.-hen Elshoff hou;-ht the mine we had a meeting of the local to
see what was going to be dons with tho mine. I went to the meetings at the
Trogrcssivo Boll. There had been many rumors going around as to what Elshoff
was join; to do with the minz. Host of the men thought, at least I know that
I thought, that Elshoff would favor the U15, because of things that we had
hoard had happened at Fine B. As I recall we elected c committees to talk
to Elshoff, and if I recall the committee could not find Elm. A new comitteo
talked to him, and they reported back to us that he had told them that ho
would not open up under the EEC, but would keep the mine closed, and take the
eonl out.throu3h mine B. The men wanted to work, so they went and joined
the UHI on the promise or hope that they would be able to have their jobs
and working conditions exactly the some as before. I did not want to join
thc UK}, and was able to get another job. I never went to any of the
meetings at any other place than the lrogrossive Hall. -
"I received o letter and a card about the meetings to be hold atthe other hells. signod the card, inviting no to one meeting.
The other was a le sr s1;nc -y Ednunson, tolling us that we would be able
to cone cock into the UEDY without any prejudice etc. and would be oblo to run
our local as we had before. This lcttsr also said something about Mine A
having been sold, and that it might not open. I do not recall the details of
whet it said about whether he could promise that it would be opened, or not.
- 554 -,
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R0: JOE? L. LIITIS, ET IXL
I:vTTI_=@;VI'f" '..'ITIl "ht thc meetings at the H.-5? ho-11,Fwo.s the one_ - " - ' 1 . .. ooweeotharmim
sontinu-d!who told uS stout what woo d huppo Th r r
on the oortmitteo tut I do not recall right new szmctly who
they nor-..
"I c;d not intend to join the F5-7., sn would not go back. I did go
back to the TLLPC o I:-1: days after it opened up to -_",Gt mr tools which I had
It-ft below vshc-:1. I had lost. worked. I talked to Jack liars, who was mine
superintcndznt at the atime, asking him if I could go down and get my tools.
do E015 ms that I wou1'<§_ETx?o to ask the mun who w standing out in frontof the n -6,. 1 thin}: thy; Jack s1os;;m xBnm;g"orno:M;and & and some othrs wvrc are-an tore. _ a heal to one of
tho lourd mc-rr. crs, -and em, of the otincz fellows. They told mo that I W 'hrce to sip: up with twc LT1.1'.' or I woul: not to oi]: 1.3 go down.
told no that it was hi; orders to keep anyon: frr-;'. goln-_f, down who 1 no smgn
up with the U11?-. I '.-..:.ot:d to get my fo.thcr'=s tools too, but they did not
1;-t no go after thorn. told mo that he would have them brought up for
tn but I nc-v.;~r "ot t}e than 1 sot of tools was worth at that time about _., _; . _
*'rgas to too, _
"I not-or went book into the m:'-ones. I would huvo gone back to the
mine if I could have gene Lac}. as 0. Progressive.
¢"4- 7-: _~~ "I was always satisfied with the Trogressive Liino Yorkers of
,'c1orica. I think that the men all felt the some as I did. I talked to many
men who did go back to the mine and csk them why they went back as mm. They
t-31¢ me that they did not WD.I1t to ,;F5E=1¢ as mm, but that they had to work,
and they thought thlt they would h;-ve to join tho UM}? in order to keep their
jOb50
"I 1;"-.vc rend the stove stztcmont on this page and two other pages»
It is all true and accurate.
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by Sp.~ci11 '-.g¬:nt5 znd
v':=:; :14] 41"-ct cm;ld no r-_tm".-1 o work was 0
EL.$iCFF. H; ":;.== unable to attend any of ":1<. mzetings where the dis-
cussims 111- 11:16 c0;t.::."1'".11:'.-g tha change 01 unions, and he advised that
he had 31-.:a:.r5~ bcer. satisflcd with the operation of the Pl-H while working
at ;Jli:i; A, t .
-135 not rcturned to work as yet,
A =i"n£:d stztment "us not r-btzined fr0m inasmuch
_ - ,, F.;s hi has not informnti-~n p.-rtiunt t..~ this invc;.1l,> 10 ..
Hc '-"as be:-;1 Hr: is an Americante wi-awed at ru-
Sprizigfiul
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Re; Jon: L. Lame, E1 AL
I1'?'."~_Z=.'~-I.='." TITTH s interviewed at his residence,n Springfield, Illinois, on the
'45 b £=p.1c'19.IAw 1- j' ' ;r lY'J'~.O,"»'16l-'~ ng
* d +'o Le hasai".1r.ou:"". 1.a=.v.- 15; a very c ..
Agents to he s person of high intelligence and e uca-i 1'1.
nmnnere which ~..-euld nernslly be found only on a very polished
gentlewen. He does not appear to be nearly as old as he is. He
does not have a greet deal of information, but would be a good
witness except for his accent. He is not difficult to understand.
Iie gave information set forth in the following statement:
Wzringfield, Ill.
Z-Zcgtenber 15, 1943-
nfy name is I was born in F I am an .e'uv.-e.icd:1 o:.,e2e;2. I an now emcloyed at liine A.ma e the following st: t<mTa::'-,".:§'c_' nd?M who have identified t'nem.=-.> . re o be ecie.
. . n. . ' 1" » I t; ' ;c ' & ' e threats ;e -= o he Federal Bu ecu cf nvee igaticr Lo crcmis s,
or consideration of any kind has been mode to me to make this state-
ment.
I have worked ct It-"ins A for @636. I was working
there in 1941 when Iline A was bought by nine . Before that time
I did not he-;r e.n_¢-tone talking about changing unions at the mine.
I do not care m'~TEE obdut unions. I would be satisfied with either
union. I did not rant to change unions because it did not make any
difference to me which union I belonged to.
"1 do not understand English very vrell. I went to meetings
occassionally but I do not remember very well what happened at them,
bE'c11'§se -I_d'i.F not :11-rays understand whnt was said. I was at a meeting
_5t tT'§eProgressive Hell, and the meeting at the Elk: club when the
men voted to go back to tho United 1-Zine Workers. As I-recall they
told us that the Iline Kould not be opened unless we joined the Ul-F-T.
I do not remembcr"§":ho it was who told us that. "e thought that
becziuso ilino B had the U35 ! and they would want to continue at Mine A
with United Iline Workers. Since it did not make any difference to
me which union I belonged to, I joined the T3357.
I have read the above statement on this page and it is true
/5/and accurate .
B-1.
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""T3"*"' """ was interviewed at h nee ,
i ' ' nornin of
r . Springfie"'d, Illinois, on ~18 1943 by Special Agents
s and Q is herd of hearing - e .
himsai we-._ th *1 re miner. He above that of e a era,
gave inform; ion sot out in the following signed statement. -
5:'pz'i11giield_. Ill.
September 18, 1943.
w i 1 or e .. ' em' e I nrke the following
statement to an who have identified
a1. Amen .5: U1 t e sorrdi ureau of Investi- themselves to me spec v
gation. No promises, threats, or conzzideraticr. ti any kind has been made
to me to make this statement.
"I have wcr'wd at Nine A since about- I was employed there
in 1941 when Ryan sold the min: to Elshoff. The mine was ciosod down that
summer, but I was ':rorkir.g tha re when the mine closed seasonly in 1:-Arch or
April. I intended on going back when the mine reopened.
n oho.. .ged unions about that
"T AJ. do not bio".-' much about why
time. There had been no talk about changing unions prior to the time that
' ti f d the announcement of the sale was made. I think that the men were sa s ie
with that union, although I was not toe interested in union affairs, and
did not go to the meetings regularly.
lifter the mine was sold, I heard that the mine was going to be
closed and the coal taken out through kline B. I do not remember where I
heard this, but I think th:.t it was in the newspaper. went to the meet-
ing at the Elks__§ club when the men signed up for the Eine Ymrkers.
I had gone to no other meetings. I went to that meetin the purpose
of signing up with the UHF.
"1 believed that if we fioined the United llino niorkers, that we
would get back £5 work sooner. That is the main thing that influenced me
in changing unions, and I think that is what influenced tho other men."
I do not recall what happened at the meeting at the E1lcs's.
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RE: JOHN L. LEIIS, ET AL.
... .-; T-JITH -'1 TBCHI1 that who I think is in organiserfor the UH3, was on aroun the mine a few morning:1.. . it o ned but I do not know what he was doingcor+1nu~n after pe ,
there.
L gave read the above statement on this page and one other page.
It is all Lrts and dccuratct
t/=/
FBI.
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he: JOHE L. LEWI5, ET #1-
INTERVIEH ITH
VEETS 1-:' -
A at iii time that the.4 -- " "" " --.
was interviewed at his residence,
ngfield, Illinois, on the
O! '2 Mar "'1~n»"'.92 21/W/, "' _""'-""'_'
ught
that he 92wc 1d have :0 join the UIM in order no obtain li-hi? b611¬fit»5
of the uion inasmuch as_he could no longer work. B9 did n0t"n$ 5°
jgin t,, 1Lm'ard would have preferred to stay in the PEA. He was born
in He is an american citizen.
In v1eu
quested to exzcute tatemcnt.
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R1: JOZIN L. L.'E1"IS, ET AL
I1-*TE~-'1 -'.. TIT}! -"as inten'i.ew.'ed * necial ',!.gent's_ <1 S@"'" °d ° W I
" ' v'e;';,' coooereti e inoiviauai and also seated to have 6
- _. - -r . _. f tfairly -,:oo¢E recollection of O'V92-::nt5 that he nad PC-TSOIIQJ. kI.o=vled;,e o athe ti;.~t= in thcir occ11:"ri:nce. "eer not speak Er.»£;lish fluently
end is L131" in conprch-21.;l:i_r.;; the mooning of questions put to him al-
' their-h it is felt he would be a favorable witness for the Government
After he had e:;eeutod his Signed statement Qstatod that about
on S92_-pt-..Y!'lh~_-1" 3 or 4, a man whom he know": to be the . s riot Board memberfor th: U31. had :~.d-or-cssc.d rt group of non at }!:'|.n:: A. stated this" ' :' 1. *-.-.-'- . -- --- 4---14-1on1» ' Ll Ll-I.mrm 1'-:15 a-'_!O11L; ht} }F.:<'11'"S Of Lgu, 01.1 c-r1:,I' :.nlu1 Llkah to u.u [.;.Lv!b uu J.92-I-1 u
infonmtior: as to ns id-e::tit3'. As h'.»o't es he could re-call, this unkrnom
men rudvisec U1: rain 'I'S thrt ii any 1-Pdorol nor. '.:m".;c-d to talk to them
about conditions at t-1: mines they should say they didn't know-" anything
and had not stun a=.n;."t Hing wrong rt tht. ammo; that the best Way to stay
out of trouble was to sry that they didn't know-r an*."thj_ng.
Fztetr-Q that he '".'r*.s not impressed by the man and that any time
the g trnrent 1 ranted to lcno" anything he would trlk if he had any
infomatiozl.
-121:-outed the following signed s.'ete.:mcnt;
_ 111
gopt. I4, 1913
2_l,"1{L3 thv follovi ng voluntrzry statement to
Sp::ci!*l 115;-..nto oi the Federal Bureau oi Invos -
or pi"OI.'L'i.."3't.S' have beer": node to induce me to rial-cc
statement.
"I tn"-.:.; born o "'" t>cr:ne '2 .5.
citizen in rbout t. L-. _ , '
rmd xtork at .ll.!'1C 4-,.
"I started T'0Il;iI1r at Zinc ,1 in about 1936 and had been P. member ofthe U.M.... since nbout- I have 11¢.-vur hold my office in progressive
or united. I was working :11 Panther Crook #1 in 1932 Y-hon the state rent
progressive and I signed up with them at that time. .'.t that time I was
100?; for progressive, but didn't have r-.ny'thJ'.ng to do with the start of
the union. Lhen I first started at Hine I, everything went along fine
and the were all satisfied.
"Tin: mine shut do-nn in the spring of 191.1 and I got 2. lottur from
Ryan tolling; mo that he had sold Mine J. to Elshofi. Since I lived in
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Pb: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET LL
1:Z'1B!":VIT3i '-Y T'TTI E didn't go to many of the progressive meetings.
_ nember guurg Lu uue uI the plugzuarivo ma.".ti_ngS - and I think it was at R'>d.man's hall. I guess nothing
was settled at this meeting except that all of the
n rne were at that 1*-eetin" seemed to be in favor of pregrcssive. me - .. .
I 1n,A.=.f.bv3T that some of the men were apeeiwted to a cc~:aa5_ttt.e to go
see Etahejf. Must of the men seemed to think that they had to join
- United in order to keep their job, but I can't explain why they all
felt that tray. somebody said both Mine A and Kine B would be run by
one union and they all seemed to think that unless united men ran the mine
it "wouldn't open in the fall.
"I didn't go to any other neo:ir.g',s 6; was not at the me;-ting in the
Elks Club v"h.n the 1"'-'.92 decided to grc United. I 1-'.'zs never beaten or
threatened in any 1':.y, but had the f0;..1i1.g that it might happen some
day. I joined the United ;_{j_ne I.or}.ers mien, oec.-_use I 1-was afraid I
"would lose my job :-.t Ilinr: A if I didnit sign up. I went to :1 meeting
at the U.?'j,1.. 11.7111 ;=1"'La;r tin. meeting at the Elks and at that time I
join-ad the U.Ll.7... I nd been vi-arl/::i.ng about tv-so weeks when I joined in the
fall of 1941-
"This stetcrnont has been read to me by and it 1::
tnm to the best of my memory.
j
ial A s, F.B.I.
U.S. Dept. oi Justice"
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Re: JOHN L. Ln-nzs, mm.
L REV Eh JJTTH interviewed at his residence,
ringfield, Illinois, on e aftern o o
S ecial A ants and by P 8'H .L5 a person who has goon command o the
ngii . 5E, can lf well, and has an intelligence above
that of the average miner. He was uncooperative, and it agpsared to
interviewing Agents that he was concealing facts, and relating circumstances
which did not correspond with his knowledge of the situation at Kine A. He
studied the statement set forth below, and then started folding it,
preparatory 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, and that he need not sign it if he'did
not care to sign it. He then studied ihe statement at some length. During
this study he stated that the statement would not hold any weight unless he
signed it. Upon the completion of the stuiy he returned it to Agents saying
that there was nothing in it anyway, 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, Ill.
September 15, 1943
as is i 1»-as em 1» AY
I am an A . ' n citizen. I make the following s a ement toand who have identified themselves to me o pecial
Agen s o e e era ureau of Investigation. No promises, threats, or
consideration of any kind has been made to me to get me to make this statement.
e wor ers un 1 a on ime that
the Mine was sold. Prior to the sale of the mine, there had not been any
discussion or agitation that I know of among the men 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
ULSL
meetings. I was at one meeting at the
enough to know what happened. I was
was held when the men voted about
I went and signed up with the UEW."I did not attend many of the
Progressive Hall, but did not stay long
t of town on the day that the meeting ou .
changing the unions. Hhen I came back,
There was no compulsion exercised by the Progressive Mine Workers to keep me
or an of the men in the PEN that I know of, and there was no compulsion by
' " W kers. I do not know wh the men changed. I had heard the United Line or
some rumors about working the mine from Nine B, but I did not pay an
attention to it. I had not taken part in the discussions or heard much
' I d'd notabout changing_until after the meeting when they did change. _1
' - 543 -
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Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ETAI.
IIJ"'T='= ~'»'1"'TH care, as eithe
concerned¢
contin-.1-'-:1"I have read the statement on this page, In in _'_E_{_§
and acc-1". .s.-':.e .
-F.3.I.
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;'§x'_*92, .~ .,__?3_ -I 544 I
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Rc: Jam L. LEMS, ET AL.
I?ITE;?:VIEi.*. .-:1 TH who rc-sides at _
oprirgiiiid, iiiinois, was interviewed an the
a tc 5' by Sbccial gents
and would not make B
gaud mit.-ss du- to an inabi ity to cxprcss n;ns: an a uery poor
nsnory. H; iurnishcd infornation as set Iurch in the following signed
stat.-meat. .
"Springfield, Ill_
September 14, 1943.
ruly ran: i I was born inF I am :11 1.";..1"iCIm git--'4 :_;1_. I am row empl -c ":J.I1C .
XLK- as lcllowing -uatcmcnt to nd ho hf~.".'. idcntificd to be pccia
Aiu s c at rlizzzl Lurcau of Investigation. No promises, threats,
or ccnsidtraticn of any kind h5§_pcen nude to me. It is all true
and accurate.
"I have ~,:.>rkcd at since _ I was err-
pl=;;.'2d tam; in 1941 when R;-an sold his lsh0ff. Be-
fart Ryan sold thc nine, thcrc was no talk abaut changing unions.
I gu;ss evcrybady was satisfied with the Progressive Line crkers.
I did not cur: much which union I belonged to, but I wculd have been
satisfied to have stayed under the Progressive Kine crkers. I
dc nct Know why the mcn changed unions. Elshaff bought the mine,
-and SQ they changed urions. I gusss they wanted to have the sane
union at both mircs ru by Elshoff. I do nut know why they changed.
I wgnt ta only the renting whcr: the nattcr was discusssd at all;
That was tn: zccting at the lks club hrll. L11 I can rsmember is
that they signcd up for th: UB5 at that tine. I signed up because
th-.- .'r3.j-.:I'ityw;1s going to. I did not car: much which union I b@- t
lcngzd ta. I do Rut knot why the cthcr nan signzd up, or changed.
l have r-ad thc above statcmet an this page. It is all
true and accurate.
/W j
/5/ FBI
FIBOII
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Re: JOEY L. LETIS, ET AL
F{ Springfie e, linois, was interviewed on the afternoon of S»; tembo Special Agents - and TOUld make an u?Gr1Tu . ,
ue t~ in 1 1 I y e o sees e express imself and an intelligence which
ins CXc;ees thxt of th: avera;c miner. He refused to execute the follow J
statement but assuzcd that it was true:
Springfield, I11
September 14, 1913.
' " " ii B O ¢ - ""3-' 11.".:~.: is I was corn i
I a.".. :1;~w @TY.'l.§J.'3 uC. -3"]. "- A. I mil O _ J
ah" have identified s oi. ear. - and v
themselves ta me o me .> - Specie .;en,s v "uc rad- al Bureau of
Invcstigatinn. Ed premises, threats, or considerati"n of any kind has been
made to me, t? make * statement.
"I ]'.J.!?C w'.1rk-;~ at Kine A for a'r. out Qycars. I was employed at
Mine A in 19%1 when Ryan sold out his interes 0 Blshcff. Before the
&nnfu3CEment of that I had heard no discussion about changing unions. There
was a l"t ef confusion and some diastisfactien with the Iregrcssives. There
clout chan;i:Q was n. talk tefere that, however, 1* uni ns.
"I went t» one meetin: at the Irojressive Hall, when they were
discussing what they shwuld do etout anions, and the change of ownership of
Kine A. That night, nc one knew what they wanted to do. It was all confused.
I th?U:ht that they did not know what they were join: to do, so I did not
bother to go to any other meetings. I decided I would do whatever the
majority Sid. I did nrt :3 to the meeting at the Elksti when they voted to
fa to the TEST. I signed up later.
I did not care particularly which union I belonged to then. I
was satisfied with the way things were then, and I an satisfied new.
"I have read the above statement on this page only. It is all true
and accurate.
<si:rw¢! FBI _ sined! FBI"
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39, Jam: 1.. isms, ET AL
NTERV F ao resides a.
pr-mg is , lineis, was interv ewe on ernoon
a or eeial Agentss not eonsidere o goo
-' envy noeent and B. very nau iblo voioo. He W1 no a
tion set forth in
'$p!'iI1gfi01d, IllSeptember 14, l9i'3.
1» n 1 on in
on '- ~ on oitzzen. I make the following s o. omos. who have identified thomselvos
to no Agents 0 o o u cou of Investigations Re
Erorziosc, threats, or consideration of any kind has been mode to mo to get
no to '-"-r:.l:e this statement.
"I hove worked at E-Sine A since 1955. I was Omployed at Kine A at
the time that Ryan sold his interest to Elshof Before that time I
hod heard no talk about changing the union from Progressive to United line
Workers. I was satisfied with the way that the Progressive Nine Workers
were operating, and I think that nest of the miners were toe. When Elshoff
bought the nine, there was some talk about what -was going to be dono-
I went to some of the meetings at the Progressive Hall. I did not go to
any other meetings. I do not remember who it was that told re, but I
remember that they said that Elshoff would not open Iiino It unless we joined
the United liine Workers. I also heard that if we did not join the UHF that
he would take the cool out of liine A through Mine B. I had heard that
Elshe favored the United Bin: Workers, and had favored the UHF at Mine B»
So no thought that he would fever the U251 at Eiino A.
I did not attend the Tnoting when they voted to go to the WW. '
I joined later. I joined the UT~1"T beeouse I had to to keep ry job and work
at Fine B. I would have preferred to have stayed in the PIE.
I plan on quitting {Fine A in the next few days, and finding some
kind oi work on the outside. I do not think that the conditions at iline A
are no good new as they were under the Progressives. The loeol passed
rule that we eeuld not toll: in our own languages at the mine, and if we did
they fined us. I believe in freedom, and I was not getting, it at Kine A
under the UB5-
"I got some sort of letter, from the United Hino Workers I believe.
no near es I eon remember, this letter asked us to join the UIFI, and told
us that ii we did that Mine A would open, and that we would got our Jobs
blkg
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R0: JOHN L. LHTIS, ET £1.
INTERVI "T T-[IT]-i "1 an?! nnd_¥tandi.ng aroundthe nine 0 o or the n no reopened. They wereso. I onlnuo there every earning for n couple of weeks cr
not knew whet they were doing there-
I have read the above stetemnt on this page and one other pago-
lt is all true and accurate. '
j<s1g=@¢>
gned!
F. B. I." signed!
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Re: Jam L. IJZWIS, ET AL.
who resides at Q
Springfield, Illinois, was in ervi
Special
would3!
mike an average 3 t.
Hea. ov he
average miner and can express himself well. is not too difficult to
understand, despite the fact he has no teeth. He furnished the follow-
ing informtion as set forth in his signed statement. ~
e l "5pringf.i.eld, I11.
September M, 1943.
I was born in
m am non e lo -d at '
who have identied r. to be pecia
Federal Bureau of Investigation. No Qromiese, threats,
or consideration of any ki_d have been made to me to make this statement.
I an willing, if necessary, to go to court and make this statement.
. "I have worked at Mine A since abouts I was employed
at Mine A in 1941 when Ryan sold out to the ne coal company,
Before that time there was no talk about changing unions, or going
over to the UM. I was a member of the regressive Liine Iiorkers of
America. I would just as soon have stayed in the P15? but I joined
the U15? when the rest of the men did, in order to stay and work
out there.
"As I understand and recall, there were some meetings at
the Progressive Hall. ht the first meeting, the men did not know
what was going to be don-2 about the mine under the new ownership.
There had been a lot of ru.-nors, and so a committee was appointed
. to go and see Elshoff and find out what he was going to do with
the mine. es I recall this corrmittee could not find Elshoff. At
the next meeting a new committee was formed, and they wont to see
Elshoff. They could not find him, and someone in the meeting sug-
gested that they get in touch with Ray Edrntmson and that he would
find blshoff. They evidently found 5-lshoff right away. The committee
care back to that some meeting I think and reported that Elsho
told them that he did not plan to open Mine is with rrogressives,
and would take coal out through 1-line B. I was not on the cormnittee,
what I recall that the comrzittee annomced,wereon that committee ! !EF1!. l
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iRe: JO}-N L. LEY:iIS, ET ALL.
IITERV1ii iii
{Bot-tlnuea Fl
were gzlrrf to do that, and I
work, and I could See that
wine A opened up again for us.
"I would just as soon have stayed i
Ynzork. Phat 1s the reason that I Jon
the men were going United, and I would go too.
"I have reae the above statement on this page and one other92
".1-92ft¬1" 'that meeting, Ed-zunson came to the meeting, and talked.. . tI do not recall what he said. I Ho not thank that he promsed to ge
n the Progressive Mine
workers, but I wanted to work, and I had to Join the Uh-5 in order to
' ' .e<i. I thought that the rest of
page. It is all true and accurate.
/S/
/s/ Y-"31
F.B.I.
-55Q-
__ T _, ..92 . -. -7. 929292._ 1 _ I - .."I went to the meeting at the Elks Hall
when the men decided to go back to the _
I joined the Ulin that night, because
I could see thatthe rest of the men
did not want to be left out. I wanted to
I would have to join the U19-i inorder to work.-1.. -.»~,__.-H.
E.
5, 92" .l X It I
RB: JQHBI 1.. 1.E'HIs, ETAL
3'-e INTERVIEW '92-.'ITH SP,-ings, no-. linois, was n erviowo 0 dcnoo on So tembor 18, 1945, by Special Agents e-ooh
In
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- criminal record.
' " Sgringfiold, Illinois
_ September 16, 1943
whom I know to be Special Lgents of themake the following voluntary statement
my own free will, iith no threats ofW = =*
federal Bureau of en,
promises mode to mo.
"I am living at Id, Illa, and
an we-rking at moo ll. I was born and came to
an inter-tho Unitod States in..;~,- I notional mine unio .... and transferred .11-YE. inq7 F In tho switch from tho Unitcd Mine Workers to 0
' , ' ' Y - tod to work- I"O31"OS$l'VO Mine horkors made no difforonco to mo, I just wan
I found no difforonoe in tho unions. I rojoinod tho 'U.Ii.W. in B110 fall of
1941.
"I saw in the newspapers that RYAN had sold Mine A to EL-SHOFF,
I e... not what to zral-:.o of it, and dirin't whether I would have
o. job thoro or not. I hoard some conversation, about that time, that
ELSHQFF was planning to operate Hino A through Mine B, that it would be a
mile shorter haulage. I also hoard that ELSHOFF was planning to operate
Mino Awith U.li.'.'.-'. men only. In spite of all this talk, and rumors going
arcund, I didn't think tho Pelfnl. at Mine A -would give in, booauso I knew
they were a tough union to swing.
"About this time I went to a meeting at Progressive Hall.
""" "" " """"in- here and do t knm: what happened ooforo I -ct I 'r'¢<an J.=-~u92'3 an __I3'.1vu {J u "I, II ' Ithere, but there was a lot of loud talking when I got there.
was talking about the benefits of mdnbing over to U.H.W. Ho sax
there wou1'ln*t bc jobs for tho men at Mine A if they didn't switch ovor.
There was a let of conversation, both pro and con, in small groups around
the hall. It didn't make any difference to mo. I just wanted to go along;
with tho majority, and it made no difference whether it was P-ILA. or UJLW
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RE: JOHN L- LEWIS, ETAL
INTER "ITH I attended the meeting held at the Elks Club, but cane in late at this meeting, too. Tho men had already'92COiIT13-EUED! voted to join U.1!.w., and 1ad been elected
president of the new U.;. local. I know the rest
of the officers by sight, but not by name. EDHUHDSOH spoke at that meeting,
and said he mus glad to see the men book. H promised a square dal to all
the men. I don't reomber any eomittoos being appointed to see ELSHUF
ot either cf the meetings-1 attended. I joined the U.M.W. at this meeting
at the Elks Club. There was no pressure put on mo to sign, and I was content
to go along with the majority. If the majority had decided to stay with
the P.M.L., I would have stayed P.M.A. Sinee the U.H.W. has been baok in
at the mine, I have soon no difference in working conditions frcnxwmat it
was under the PJLA. -
"I have road the foregoing, eonsisting of approximately
two pages, and state it is true to the best of my knowledge
/5/ j
Springfield, I11.
552
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.||.j':~..-n.1,"'.1%: JOHN L. LEXIS, ET AL
Spring ie , in , 1'-as interviewed in his
nts 5-_1 residin on September 15, 1943 by Special Age~< This mafl understands E-flish very- vfei nu can exmess nnsei clearly. He is an easy-going type of person
' s noFand he expressed his desire to stay out of trouble. He said he ha
criminal record.
. . t_executed the fO1lC!'92'TIl.I1g signed statemen . _
"Springfield, Ill.
September 15, 1943.
statement freely and
have identified
oi Investigation.
o obtain this statement.vol unt arily
themselves to
No threats or promises have been made to ne t
"I presently reside at I11., and
I came am employed in hiine A, 1 was
to the United States in- and Yras
Ill.
"I began to Work in I-line A I was a member of the United1-Zine Yorkers at this time, having been a member since Q In 1932 I
joined the Progressive I-Zine 1 orlzers of America. I have een little differ-
the tvo unions. It makes no'differ-ence to me to which union I
' kence 2.1! -
belong. The P.Ii.£=.. treated me o.k., and not-: the U.I.!.922.. is treating me o. .
"I l;no92.' that I heard that lir. Elshoff bought Iiine A from I-r. Ryan
but I don't lzncn: tho told me this. Then I heard that Elshoff had bought
lune A, I asked Jack Karess, a superintendent, if I still had a job at
Mine A. He said that I still had a job. This ras just a day or tvo before
{Zine A opened in the fall of 191.1. I'm not sure, but I think that Keress
' ' U.*-*5 . when I started back to rk in Mine A said that I ~ould have to Join wo
As I recall some men had already said that Mine A had a contract rith
U.!Z.-'. . Juz".-t before I rent back to *. or-k at Dine A, I Was working in the_nine, but I didn't like my tinbering job there, and ranted to
uaki ..o Mine A.
"I did not go to any P.!.{.A. meetings, and I never did hear about
1'-hat went on in them.
"Conditions at time A are 0.1:. for me now, and are just as good
as they Were under PJLA.;-7-*'f.'l"-'
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re: J01-II-I L. LHIIS, ET AL
IfT"fEFf_1'V}' 1", ' "This statement consisting of this and one other
handwritten page has been read to me, and I state
con inued! _ that it is true to the best of my knowledge and
Special Agents, FBI
Springfield, Ill ."recollectlon.
signed>_
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FE: -JOB!? L= LEWIS, EZAL
mm-
was interviewed in his residence on Se temoer 16, 1943, effINTERVIE~. WITH f Vi stem »-gm» ianan
speaks and unders nds Eng 15 very we .- e
he is willing t e5 in oourt. He claimed to have no criminal record.
" - - I Springfield, Ill.
September 16, 1943 l
I make tne following statement freely and
voluntarily t nd , who have identified
themselves to me as peoial Agents of the Federal eau of Investigation.
No threats or promises have been made to me to obtain this statement.
0.-...-: ....-4*-I -1 .1 1'1 1O1-II 4.1.451. menu, 4.1.4-n gIIT -...._.-._...4.1.- -__-la... l92.l- P1 UDU11 b.Ly J. UDLRAU
and am employed b I was
born On s r e work
in ne , vhie rune oino e regressive lline Workers 01
America.
"I was satisfied with P.M.1'~.., and cannot compare it to
U.E.W. prior to 1932 because I was not in any union before I joined P.llJ..
"I donit remember how I heard that iir. R"'uJ'i had sold iiine
B to in-. ELSHOFF. Beoause of the trouble at Mine B just a few years ago,
I thought that ELSHOFF would not permit PJLA. to work in Nine A, and tint
I might have to join the U.M.W. if I wanted to continue working at Mine
At I don't resell Amy trouble at ne L. when LL". 1111-5 ran the mine.
"lie one ever asked me to join UJLW. before ELSHOFF bought
line A. There was talk B-meng the miners that there was going to be a
switch from P.m..;. to U.H.W. at Mine A, and that such o switch was 111- '
evitablo. I also heard in general conversation with the miners that EISI-I'uFF
was going to try to pull ooal from Mine I. through Mine B.
"I did not go to any union or group meetings prior to the
time I joined up with U.H.=.*;'. I signed up with U.L'.W. in their I211 just
before Nine A opened in the fall of 1941. A great many men had signed up
with U.ll.Y.*. at the Elks Club, but I did not go to that meeting.
It did not make much difference to me to W1'1i<>h Dim I
belonged. It merely meant that I aid dues to a different organization.I quit working at Mine A on 1942, when I was able to Sat °~ 59"-ta!
job with better working cond ions. p
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RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ETAL
INTERVIEW WITH "I think that eonditions at line A under U.KJH. were as good
as they had beenuunder P.H.A. but I did. not like one rule
. no that the U.MJ. passed which required all men to speak in
English at union meetings, or be liable to e #l0~0O fine.
There were many old men in the union who oould not express themselves in
English, and I thought this rule was unfair to them.
"At a P.M.A. meeting which I attended in P-M.L. hall I heardthat four or five men, one of them I think ms had gone to
see ELSHDFF, but they did so without the authori y o e - .A. local. I
think that there was a fight outside of the hall after this meeting, but I
did not see it. I don't know why the fight started. I don't know if any
other committees were appointed, and I don't know if this oommittee reported
the results of the proposed meeting with ELSHOFF. I don't recall the date
of this meeting.
"I have read this statement consisting of this and one other
typewritten page and L state that it is true to the best of my knowledge
and recollection.
/5/I
Witnesses:
Special agents, FBI
Springfield, Ill.
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RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ETJHL
INTERYIF-'-'1' ITH $Pr1=1s="1d» 111-: was interviewed in his residence on eatember 16, 1943, by '
Special Agents -and Thismen does not understand En lish well, end eanno-t rirly in
rviaw and acted English. was sent during the into
as interprc "er. has never been arrested
for e crime.
" ' I Springfield, I11.
September 16, 1943
-_ . .. .. -.- . . . . A -| -."J. nm-co tne roiiowing statement ITSG-LY nd
voluntnril t who have identified
of Investigation.Y
themselves to me as Special
No threats or promises hove been mde to me to obtain this statement.
"I presently reside sldIll., and am employed in Mine A. F
end come to the United States f I have an o tho
United I joined the Un Workers I was work- Stdtos. _ 1 .ing i. I began to work in Mine A in
"The switch from U.M.V-'. to the Progressive Mine Workers of
America did not make much difference to me. I was treated alright in both
unions. I was satisfied with P.M.1-.. when I was in that union.
I knew about the sale of nine 11 by lr. Run to Hr. EIBHOFF,
but I did not think how it might affect my job. I did hear some men say
that we ?~!ould hove to join the U.M.'v'I, to work in Mine Ii after Mr. ELSHOFF
bought it .
"I si ned u with U.}£.v'92'. in the meeting that was held inthe Elks C1ub took me to the meeting tho-t d.11yQ
told the men that 1 they signed up with U.M.W. they would be ab e
work in 1-line A, but if they did not sign up, they would not work. I did
not go to any other meetings, and I don't know what happened in them.
Iiw 92__.._ I.__l 4_92.:_ _4_-..4___._ .l."L H3-VB nun 15:11.5 BI.-ubbmuu 2-6&5 BO iii byand I state that it is true to the best of my lmeuledge and recollection.
68598
Special Agents, FBI ,
Springfield, I11-
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Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
INTER¬IH. 'i~I'I?-I as interviewed on the mornin of
b' S .cial Agents and
- ' . e r ss himself
we . . - ; ' .would make a good witness He can zp e
ar n eliigence above that of the average miner. There is
not much to which he could testify. Ho gave information set forth in
the following statement, which he stated was true but which he declined
to sign: g
"Springfield, Ill
September 15, 1943.
:|5,jy nan: _ I was born in I an an American Cl ezen. I an noa: zmplovad - -'':EI= makethe fo lowing Statement T5__ and
who have identified thans;lv;s oo:m= o oe Specie [en s 0 e-e al
Bureau of Investigation. No Eroniese, throats, or consideration of any
kind has be.--.."n made to ma: to make this statement.
"I have been '-'.'orking at lrline A since _ I was employed at
Mine A in 1941 when Ryan sold his interest in Min-2 A. Before that time
there had been no talk that I hoard oi about changing unions. The men
scorned to be prstty'v:ell satisfied with the way th: local and the
Progressive Llino Workers of Amrica were being opsratsd. I was not e
int.-rested too much, but I was satisfied.
"'=- hon the mine was sold, the man talked about what they we-are
going to do. Th.re was t:.:3J< among the men about changing, because they
felt that Elshoff was favorable to tho UIPF. I thouglt so myselli, because
oi the things that I had heard had happoncd at Kin; B. There was talk
that the min: would not b:.- om-nod as a Progressive I..n_+, and that Elshofi
-;.-ould ttzko the coal out of a through iinc B. If he did that the
non would have to be U1?-.*. thought that if no could join the UM?! that
we could got our jobs back.
"I v.-..-nt to only on: meeting whether this matter was being dis-
cussed. That was the meeting st th. Elks Hall. There were some talks
mad-c that day, but everything sourced to be pretty cut and dried. After
'.'.'3 voted to go to UIW1'Edm921ns0n came over and talked. Ha told us that
if no joined tho UMZ that hr. thought that we could got the mine open in
a little while. Most of the man wanted to go buck to work. I wanted
to go back to work, and I did not particularly care which union I
belonged to, as long as I could work. That is the reason that I left
the PET and joined the UH"T, even though I hid been satisfied with the
I-LET. I was not interested in unions much and did not go to the union
meetings much.
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He: JOHZI L. Lewis, ET AL
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page. It is all true:-:_and accurate
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. , _ 1-.-; "» ."1'1-I nI know who . He was around the mine_ for a while a er e mme reopened. I do not know
cor_:'t.inued! what he was doing there.
'-I have read the above statement on this page and one other
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RE: JOHN L. LE-=18, EI AL
Ii -TTER'92IEi"»' ITH us interviewed at his residence W
pringfield, Illino o the afternoon o er
, , by Special Agents and q He is extremely difficult to unders!=m! !ue to e very ea
acoen . I gave information set forth in the following stetanentr
I "Springfield, Ill.
September 16, 1945.
I was born in I
I make the following statement to
who have identified themselves to me o
eau of Investigation. No oroniese, threats
ode to me to have no make is state- My mme
I on now
or consideration of any kind has been In
ment-
Q P +ke+ +imn +harn hI1 -. I have worked at Mine A for ebout , years. I was employed there
c Elshofi. uelore ...n.- .;i...- .--.--.. -.ed at the time th t yen sold the nine t
been no talk about changing unions for line A. I had not heard any talk. It
did not make any difference to me which union the men belonged to. I did not
or-are myself, just so I could work. I do not know why the men changed except
that while Ryan had run tho mine it had been closed down e lerge part of every
year. Elshoff was going to run the mine longer, and he wanted us to join the
' ' ti sUlla. That is :1 understending. I did not or-.re. I did not go to the mee ngYwhere they talked about Changing unions. I did not go to the meeting when
' " " I w nt b" ck to work because they voted to join the UH". I Joined the U36! when e .. ,
they would not let me work unless I did. I did not oere which union I belonged
to. the re now It does not make much dif-
1Conditins were c.s good then as y e. .
erence which union I belong to.
!8 above atatement on this page end it Fm: rend tr
iw all tru an ncoure e.
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Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, er AL r
INTERVIEW wire no interviewed at his residence, Springfield, Illinois, on them nin e tember 5 1943, by Special 92
Agents would make ,
an over o ness or e ~ :1 s ave. s young,
has en intelligence above that of the average miner, and can expres him-
self quite well, He gave information set forth in the following statement:
Springfield, Illinois
September 15, 1943 '
new
ement to
who have identified themselves! Bureau of Investigation. No promioso, throats, or consideration
of any kind hes been mode to mo to make t1"E.?_ste.tement-
"I worked at Kine A for three winters. I quit there inthe full
of 1941, two or three months after I-line A '-ms sold. At the time'thot Mine
A was sold, and prior to that time, I had never heard anyone talk about
changing the unions for Mine A. Everyone seemed to be satfied when the
mine closed in March. I was satisfied with tho Progressive Mine Workers,
and would have been satisfied to continue working under them. I do not
know exactly what happened when the mine was sold.
or my mm Iderx some orouiod to my house en- .-e__e_ __ _ _ _ _,__ _ __
I the !1.1~-|..¢. i ghink that they wont around and talked to all of the men.
do not recall exactly whet it was that they told us, but it was something
about having, to get o majority of the men to sign up with the L"H?I before
the mine would reopen. I do not recall exactly, but I think that they
said that Elsheff would not open the mine and work it with Progressive
members.
"I know that there were several meetings, but I only went to
___ _.__ __ _ ..:___ _ _....-.. .. .-. 'l.- .-. -pr.ODB snow?-1115,, tint bwilig th uucv ut ELiLn' That nu-5 OI. 51
afternoon. I had hoard some talk about things out there, end went to this
meeting to see what was goin, to be done. I do not recall exactly that wassaid at that meeting. * talked and some others, but I do not re-
eoll new who they were. omeone C~.lkBd and said that Elshofi would not
open up the mine unless we went back to v: ork as United Kine 'Ft'o:"1:B rs. They
said that ho would tad-:e the coal out through Mine B. They said that he
was digging out some entry's on the lline B side to run into A, m that the
cool could be token out that way. Several men talked. They all stressed
going book to work. They seemed to be of the opinion that they could not
work as Progressive Minors. One mun get up and said how much he needed
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Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
work, and that he was willing to go over INIERVIEW'WITH
to the UMW and not have all the trouble
guontinuea; end bother that the men had had at Hine B
with Elshoff there. Finally we took a vote
to go to the U}.-WI. Edmunson come over to the meeting and talked then. He
said some things about forgetting all the trouble tlnt had been hod between
the Progressives and the United lline Workers, and coming, beck together. He
seid that if we signed up a majority of the men that he would see to it
that Mine A was reopened. I signed up that night. I signed up because I
wanted to go beck to work. I did not core much about which union I be-
longed to, as long as I could work, but I was satisfied withthe Progres-
sives before. I quit the mine because the places were running out and I
did not think that I would be able to make so much money there. After the
BMW took over the mine there woe not as much freedom as before. They would
not let you talk. I went to some of the UIJ? meetings. They did not let
you talk as much about things in the local as in the Progressives. Under
the PI-5? we almost ran the local ourselves, but in the UIIW they had every-
thing fixed and would not let us make our own nominations, etc.
"I know who is. He is e board member, or ms, of
the UMW. He was nrounE'!.'H"e mine for o while after it opened. The told us
that if we had any problems or complaints to take it up withtho Board
member .
"I got two letters about the change in ownership of Mine A. Ono
was from Ry-'.=.n, end the other was o mimeogrophed letter signed by the name
of The Committee. It did not any that it we from the T.P.l|'I and did not
say that we would hoe to change unions at ell. It hod some complaints in
it about the Prsg,r¤E'ivs officials, and how men hed lost their jobs when
other mines had been sold. It did not mention the UIM. It just invited
us to come to n meeting. I do not remember getting ony other letters.
"I have reed the above statement on this page and two other
pr.f_¬2S. It is oll true and occurrr-to.
/*/
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-~ I392'TERVIE¬ WITH.. ..., _ ' n;.. .4 -,-if.-' ml .- . ;,_',
RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, E1 AL
was interviewed at his residence, 9
Springfield, Illinois, o ft noo ., by Special Agents nd -difficult to unders heavy
orth in the following statunentz
I e springfield, I11.
_ September 16, 1945.
l Hy name is I was born in
em now an 10 e a some . I make the follow ng stetemenind -who have identified themse
o =11 Agen s 2-. ureeu of Investigation. N
or consideration oi eny kind has been made to me to make this statement.
I have been working at Mine A for about years. Before Ryan sold
Kine ii, there was no tr-llc about changing unions. uess the men were satis-
fied with the Progressive Mine Workers, because I heard nothing said against
it. I did not care which union I belonged to, just so I could work. It did
not make much difference to me. I attended one meeting where the matter oi
changing unions was discussed. I do not remember what was said that night.
I did not attend the meeting when the men voted to go into the United Kine
-"Yorkers. I decided that I would weit and see what they would do, and that I
would do the some thing. I heard that there was talk about closing mine A
and taking the coal out through Mine B. I wanted to work, and I think that is
the reason the men joined, so they cou d work. It did not make much difference
to me which union I belonged to.
The above statement on this Edge has been reed to me by.
It is true and accurate.
/=/
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1.»-;_°'.f_1
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Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
HTLEVIEH MYTH
Agents -
to be a personW .Progressive and hates JOH~I L. IJEJIS. He was incarcerated in theJacksonville State Hospital at the time events concerning Line A occurredwho resides atqld, Illinois, was contacSpecial
appeared
as no decided
due to his mental condition.
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RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, er AL
' . F
was interviewed at hisresidence
Springfield, I11 inois, on the afternoon of
1943, by Special AgentsIN'I%i '-IITH
nnd ersten ue 0 e
prO!1OunCei ecce the following statement because he Ia!
unable to read whet was on it but assured that that which was rend to him ms
true.is difficult to und
Springfield; I11.
- September 16, 1943-
"!-? name is I M 5° iF I rm en Bmericen citezen. on now employed at Mine . e Ihe following statement t n who" r have identified themselves o me to be p6L2J.=-x gents of. e e e e ureeu
of Investigation. No Eroniese, threats, or consideration of any kind he: been
made to me to make this st:-tenant.
"I have worked at Kine A since Ryan bought that nine. I was work-
ing; there when Ryan sold the mine to Elshofi. Before _t_1_~_i_t_ time there was no
talk about changing unions. I was satisfied with the Progressive Mine Workers,
end would have continued to work as s Progressive if I could. I attended only
one meeting when the metter of changing unions was discussed. I attended the
meeting where they voted to change. The reason that I voted to go into the U15?
and the reason that I signed up to at day we-.s because I wanted to work, and I
did not went to have ell the troulbe and beatings end things that I had heard
about happening at Liine B . I knew it was the sane owner, end they told us
that he wanted the U121, so I joined to keep from having any trouble-
has rend the above statement on this page. It 18 all
F.3-I.true."
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Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, H AL
xmsnvrsw mm at his residence, Springfield, Illinois, '
15, 1945, by
Special Agents H would make an IQ a 0 an
d 1 1' inf ti as fact which is average miner. He states a great ea o o1-ma on ,
only hearsay to him. He studied the statement set forth below, and said
that it was all true. He declined to sign it, however, stating that he
was married and had four children, and did not "want his head blown off.
He has a distinct hate and fear of the United Mine Workers.
"Springfield, Ill.
September 15, 1943.
I was born MH
I make the following atemen o
who have identified themselves
o me to ial o e e era ureau of Investigation. No pro-
mises, threats, or consideration of any kind has been made to me to make
this stat ement .
"I worked at Mine A about years until 1941. In 1941 when
the mine closed down for the summer, was employed at the mine. In the
Fall of 1941, the mine was sold to Elshoff. I never went back to work at
Mine A after that because I did not want to join the United line Workers,
and they 'didnot hire anyone who was not. About the time Mine A was sold
there was a meeting, at the Progressive Hall, where the men decided that
they would stand at, and would not change over to the United Mine Workers.at that Meeting, and some other men started a
fight. Some of the ,-a o icers were a ing, and these men kept inter-
fering;- The officer told them that if they wanted to have a differentmeeting, that they should go over to the UMZT hall. Ewes a FEW
official, and they heckeled him so much that he got ma . en the fight
started . _
"I did not go to any other meetings. Iwould not go to any
meetings not held in the Progressive Fall, because the men knew that I was
a strong Progressive and I would be beaten up.
"When the mine closed down, the men were very satisfied with
the oonditi one at Kine A, and the Progressive Union there. I have workedin mines years, and in almost every nine in Springfield, and many over
Illinois. ine A had the best working; conditions of any of these mines.
I had planned on going back to work at Hine A when it reopened. I did
not have another job, but I would not work under the United line Horlcerl.,
I did not even go back to get my tools, which were worth about $65. I
knew that if I tried to go get them that I would get beaten.
>
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Re: JOHN 1.. urns, m AL
gun men
to some
because
know of
know of I do not think that the men employed at
lino A wanted to change unions. I think
that they were ell forced to change. I '
have heard that the UHW brought in some
and bent n lot of them up. I also heard that the UMW gave money
of the men to get them to change. I do not know that this is true,
none of these men talked to me, or offered me any-thing. I do not
any men who were paid. I only know of one man who was beaten. I
no other reson for the men changing unions.
"I have read the above statement on this page and one other page.
It is all ture and accurate.
/s/ F. B. I-
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RE: L0 ET LL.
iNTEiiii¢l YEITH
1 -a!!E Bandto
H
He
to-sign:sigr
mateld, Illinois, on the afternoon 0 .5
b t y Special Lgen s
was reluctant to ta k an re use
want to get mixed up in anything.1945
is a person of average intelligence and would make an average witness.
gave information set forth in the following statement, which he refused ,
Springfield, I11.
September 18, 1945-
Mr I was born
I am now em lo ed at Mine Afollowing statement t an
who have identified themselves to mo to e pecial
Bureau of Investigation. Ho promises, threats, or consideration of an kind
has been
for Billmade to me to mane this statement.
"I have worked at Kine A for about meats. I was working
Ryan at the time that he sold th mine o s off. I have never
been interested in union affairs, and have paid many fines for not attend-
ing union meetings. Before Ryan sold the mine, there was Est talk, as far
as I know, about changing unions. I do not know how the other men felt,
because I never discussed the matter with them. I personally did not care
which union I belonged to, at that time, as I was not interested in any of
them.
into the
I joined
remember
remember
accurate."I went to the mating at the E1k's Hall when the men voted to go
UHF. I do not remember what was said that day, or why it was that
the MU then. I think I had decided to join the HEW, but I do not
why. I had talked to a few men about it, but not many, and I do not
what they had told me about it.
I have read the above statement on this page. It is true and
FBI
FBIinterviewed at his residence at
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rm. JOHN L. LEWIS, ETA n.
INTERVIEW WITH The following i vesti tion was conducted r.i S eel *g~ =~-Siamt Springfield, Illinois on September 7,
1943.
nt his Springfield, Illinois,Agents interviewed d that he never has been
arrested in his life. to agents to be very cooperative at
all and indicated .he did not know what it was all about. Re also advised. he
not been contacted by anyone in regard to instant case.
Agents obtained from him the following unsigned statement:
Sp:-ing., Ill. P
' Sept. 1'7, 1943
"I, give the following information to& 2:. o are known to me to be special Aqents of t .B. .
No o pr ses have been made me to give this..information.
"I"nas born in I amgat lline A.
I have been working there ou yrs. n 1932 I 1 no care which union
we went with I went to P M L. as e rest did. I never favored either union
From 1932 to 191.1 I saw no difference in the wag the P.ll.z.. handled things.
"I heard that Elshoff had taken over line "A" in 191.1, it made no
difference to me I paid no attention to it. I heard this through gossip.
No one contacted me to go to U.lZ.{I. or to ask my opinion about_ the situ-
ation. I didn't hear anything; about Elshoff p0S5ibl}1 brizgirg the coal fromliine A through Mine "B" during this time I was norkingH& paid
no attention to the rumors going around. I did not go o any mec ngs atP.H..r.., Redmars Hall or the Elks Club. I joined the U.1£.'.¢. right at the
mine the morning it opened up. Nobody said anything to me I just went out
to so to work when I got there they told us the union had. swung over to
U.lij?I. and no would haze to join if we wanted to work. It still doesn't
. l 41-conditions at make any difference to me which union no have Since 9
Mine 11 are better_th.a.n they were from 1932 to 191.1.
"I have read this two pt.g0 statement and to the best of my knowledge
and belief it is the truth and it is as I have told it to the A _ents.
This statement is true and then. is no reason why I should not sign it but
I would rather not sign." .
-569-
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RE: Jam I... IE-T18, E1 ll
.3 li
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,T-ERvIE»-- WIT!-I "Witnesses:
60" .__ 111.10
PO01
- 5,, Paul Minn-
' pecial q It
Springfield, Ill-
Sept. 17, 1943"
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E I
JOKE L. LE}?-IS, BI AL
II»T'EER~IEYi VITH was interviewed b S eoial Agents
i and Q ~1=*=~==¥~ *-¥-- 3- - , - - ~ - ~ -,--~--n-- -_nA-.Aw>n§-Klein-I115 BDUI'y 1.11 B l.¢iU&I' IEW-Ll.1l92iI' H.110. U-tly-J UH UUUFUJ u.sIwI
He seems sincere, however, it is noted that in his statement he fails
to give e plausible explanation for the miners at line A inging
to U.}.I.'-1'. It is possible that he was not aware of everything that
transpired. He would make e. satisfactory witness. His statement is
as follows:
Springfield, Illinois
September 10, 1943.
"I, resid the
fol1o':.'ing voluntary statement to
both of whom have identified themse ves
Federal Dareeu of Investigation. No threats or promises have been
made to me to induce me to nuke a statement.
.1 was born in came to the UnitedStates in and become .. . . citizen 1 I started coal
mining in and at that time I joined the United Kine Yorkers.In the n-111 of L started working at 1 From then untilQ: worked at e A and from I worked there steeu. iiof 1942.
In the spring of 1941 Pine A shut down, a seasonal shut
down. At that time I belonged to Progressive, having. joined in 1982.
I served on the pit committee for U.LI.'.!. in 1941 until I quit and also,
in 1936, served on the pit cornittee for P.1i..B.. '
"$or.1etime in August of 1941 I sew in the paper that Elsho
had bought Tine A from Ryan. Some oi my friends and I felt that sane-thin must be done, that we should see Elshoff about our jobs. _iiilihonetic! called e meeting of the entire membership oi
Frog:-essive. This meeting was held at the Progressive Hall. The pit
committee refused to meet with Elshoff so o special conmittee waselected. I wee eo o i cmnittee. Others were ~~»-- I M »
how their names are spelled. '"e were supposed to see Elshoff and find
out if he was going to open the nine and if we would get our jobs bask.
he were to try and arrange on appointment with Elshoff but we oould notlocate him on the phone. This some eveninii after trying to locate -
Elshoffi 1;-re net Jol/_~i_1r;,r 5-nyder, .nd some other, all I=.l£.A.*--embers. When we were going by these men 5; -16¢ acid he wanted to see
' I hme. I asked hm that he wanted and he curs and eve me a s ova.
I got out of there but I know they beat up I don't
Icnoc: '92'.=l'1;f they started the fight except ttmt they didn't Want H8 170 H8015
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JClHlT L. LEIJIS, 0
I 7 Elshoff. I went beck up to the meeting snd.Is
advised the members that we couldn't find Elshoff.
-continued! , While this was going on Snyder and his gang came
into the meeting and called us e bunch of scabs.
He seid if we wanted to go beck to United we could.
The next day our cormnittee went to Kine B to see Elshoff.
We couldn't find Elsho but we talked to Oscar Feloetti. He told
us that there were t-we plans, one was to open 1~:'ine A and the other was
to haul coal through 3-ins B. Fe had another meeting that afternoon.
Ve held this meeting st Iron Hall, on Monroe between 4th and 5th Its.
Yfe were afraid that if we held the meeting in the Progressive $.11 we
might have trouble.
The night before We had planned on not holding any more
meetings in the Progressive Hell. I was scared to go back there.
There were sbout one hundred members present at this meeting and we
told then what Feleetti had seid. Beoause all oi the men were not
present we decided to call a meeting the next day at the Elk's Club.
As I remember, we put on ad in the paper and there was e lot of the
*1 of the merrborshi . was chair- men __.reHsent, nearly all _ -P
men of the meeting. This, as I recall, was p om er of 1941.
Our comittee told the membership ~::hs.t hnd happened in our
telk of affairs with Falcetti. Two other things happened at this
mating. A motion was made to join United Tlino Yorkers and this notion
carried 100$ ; by a
Ray Eclmunds on was
I do not know who
the action we hadstanding vote, no one voting against it. Also,
asked to coma over to our meeting and he some over.
asked to some over." He told us he was glad of
taken. He said he was glad to seo Illinois to-gather
agoin, all the miners in one union. BB talked about ten minutes,
tears Here in his eyes while he was talking.
After he was through talking there was a bunch of member-
. W. 'ship cords and we
and before we sell signed up for U.h. Before the meeting adjourned
for our new
am not sure are spe
"1 know that this was e sudden move, the men swinging to
United se they did. However, I wish to state that there had been no
plans made before this meeting to join U.H.Yf., Fslcetti had not
mentioned anything about any union and I guess the reason the fellows
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Il92TIEI?_92T1Ei~' YIITH joined was because they were madcg gang for calling us scabs.
I c
"'7-e left this meeting and the officer! including
myself went to the U.li.W. building and we were sworn in es officers- I
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at Snyder end his
of IJ.I~_.{J. Eimundscn swore us in, and then he celled Elshoii on the
phone. Edmundson wentedi to find out whet Elshoff was going to do with
line A. I did not hear the telephone conversation
Elshofi and Feloetti sane to the office. I do not
came first. Ed-mundecn told Elehcff that the boys
the union" and wezrted to know whet he was going to
There was some other conversation, but I
it wee, and then we made an apoointment to meet atbut after while
remember which one
had ecme beck into
do with liine A.
dont remember wl-at
E1shof:£"s office
later that night. ="e net there letcr thrt night and after midnight
Elshoif signed e. contract. In about a week or two
I went beck to work digging coal.Kine A opened up.
After d some friends oi mine get
e. job at lline A. hose
retnembcr was anoth
mother fellov: 92-.-hose ncnolust name I do not
I think wee another, and
I helped all of these
fellows get jobs at Fins A. These fellows were ell !!'!iI1¬!!"-5: The iirst
man I helped by going right t Felcctti but the others I helped by going
to the President of our loco; I don't remember ever going to-0 get jobs for enybogy. .
"1 had to quit mining because my back was bed end I couldn't
hardly lift e shovel full of coal. So I started up u business of my
OWE;
uL_. . _ _n _____ 1_:_._1 92__.____92_J. _... 4-In,-. .-..-..-CkThere was no pressure O1 any KLHC Druugnu uu um .1;.92u;;|.u'61"5
to join U.If.§-'. lie pressure oI_ any kind was brought on Elshoff to sign
the contract with us, I was there when the contract was signed.
The shove st-st-enent been reed to me bv i _ _ "- and it is true and correct to the best of my memory.
/S/"92 "itnesscd:
Special agents, F.'B.I.,
Utsl Of Justice.
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BE: JOHN L. teats, or AL.
N'.T ~<? EIiT'1T_-Li who resides ata Illinois, Tas in <3I"J'lG-'
1943 ecialms born inD12 o er. He served -orldfar. He received his
otn citizenship papers arrested in 1935
or 1936 in connection with 0. at Tayl in a 's-
pute, but was not held or convicted. Lt the time of the inter92rievf
vas bedridden due to a broken leg, but is ex ected to be back on his feetin a snort timc. He is employed at and is con-
sidered to be a vow good potential titness. He has a very een memory, makes
effort to be exact and accurate, and vould be very difficult to a distinct
confuse on crosse:amination. He is able to express himself very well, and
it is believed that his voice, although soft, Would be readily understood.
He fumished information set .¬'or'th in the signed statement.-
"Springfield, Ill .
September 8, 1943.
fol10T'ing ststezient ro
- vho have identified
ves Federal Bureau of
Investigation. Ho promiese, threats, or consideration of any kind
has been made to this statement. I an Willing if necesi
sary to go to court, and repeat any part of this statement.
lot of trouble by the sen representing John'L. Levis, and I was
supposedly beaten. I-.t that time I was rrorking at the Peabody Ifine.
Then the PIT of The formed, I voted against going into the F131
because 1 thougiit that we ought to fi,eht John L. Le?-is in the UHK,
but I 1'25 Yilling to go tith the majority. I never 1-out back to
Peabody Iline. I could not get :1 job until 1937, Then I
at liine which Tas otnod at that
"ygine I. closed about April 1, 191.1. That 1"-as the usual procedure.
I did not see the nine at 1-fine L much during the period that the mine
T".-is closed. I attended most of the meetings of the local Which Tas
held then, but did not get to all of then. In September of 191.1, I
read in the paper that I-lshoff had purchased the lease rights to Eine 1..
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an Joan L. LE IS, sr 1.1..
I think that there was a regular meeting of the local
held the night that that announcement was made i__ the
on inue papers, but I an not sure. I was not at that meeting.
- The next meeting I did attend. I vas working With a
brick layer at that _time, and did not see the men often. I had ncard that:'1ad been talking to some of the old men about switching to the
M. ., no not !:nc'r1*?ho it vas. Lt that meeting that I did attend, they
discussed the possibility of stitching unions, and that would happen not that
':1'ishol'f was running Hine 1.. ill oi the men knev that liine B, 92'=hich E'!.sh0:f.f
Yes 1"UI'lD1I.g had been signed up with the 111'. There 1-as some talk that night -
about svitclxing unions, and also about that 1"e could do to get our jobs.
I knot I thought, and 50.10 of the other men thought that Flshoff would never
open iiine L, because liine 1. is a long mine, and it 1"-ould take the
coal out oi Ifine n, thro~ ch the Tfino 23 shaft. That who wasINTERVIE§* 7 ITH
as presen . could
force Fllshe I to give us our old jobs. He told us that night understood
that the Rational abor Rzlations Act vas such that it vould not be necessary
for Eilshofi to hire us back, because it was a new" owner operating the mine.I think that this statement of-had as much to do as any with the men
switching over. to the U117.
Thcre had been some discussion among the men that night about run-
ning Vine B and Mine 4. as one mine. I do not recall exactly, but I think
that there Yes some talk that night that some of the men did not think that nine
I, would be opened unless it vent U1{'C. That remark was made from the floor-'
at the meeting, but I do not recall who said that. The men seemed to think,
and I did ac, that there had been so much troulblc at Liine B, that re Y'O921ld
have to gr "UH". before Fllshoff rould open the mine again. There did not
seem to be any tall: than about Filshoff favoring the ULZI over the PMT.
"That night, they talked about sending a committee to Elsho
l d t to talk about that he HIS going to do with the men at line J1. I 0 no
k;nov'1~'heth::r a committee vies actuall sent that ni ht or whether it 1'asjust talked about. I think um aa on the
cemmitteu, but I do not renanbcr V10 c se Tfas on it. I t this
committee decided to act on its ovn after the meeting.
u'I"DC1t sane night, after I left, I vas told later, _and! cane back to the hall, and there was a fight, and someof t - men go hurt. I do not knot about that for sure, but 1 do knot that
at the next meeting, on Sunday, I heard some of the men say that they had
been against the U]! because they had some thugs running the union, and than
Ye had some of our o".n in the Pi, rho vore trying to keep us from going
over to the U!.!!'. _
"I do not know personally vb at happened after that. I got to
rendering and called Ray Edmunson and asked him what the aet__up Was.
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C
HE: JOHN L. LE IS, ET 1.1..
Ho told me that there 1-as going to be a meeting of the
at the mks's club the next aunday. I had heard that
the committee had gone and tried to find Elshoff, and could
not find him, and had gone to my Edmunson ' wunson
d th that vhat they ought to do was to go to a was supposed to have tel em . -neutral hall, and have a have a meeting and decide what we ought to do.
I vent to that meeting. repo1-ted for the conmittee. "vho lives on College S-roe csi ed that night. There WEB
Bu}?-{DOS-QC to be some other meeting after the meeting I had been at, and the
meeting on this sunday, but I vas not there, or did not know" about it before.
That afternoon I"'think almost everyone rho had been Yorking at Iiine I. vas
there, except about tvo dozen. There vere none in the meeting hall The had
not Yorke-d at the mine, although there 'Y~'BT92.: nary standing around out side of
the building. I 1".-as told that these men on the outside tore supposed to be
men vho were there to sec that the PH; men did not cane to cause aw UH -
trouble. .._fter the meeting T':92S opened,
~ " . -_ = t =c n en e in s o a a 1. 92_, P.I'1IlO=_JCt. U H O 3
gone to Ednmison. Edmunson, was supposed to have told them that he Tould pro-
misc that the Io. no ,1! 92"o1'iId open if it vent UH" because they had a contract
1 tas such that when one comoany 0 rated tvo mines, that tith nilshoff 'h1eh ' - . ' l -cthe union could force n division of labor. Then q said that he
did not believe that the mine vould be reopened as a 131.. e men seemed
to feel that veg: too, and they voted. ilhere Yes only one man The did not
get up to vote to go to the U!f.. They then ected officers of the local toand ask for a F
after and Said that bo-
re ought to get ahold of Edmunson and have
E'H" iI th "ht I uld find him him tell us What the Situation Yas. I said o 011,, co ,I think said t .t they could get ahold of him. Ten to "tv en ' mine es er Enundson, Edm soer.ta.ry,lm9
* " i = ' non" come over. unson * and a couple 0- oth or norm not E
then ma e a speech. H.-: did not say much except that he 1'35 glad to have
than back in the Uh! , and that there vas no sense in fighting etc. He
said that he vould li e to have the committee that had been elected go over
and see if they cou1?F5ot meet tith Elshoff right then. Ednunson then asked
the men to come up and sign up vith the U15 so that than HE_1":TaT1't_to '
Elshoff he could show" him that he had a majority, and could demand a division
of the York and open Mine ,1. The men then 1 ent up front and signed up, 1,11
but about three of us signed up right then. I began to condor, and thought
that things Tfere a little too tell planed, and so I just tent along with
the committee then it rent over to Edhtmsonls office with him.
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Re: JOHN L. ts IS, sr AL.92
NEE, '1' T H "Then ve got to Edmu.nson's office, Edmunson picked
up the telephone, anEi"F5IIe'5 Eds-hoff. otmr
on inue party ansrered, Ednunson told him to say that it Was
Edmunson calling, an?! that lshoff would come to the
'ph01'1e. I 1' ondered than I-"E: it was that Ednunson could get ahold of Elshoff
so easily, then the committee had not been a5Ie to reach him.
"Then Elshoff got there, Edmunson told him that the mm had asked
for a U13 charter, and that he was g that he opm up Iline A. Falcetti
saic that they had not been planning on opening up Eine A, but were planning
on putting in a 'skip' and run the coal out of mine A through iline B, but
that if they could shot. that there 1-Tas a majority ir1 the union they would
consider opening line A. Elshoff did not say nuch of anything except that
it was sunday, and that he did not t-ant to sign any contract on Sxmday, and
he vented to talk to his attorney. Elshoff told us to meetiat his office
on 6th street in Springfield, but that no contract would Be signed until
after midnight. I did not go to the meeting.
"After the mine reopcned,_v'as around the office
every day. It looked to me as if he was doing all the hiring, although I
Was not sure. 1 had a friend of mine rho 1"as looking for a job, and so I
Went to and told him about this friend of mine. This friend* as t en in and I did not know" his address
as e me 0 tell hin 1- hen _ got his address, and I did. One day
cane to me and told me that he had sent a telopram to an J F dmy name, telling him that he had a jobi. -. ac , and was hir dright avay. I think as also hire j I think_got several 0 us in-ends hired at the mine throng
"A couple of Yecks later, after the mine reopened, I vas put on nights
*. orking on the track. I had been pretty insistent about maintaining the rights
re had had '92"l1.h Ryan, and Felcetti did not like it very well, so they kept
me on nights. Thus l do not know much of that happened out there after that.
"On the day of the IFLIB election for Iiine B in February 191.1, I
met Fe-lcetti at the post office. I vas attending a Progressive Convention
that dajr and vas not TOIki11[§. He told no that he 92-ranted it decided, and no
more trouble -"ith the unions. I told him that he Vented the U1! to in, and
he said that it did not make any difference to him. ,
/S/ /S/ F-13-L
.pecial Agent F.B. I."
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ss= JOHN L. LEWIS, or AL
:;i ber 18, 1945.
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Hi5 At his
interviewed
his life. It was~~=-*~=VIEf-I WITH The following 'nvest' ation was oond d b"S ms Agassi Maihat Springfield, Illinois, on Septem-
Springfield, Illinois, Agents
ed he never has been arrested in
is rather intelligent and made B. good
impression, and it is felt he nnke a good witness if his testimony
were necessary.
Agents obtained from him the following signed statement:
op;lngf1old, Ill.
Sept. 18, 1943
" -é_L1_._ ow the following wormtivn W §sm to me to be Spec. Agents of the F2 s.
_ . o a ' Q " - o s or promises have been mo to ct me to ivo this infermetion. I am now employed by Iworked at Mine A lvcsrs up to Mar. 2 om an man while there.
I was horn In LU " * "
h d t . W o A the rest tP Y
.en the onion at lline Ac onge 0! 5. 1». !v !o! wig! o go to P. ll. 11., _I didn't make
any difference to me which union I belonged to they both treated me alike..r
.
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ing or
4-1-an Y1UJLU U I
charge In 194:; when Elshoff took over miss w I heard of it through
talking with other men and also tru the papers. We heard that the men who
had been there were to got their job back, I didn't think when I first heard
of this that there would be any trouble at all. From 1932 to 1941 I never
had any complaint with tho local, I was satisfied the way things were going.
After Elshoff bought the mine nobody over contacted mo as to my opinion W
things or as to joining over to U. ll. Ff. There was some tnlkthot Elshoff
would shut down one of these mine but it was said that the men from the mine
that was shut down would be entitled to Work in the one left open, this
was just t-alk= I never hoard that Elshoff would open Mine A only on the
condition that the men wont over to U. H. Fr. These rumors I heard didn't
make a great deal of difference to mo, I just figured I'd go along with the
rest of the boys although some of the boys didn't.
"1 believe I attended :2 meeting at Rodmans oll, I donit recall
attending sny :Ln1rolvin,g this question at P. M. A. and I didn't go to the
the Elks
what the
Ho 11:0 at
of this,
OVGT SONG R870?Club. I don't T901111 how I was told to come to this meet-
purposo of it was. There was quits a ore d there. I joinedthe mu in the U6 s. n. Bldgs 1 believehas in
there was u few men who hold back but finallythegy ed
did sign ever. I signed because everyone else did and they
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St. Paul, Liinn;RE: JO?N L. LEWIS, ET ALc r. - _
M4
1
b * tho sure for mo. They now have
I
m "I have road this 2 page st
1 arr. sig,nin5 it cf my own freo will.
springficld, I11
s pt. 16,1945."t_ 1NTEP' T WITH culled you a slacker and everything also if
you didn't-
I I".. k. I
-= :-,. -1-3 J 1 'or lnuud "hftor U. H. W} became tho union at Mine A ,- 2 men on thc, job I d:|.d
i thhgsrunhwdaamu Jatamcnt and it is all true and correct.
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Re: J01-N L. LEWIS, ET AL.
INTERVIF, 1115 wed
at his home ,-
5 rin field,
and He was entirely cooperative and
seemed fairly well acquainted with the happenings at Nine A during the
pertinent oeriod, impressed §gents as being an honest
and reliable person e a vis ' ' '
t is felt that would make a fairly good witness if his
testimony is nee e . e ished the following signed statement. urn
!pringfie1d, Il1_
Sept. lo, 1943
give the jollowing information to
opecial Agents of the F.B.I. who
me as such No threats or pro- have ma e t erse ves nowr to .
mises have been made me to get me to give this information.
"I have beer o P1 at tine A as a digger for the past
I ame to the U - 5. I was born H 0 -5- uin Band got my citizenpapers ago.
"Nhen the Mire 'A' union went over to the Progressives,
I wanted to go over_ I have always been for the Progressives.
"when Elshoff took over Line A I heard about it through talk.
Eie felt hadat that time and thought we would have to go back to U.l~'IJii'
else it would be just like Kine 'B'. We were always satisfied with
P.K,H. while it there were a few troublemakers who were
in the P, vas one of these4_§hen Elshoff took over
Sine A he t around to miners_houses and told them
they better go .h,d. or the mire would stay closed. I
heard that Blshoff might close Mine A and operate it through
Mine '8.
" sen sent over to Ue¥;Wi Mine A
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at-:»= JOH92I L. Lewis, er AL.
INTERV Eh WITH "I went to the Elks Club meeting_ I dent remember
how I knew about it but l went_ I dent know who was
-l ~ ~- in char 9, As I remember we just went to this8
meeting to go back to U.K.N. I think we voted to go back to U.H.H. at
one of the other meetings I believe the one at Redmans.
"Edmundson talked at the Elks meeting telling us he was g
we were back in U.M.n. and that we were going to be treated well. I.signed j
up for U.h.H. that afternoon at the Elks e were all signing up together
"I voted to go over to U.H.W} because I needed my job and
there was no other way at the time. Jobs were hard to get in those days
and.we knew that if we wanted our jobs we had to go back to U,E.W, I
did not go to ilshoffs or Edmundsons office or to the Leland Hotel after
the blks Club meeting.
Now under the U.M., the conditions in the mine are just the
same as they were uder the P.M. . but in the local it is different.
They pay no attention to just a diqger, just a few run the whole thing;
this is different from P.H.A. -
"I have had P-gent -read this statement written on this
ard two other pages to me. It is all true to the best of m knowledge
and belief. I am Signing this of my own free will as it is true.
signed _
witness:/e jpecia agent, F.B.I.,ot. Pam" hinn.
' o Milt pecia gen I '.!
Springfield, Ill.
Sept. 16, 1943"
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Re: JOHN 1.. n':..1s, mat.
INTEHVIE1 nITH The followin investigation was conducted by Special Agentsi g andi at spaeeeld. macs
on -ep m er 15, I943.
Q Springfield, 111111018, the resi-
dence of agen rviewe him and it was noted that he had
difficul some of tho questions and in answering them. It
should be noted that he is an alien too, and he advised he never has been ar-
rested in his life. It is felt he would make a poor witness unless his
testimony is necessary, as he is not very intelligent.
He was unable to write his name so marked "X" on the statement which
he gave agents and that statement is as follows:
Springfield, !!!.
Sept. 15, 1943
"I _ give the following information mpwho have identified themselves as being Special gents of the
F.B.I. No t rests or romises have been made me to give this infonmation. Iwas born i & I came to U.S. whenxs
President & an not a citizen a a I have been at Line a a ou years
' am still there as a digger. In 1932 I wanted to join P.M.A. as it was the
best local and all others went over too. I would rather be with P.M.A. now
than under U.H{h. I read in papers that EISHOFF got Mine A & that RYAN
quit. About a week later I first heard from others that we would have to join
U.M.. but at first I didn't pay any attention when ELSHOFF bot Kine A.
P.m.1*. had no trouble at all with Pram in old days. After EISHOFF 3:5 Mine A
no one asked me to join up to U.M.H. I also heard that ELSHOFF said he would
take coal out of Mine A thru Mine B unless the men joined U.M.h. I never
heard a thing about Kine A to be opened separately if it went U.H.W. I joined
U.M.F. as whole local did. I only went to meeting on Sunday at Elks Club and
we voted and I did too altho I didn't want to go over to U.E;W. as I was
pleased with P.E.h. No one told us anything at the meeting except that they
wanted to go back to work. I don't think that all wanted to join up to U.H.W.
I didnt want to fight anyone so I joined up as we didn't want the same thing
to happen at Hine A like it did at Kine B when men got beat up. I signed up
a meeting to become U.E.W. HAY EDEUNIEOW talked to us about being glad to
have us back. Since U.M.H. has been at Mine A thi s are same no as underP.H.A. as far as I am concerned. I have had .Qent read this two !
page statement to me and it is true and correct to e st of my knowledge.
KJITNESSES 2 "X"Above is X which was made by-
S ecia on , . .I. St.Paul,Minn.
Spec.Agt.F.B.I. Eilw!
.3 - sea -
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Re: J01-N L. Ln-as, SET AL.
.1 l__ lino eptember 16,
* Agents andF At the time of this interview sed that he
o not understand the questions that were ing asked him by Agents.
e also advised that he had never become a cit'2en of the United States.As much iniormationas could be procured fromqvras taken dorm in
statement form, but he was not asked to sign it as he a vised that he could
..ot understand the same. He tried to be cooperative, but could not be
of much assistance due to his lack of understanding. It is not believed
he would make a good witness in any event, as he did not attend many meet-
ings as he could not understand what was going on and would not be compB
tent to testify as to what went on, even at those meetings he did attend.
rna R191 -I H-92=-1+ h hm-'1 nvpr hear "ir an +g*r_;>1_;l3]_Q lggliggg Q ca ."I; ELL-7.1-uJ -¢92,L ULAQU lle no»-nu 1'1...-... -92.-was Q.-3 .--.37
fhe following information was procured from-
Springfield, T_
Sept. 16, 1943
give the following information to _
are known to me to be Special Agent__ 0-I. ..
ses have been made me to get me to give this in-
fornation. I nad up until about Jul. 1 been working
at B-Iztne A for . I was born in'-~ in the U. S. about ayears _ an no, a oitizene
I
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f
QTERJLF JTT1-1 The following investip ation
Lgent_ J- _ was conducted by Special "jg ~ =-{ant-1_oa<= "e1==e1e=1»
Illinois on ep 1:1 r 8, l9 ..
At his residence ngents interviewedL Q . H, -.-, -|--.-.. . 1 __-,__. _J __ 4* __ iL_____ __ ________: 1-"1JI11'1Q,'Il¬.LC1, ll-.Lll'l-O15, WHO BGVISBG DE I135 HO CI'ILElI1i:LL X'92$UU-l{'U.¢ LUmad he could not readily understand the English lanmiage and he had tobe assisted by It is felt he would make a very poor witness
unless he had an interpreter.
AQBHIZS obtained the following; statement which he signed with an "X":
!prin!!!ield, 1!.
Sept. 18, 1943.
give the following information tom
themselves to me as being pecia son s
5 infor-mation. I was b Ecame here about F ne A
as a. di_5_;er & have been there about years but when started at liine A
It was Progressive. I got a letter ,::. R;,7sn telling me he sold Hint 1*
8.: I felt bad I that there wouli be trouble like at Mine B. I was satis-
fied & liked P.M.A. when they were at Mine A. I heard from the miners that
Elshoff would take coal from Mine A thru Mine B. Later on I {tot some
letter to go back. I also heard that Elshaff II1i;:ht R1131! Mine A closed
unless it was U.M."-T. I went ta meetings at P.H.;.. but did not ,~_o to
Re-r3J1an's Hell or at Elks Club. This letter I {got said I would hav; to join
over to U.E.'.}'. if I wanted to come back. I signed up at the Elks Club &
just si nee. a slip but did n'-t stay for meetin .. I also got sworn in later
at U.I£..I. Bldg. I never was in office of Elshoff or Ecinundson then 8; was
not on any committees. Things are just the same as under Pd-1.1.. since it
chonxei over to U,}i.'-..'. In old clays Pit C-Jmmitte of P.M.A. did somethingbut new Pit Committee doesn't do anytliin__,. I like the Pro-"ressives better
tho than the u.s.w. : have has Agent read to me this ! seesstateraent & it is true & correct to the gs! of my knowledge. I have signed
this of my own free will."
[sf "X" The mark oi'_made in the esence
"Iitnesses
5136018.: spent Lilli.
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.~RE:" 92 _ - I .
.. - . ._ - ._+..4;.,.~-._v__ vb __ _ _
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JOHN L. isns, ET AL
INT!-IE=:V1E'{ The following investi§C'.tion was conducted by 5peei&1h eeeeee Sprirr iel , .1. ineis on Septezrxbcr 18, 9 .
Q eeeieee even 5Prieee1e-Illi-51$, wit: his wi e an: upnn arrive. .> gents a is resieence he was
ant in the barn His wife was sitting out in the beck yard with a nei-ghbnr ¢
wan.-in and she alvised that her husband eoild net understsnd English anal was
n t
notin any treuble. The wife teak e ver ' hostil attitude and at first would '
tell where her husband was. Upon noticing; the husband by the barn the ~
wif 1, hurriei down to him an-.1 t lked ta hin in a foreign la:1;ua_ie and rt -zf
1'.-1'16
r 1cinverseti ~:1 to him was that he S11.>u1<.1 not sign anythin=_f. Bmthan were eskel by .r=.Jcr1.b5 whether they were tell by the n .
in 1316 yarc. ar anyone else not to talk ts nugents and she callecies pnts _
a liar and was insistent that her husben; Cullltl net understand English.
H rwever, Abents cqnverseci Witu him after he told his wife ta shut up and
he c -uli understand En lish but n>t as baa-. as his wife claimed anal he
furnished the falls-win_., inf >rnz.tien to n_;<:nts which was taken clown by gent.'I1i his stc;n,_;s..ph:1e nutes are bein_, retained in instant file.
J-In-II
in
nut
d aw
zlii
his
all
1 >0at It_;.'e:1rs er s anti that he warked a.,,-92.K °
H- a.He atlviseci he was b-Jrn i years ag and that he works
in: A an: has been there ab-mt years. He sail he has been a citizen
"Zinc n as PILL and U"..f... He said it don't
c any difference L3 me whet 9211'11! he be-1.31115 te just so that he works.
ls1> sail that Mine shut dawn every year fir 5 n-rnths and that it was
He C115.! sci.-1 he heard the new awner vnuld
spen up unless it was unier U14. He also sz:i'l that the nine was shut
n and he necde-'3 a j b and that evergfbody joined up with U13} and that it
n :1 make any difference t.= him and that he did what the rest did. He
1 s 1.1 he we-mlcl n;-t say an3'tain¢ against PM; or LTIi'.I just so he works and
he --ventei was 2. _j>b an: that he went war ts U1-L." with -1thL21"S as the while
al went ever ti L'!~¬.. He ale.! s::.i". that snnebscly sci-1 everyb »dy had tothe paper that Ryan s_>l". Hint A.
sin t-v-.r an} he ac. '1S6il 'thlI'i,fTS are the sane new as bef>re and that there was
I1!
at
anlehan ;e 1";-r hi1. at all. He alsa advised he :ii L n-it go to any meetings
R6-.LzanS or lks Club. H2 else advised he never has been in any trmble
that he did net unclerstanzl whet sent at nectin=_s when he sent and he
nenti med he hat. sine <iifiieulty in understanding sme questi ms. He else
advise-1 he wauli net sign arrything.
It is felt he would nut make a ,;-9::-'1 witness.
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Re: Jam L. IENIS, er AL.
INTERVIITITI NITH
5:->1.qn.Qn-i £11 damnI-Ibn;92..A.l2.A. --5611.!on September 16, 1915.3, with the
'fficulty in understanding questions and himself very
well, and it is felt he would make a ve or witness. He advised hehas never been arrested in his life. furnished the fol-
lowing signed statement. _
"1.l52 Sangamon Ave__
Springfield, Ill__S1.-..-.a 1L 1:11:vcyu. 4.0, 4.7:.!
"I, give the following information to_& o are known to me to be S ecial entsof the F.B.I. I give is with the help of
as I do not understand English well. No threats or promisesFVG !e|en made me to get me to give this Informs on. I am working
at L-Line '1-92-' as a digger <3: have been there about ars. I was born
U ince I became a citizen _I have been in the . S. s'
- -r . , , _' 1.. ..-....+ .L.. 1.14....-. gal" ab ppflg , Ill. .1. W8-S :5. PTGQTESSIVE 'i'u'éI"1 i Vvcuu uu :i..|.m-.: n .
E care what union they have in a mine the union never helps me.
"I read in the paper that Elshoff was going to take over
l-Kine A; It didn't make any difference to me. eihen P.MJ92. was there
from the time I went to work until 1941 things were just the same as
far as I was concerned.
"No one came to try and get me to join the U.M.F. I heard
some talk about Elshoff elos-ir_-g !A* and taking the eoal through
Line '8' but I didn't pay any attention to it. I hear talk but it
doesn't make much impression as I cant understand much English. I
didn't hear about or attend any meetings when they decided to return
to U.Ii.-I. or discussed returning to U.i.i.-Y. I dont know if I ever signed
for U.LI.-I. or not but one day some fellow": at the-blacksmith shop told
me I had to sign up and I couldn't sign or read it as I didn't have my
glasses, I had some other fellow sign for me.
"1 donit care what union I belong to as long as I have s. job,
"I have had_ read this two page statement and it is
my understanding that it is a 1 true and correct and as I have given it to
the Agents. 1 an therefore signing oi my own iree will.
"Eitnesses: Signed _/S/ F Special Agent»
F. .1 St. aul, Minn.pecial AgentsBI 1»-ti. W pringfield, Ill.
Ts.
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Re: JOHN L. I_E..'I5, ETAL.
understand Yr l'sh
advised
was en re " coo rand
home,
; at the time
advised that he did not
through
that he had no crimi a record, n I
little of what went on during the
is an honest and reliable.1. 3 p¬ 3 Vpertinent period. It is felt thatperson but that he couldbe used as a wi ness on y if he had an interpreter.
Agents obtained from him the following signed statement:
Lprmg 1:: ,
-Eept. 15, 1943.
Fgive the following information sqe and n ified themselves as being Special ' ents ofcan rstand English very well s
is acting as interpreter and this information is rue 0 e es o my
knowledge. I was born 51 I Cal?-B 15° theU.S. in -D81 became a in 1932 as Ifelt it was est union. I worke a__ Mine L -or Qyears & quit around?
1943 and am now at Panther Creek #5 as P.P.-5.3. is t re & I like them. I rea
in paper that EISHOFF _139_t Mine 11. & I also get a letter later from Hr. RYAN
about 2 years ago. I thot that we would not be able to go to work there as the
men talked t'* is way and they also talked that it would close unless it went
over to U.l' .. I believed that & then we had not worked for some time. We
also knew Mine B trouble & didnt want that to happen to Mine A so local
joined over to U.!£.'92.-J. Jobs were scarce than too. when FEIJLN was there P.H.A.
got along fine with him & I was satisfied as I liked P.li.A. better. I also read
in the papers that Mine B would take coal out from Mine A unless it went over
to U.L;'.%.'. I also heard it from other miners 8: we were told it too at a meeting
but I don't recall which one it was. I felt like the others did and we all
needed a job and we signed over so we could go to work. I went to a meeting
on a Sunday at Elks Club when we signed up
can't recall where it was held at. it the
no fights or trouble & we all wanted a job
I ___J P L.-. |».n -{In.L 'Iluaru UJ. Tmu m::uI..u1'g5 fI"" mu 0I.:"i8I5¢ Th%}'& also went to another one but I
first meeting I went to there E
then 8:. didn't want any trouble.
passed the hat too to pay for the
to U liii RJJ EDI-.'UN1ISON also spoke
of newhalls. ht meeting on Sunday we voted over .to us after the officers were elected.local. mad charge of meeting. very lg e up rig away to
U.i£.W. at t e mee ing. There was nothing else we could do as I had to go to
work 6: didn't want the same trouble at Liine A like they had at Mine B. We had
no choice - we had to join or quit our jobs then as jobs were scarce then. I
was not on anycommittee 8: I never went to office of EISHOFF or EEMUNIBGI.Since 1941 under U.M.h'. at Kine A things were same as under P.M.a. before. If'!92 wannahave had Agentread to me ana UIILU 92.u.n:G 92J! page
n{" J5. _ 557 -
I
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<1"Re: JOHN L. rams, ETAL.
1 "VIE" IT? Statement and i'1.-
P L- .92 .to the Agents" O
continued! "I am signing this of my own free will.
canned!
4-' ITNESii
Special Agent, F.B.I.,
"".
Special Lgen! !.B.I. ilw!
Springfield, I11.
Scpt. 15, 1943."
- 588 t is true & correct as I have given it
3» >pr.
§-11.,'i-.-.¢.... L. ._-.... ..:-- -vE .E, _
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- F!-92 .{.".'|'92 »_-W, ._.92-'93 -.'..'-'_- '.'Jr;-I '» .'~/{.
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Re: J0i-N L. LEWIS, ET AL.
INTERVIEJ WITH_
lend ee eepeemeeenever been arrested. t was noted that
person and he seemed to have a good kr what went on in "mine
matters, so would be a very good witness if his testimony were necessary.
t d furnished the following signed statement. He appeared to be coopera ive, an
Springfielcl, Ill__
Sept. 16, 1943
"I give the following information to
_ 8: 0 are known to me to be Special Agents
of the F.B.I. romises have been made me to get this 0 ats or p
information and I give it voluntarily of my own free will.
"I am new employed al "°1'1<ed at 51-"6 Afrom of 1942 as a cone man. I was Born in 9
I came to the U. S. that same year and came
ugh my fathers naturalization. _Special Agent
He advised
is rather an intelligent
"At the time of the switch to P.li.-4. I was in favor over
going to ?.M.A. I was always satisfied with the P.l£.A. union_,_ while it
was there.
"I first heard that Elshoff had taken over mine 'A' by reading
it in the 'B_egister'= I thought when I read this that I would have to
go find another job. This was because I knew of the trouble they had had
at liine 'B'. I was well satisfied with P.L'.A. after it came in and up
until this time. Some of the boys from Mine 'A' came to see me about
' ' ld t the Elks I couldn't go at the time asof
coring to a meeting to be he a L=-"e working at State F r Grounds one who came to see me was the other was he had no discussion theyJust asked me to come to the meeting. _ D
"I heard rumors that Elshofi would take the coal out through
Mine 'B'_,_ Es thought if this happened about half the company men at
least would be out of luck. I also heard that Elshoff would only open
the mine uncer a 5.!-E.'n. contract this was brought up at a regular PJL1.
meeting. If I remember right the majority of the men at this meeting
voted to stay P.M.A. whether he opened the mine or not I think this was
a regular PEA meeting. I think at this meeting the local selected a
Mr Llshoff These men were to talk to Elshoff and we were committee to see . - .
to come back at a special meeting to get their report. I'he regular PM
* - sas-
_ _-._-_ -1, -..-r.:;_ .- - __,, -.
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C i
Re? JOIN L. LE'TLS_, ET AL.-
1]»-TERVIE'921' i]'I'II-I officers were presidingiat this meeting__
Just a short time later the smcial meet
was held at the P.L!.A. Hall__ At this
meeting the committee reported that if the
mine was to open it would have to be under U.M.'. gt this meeting also
another coriruittee was appointed to see Elshoff as_the first committee
had been unable to get in touch with Elshoff himself. At this meeting
any of the men couldget up and have his say. There were some there who
favored going over to U.M.Yi.,_ the main thing with all of them was I
think to keep their jobs; they were afraid if they hung back the mine
would be opened and new men put in their places. There was some commotion
at one of these meetings but * did not see any of it. I think at the
second meeting it was stated the mine was to open up under UJE.-1. and
Mr. Thrush, a dist. P.l-LA. official told us to go to work and hold our
jobs. I did not attend any meeting at either Redrn-an's Hell or the
Club. I never voted to switch over to U.ll.>.-¢'. I signed up with U.!.£.-5.
the first mornig I went to work. I had to sign up before I could go to worl<_this was told me by and l signed with him. He told me that for
the first 3 days it wo= c: cos nothing to re--_join U.hi.'{;'. but after that
regular fees would be asked.
"I signed up with U.1.i."nf. in order to keep my job__ I had the
choice of either doing this or going back home. It is my personal
opinion that conditions at the tine were r.;="" tter mder the P.}£.A.
than under U.l.I,w.
"I have read this 3 page handwritten statement and it is all
true and correct to the best of my knowledge and it is as I have given it
to the agent. I am therefore signing it of my own free will.
Sim i/S.-
Special Agent, F.B.I.,
Paul Liinn.ipec. Agt. FBI iaLilw.!"
- 590-
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iu
- 92___1
e
' ns= JOHN L. LEJS, so 1.1,
n:m2vr.=:;; t.-"rm The fo owin-' investieetion "e . we by Special _ ~-W5 =1" Q SP "* @
field, Illinois on eptember , .
At Bpringfield, Illinois, ..;;:ents interviewed
w. o ro.:1:1s there, and he advised he never has been arrested
' " T a 1: s ver; cooperative but he appears to =-§ 1:1 his 1 ..t was noted th t he a
be r-other il...itereto and it is felt he would a poor witness unless his
testimony were necessary. c
.._ents obtiined from him the following si@:1e~:1 statement:
in !iel!
_.»-¢
.
' '-1'--.
_$
{-
.,.}
if" Lr. --
.>.
. 4 92
serif?:-o- =+>:-"1' "-1..-;E,-_§i= I -,!.o Vi?-~3~-5. :
-:~'¢,':'¬;-F3. -3 .' "11
5.- T-4-, ISm" 1; ,
Sept. 1'7, 1943
he" give the following information to?
& v.'.0 have 1 entified themselves to me as Special gen s o
the .-_-s.I. . threats or promises have been made me to give th
'2is information,& I am giving it any own free will. I a digger & I=---- *1---- _- ---+ ~.-_--.»-o 1 --- 92_~-.-- -: I
P.M.A. but I don't remember why or how I heard that lshoff
bot Mine A in 1941 at a P.1!.!.. meeting an nobody liked it as we all thot
There would be some trouble. I also heard that if the men signed over to
U.L1.H. Mine ** would be re-opened & otherwise it would close & I also heard that
Edmundson said that Mine -'5 would take coal out from Mine A thru Mine B. I was
satisfied with P.IwI..~*.. at Mine A &-it was a pretty good local, & I didn't want
to change back. When I heard of above I did not feel so good as I was over
60 & jobs were hard to get. I also heard if we signed up we would not have
to pay $10.00 then. I joined the U.E.l"I. as I needed a job & I felt if I
wasn't with U.M.h', I would not get s job as I am too old. I don't know if
I went to any meeting at Redmars Hall or at Elks Club but I do recall of
going to e meeting of the U.l£.*.-1'. local on the 7th floor oi the
Bldg. I heard it said in paper if we wanted to go back to work we would have
to go to this meeting. At this U.M.';'f. meeting Edmundson said if we joined up
Mine A would reopen & in a few days it did reopen 8: he said something about
taking coal out thru Mine B. I signed up with U.H.'.'i. as if I did not I could
not go to work. I never was at Edmundsons or Elshofs office & I needed 8.
job. Since U.l£.Ti. has been at Mine *'~ things are same as they were under
P.M.a. 5-. there is no trouble. I like P.M..=}. best as there is too much hum-
bu; in U.l-I.YI. I have had Agentread this ! two page statement to meneon ulnar:-: abuuu _>e-sue. .1. nan UULH Lago 8: I became agizen at 5p:-ingfield
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RE: JCHN L. LEWIS, ET hL
mRv1_1=_1"i' i1'1"H & it is true & correct to the best of nw recollection i
1 have signed 1t of my own free will " _
H-. 1ii92c0ni1nueu;
""itnes
Special gent, F.r
" *'nn
SpbClu Agunt FBI
$prir1g,iie1d, Ill.
Sept. 17, 1943
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IN'1FRVIE'I "IT" The following investigationjias condggted bx
L Special agents _t 5pring iel , linois on eptem 1- 8,
1943.
._ I -. - . - - n - 0.! -92.1 -r-o-us .1 4., on ms resioonce opringnelo, illinois, Agents
interviewed I o a vised he has no c.rtLminaJ. record.
He appeared o e very coopcra ive and it is felt he would make a good
witness.92 ..
Agents obtained from him the following signed statement:
{:7 Spring ie d,
--= i Sept. 18, 1943
_ give the following information toq
are known to me to be Special Agents o
promises have been made me.
1 Mine "A" where I have been for aboutgears. IQand c e to U.S. in -t_. was born' ' _ I e local went to
P.I.E.A.. I was glad to go over to
"In 1941 when Elshoff bouuht Mine A I heard this through the other
'rJ miners I felt bad, 1 felt I wouldn't have any job at all. From 1932 to 1941
I was always satisfied with the P.l.£.A. and conditions were f'ne at the mine.
and I believe 1 ml; Elshoff bought mine :1 Q %
came to me and told mo is ould have to sign up wi . .;... or
so '.==' ' . d "_ y Job, ~ is also with them at the time They tol me
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RE: JOHN L. LEHI5, ET 51
read this 2 pas8 =@a@°" *. - had ' nt|!!!!!!!INTEHvIEx IITH iohgzcand 125:5 a e and OOTTGCZ &.:: ibis ofvc told it to the Agents; I am S gal ycontinucg! ha f will
"L.Cla }<Li_C: |B¢Iu 7
SpCCld nh ,
st. Paul, Minn-
Springfield, Ill-
Sept. 18, 1943 my Qwn 1'88 -
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Re: JO§-N L. LEWIS, ET AL.
TERVIEW WITH
an
stated that he was
getting older and did not pay much attention to union activities. He told
his story in a clear and sincere manner and seems to be better than aver-
age in intelligence. It is believed he would be a favorable witness, al-
though his information is limited. There is set forth below his signed
statement.by Special Agent!
September 1'7, 19-£3
. "Springfield, Ill.
' Sept. 17, 1943
make the following voluntary statement
cial Agents of the Federal Bureau of
lnves ts or pI0:!LlS¬S have been made to induce me to make
any statement.
"1 was born in and presently resideat ? I st:;r e ou as a miner 1 was years old and
was a c ar er member of the U.M.£i. I now work for the
"I started working at Mine A in aboutpand quit there inWQAB. I joined the PM in 1932, but di not have any active part
. e start of it. All the men were a little put out at the UH? because
we couldn't elect our own men and I went along with the rest and joined ~
PEA. As far as I'm concerned there isn't much difference between the
two unions and I went which__ever way the majority went.
I recall that in the early fall I got a letter from Ryan saying
he had sold Kine A to Elshofi and when I heard that I was prettv sure
that Llshoff would probably operate Mine A with United men. I felt that
because of what happened at line B, that Elshoff would favor UM-'. There
was also a rumor that 1-lshoff might haul coal out of Mine A through
Kine B.
"I went to a meeting at P1611 hall sometime around the first part
oi Sept. and 1 think it was the second meeting they held. L-lost of the -
men seemed to think that the only way Elshoff would operate line A was
to pull the coal through iiine B. Some of the men wanted to join mited
so they wouldn't lose their job . The meeting was adjourned that night
and nothing was accomplished. Host of the men were just arguing aboutwhat to do. I believe it was that had charge of
this meeting .
"The only other meeting that I went to was at the Elks Club. At
this meeting the men voted by standing vote to join united. I know that
Edmondson gave a talk, but I don't recall exactly whether he talked
before or after we voted. I don t think anyone voted against joining
U.M.'.'i. I joined U151 that same day at the Elks.
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Re: Jom L. urns, ms AL.
INTERVIEW WITH "It is my opinion that I Joined.thited because* I figured that was the only thing for me to do m
Continue order to hold my job. I was never beaten up 0
threatened in any way to join a nion.
"I have read this statement of 3 P8585 and wish to state it 18
true to the best of my memry.
t /wt
"itnessedi
peclal Agents, F.B.I.,
U. S. Dept. of Justice"
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