Document text
A , ; ~_, ___- 2" ,~'. -_ - ' 92'-- ._
92
FEDERAL: BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
JOHN L. LEWIS
PART 9 OF 13
FILE NUMBER: 44-845
'~*nu: 01'-:scn|PiIon
FUFITAU T-"IL?
susaeor JO///V L" é;Q-4,545
FILE NO.
SECTION NO..____/.4.__._'_..____
11% _. -?J§,
av g aur-'
" ' Z/uw '
4?;_ 44.5 gz. e/$2
if
e
I750 -7-79!
..,.___.Z_-_
E1
E]
E]
f C]
El
i:'7i
L$J
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
F EIIERIL IUBEMI BF IIVESTIBRTIOII
FOIFI DELETED FREE IHFDHIITIDI SHEET
Pagelsl withheld entirely at this location in the le. One or more of the following statements, where
indicated. explain this deletion.
Deleted under exemptiorils! _ _____ _ __ _ ___:__ with no segregable
material available for release to you.
lnfonnanion pertained only to a third party with no reference to you or the subject of your request.
Infonnation pertained only to a third party. Your name is listed in the title only.
Docurnenttsl originating with the following govemment agencylies! ._____ ._._____ _ .. _ _
_ __._ -__. _._ __ -_ We _ .was/were forwarded to them for direct response to you.
Pagels! referred for consultation to the following government agencyiiesl;_ .___._.__ ._____ ___, _____ as the information originated with them. You will
be advised of availability upon retum of the material to the FBI.
Pagelsl withheld for the following reasontslz
Foiyyourinfonnationz ' _.. 4.- 1., /. _..-. -
£9/r1»4L9!§|.'?/u.D_
The following number is to he used for refemncs regarding these pages:
I:5 L_:__ii2_1_iL.§/ a.i_.L:_.:¢53 . - ._____:__.;:.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
DELETED PAGE S!
N0 DUPLICATION FEE
FOR THIS PAGE
HXX
. wf92_
9'.-
5
igéi" Y R-r - -
1 4 - _,
Mn.
v--'.--
.&:._-: ,1 [re -_¢*F.s- " 1-.2 .
.__é.- .3 ,1 -_. P -1-di-
idi- i-6-- _
-- H.-Q
'!~
- Wit
v_3~ '. .1 -K" -1;_.».'.'-
.H._,.-9 .».--' S. - ,-- _92
I, .-. '1 ;_.
._. 1
mn-
3??
'~¢
.o iii?-
<1.:*'
I .' ' T
_ 1,:
44". 1=_-1-,-r,!
, .1-1-',.--_s::.r -;§x-.;- t
_ u__ ., _.., .___._--. _ é_ --_-' f* i" V_ _ _** -,._.<v""-92' '
! c I i ____ri
n92i .,
as; Joan 1.. mus, em, 1 '
r
" nwsnvxsw wrrn
1- hi~.ve u
denied eve:.L_ha-vi _ 9 _ l-1&1-mm..L1'-'filiat1ons. -ms no known criminal reeoa-T Z iHe:£irniehed the
following s gne s a ement.
~ Q n1.ep er 16, 1943 l
"I, I11" do
voluntarily mke the o owing statement o peoia en se.nd of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. oor prom; ny in have been Jmde to cause me to make this statement and
I know that the same can be presented in a oourt of law.
"I was born inin - I was naturalized in
Creek $5 and belong to PMA. I been a Progressive since in started in1932. "'
"I hav orked at either Mine A or line B. However,in the summer of 1940 who was irorking at Mine B told no that
Mine B was going to hire some men, and I was looking for work so I went out
and talked to OSCAR FALCETTI. Ir. FALEETTI told me that he didn't need
any men. He didn't asked me what union I belonged to or where I had worked
before. There was othe'x""men there that morning and he turned them all down
for the same reason.F, emigrating to America.
ly employed at Panther
"I have read the above statement and it is true and correct.
Witnessed: /B/
Special 5-gents, FBI, Springfield, I11."
- 233 ..4
¢
I
-I
F
__-____,.-o--l...o__.._..._..._________,,__ __,_ _. " --O-x '- - r"" "
92_N92"Pt . Y R92l - Z! -3 " ~,1 ._..----.
W HE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
I liiiiiiiiiiiiillllv field» = 8-IoSpring- '
his home '
my
he 0by Special Agentsis was cooperative, but is 1;e didn't start st lline B until Juv- ,_., E /' won make a goo wi ness inasmuch as h.t f ue 22, 1940, and has very little knowledge of pertinent facts. F
has no known criminal record. He furnished the following signs e e-
i __ ment:
"Springfield, Ill.3'-Jé-'_ September 18, 1943
1- -1!
" s a omen ol Agents_ - Springfield Ill. doH v r ily mo e the 0 0.-:1 0 Q
i sented in court.
92-
M ,
.,, ,
,_.. .1 in
J 72.5 22, 940, and am
office in either
' ' I ir'i3.E
at Pant her Crook' "I was born in
was naturalized in Springfield, Ill. in
joining, U'I.FE.A at that ts w and No threats or promises have been ma e
' " to cause me to none C--Ag stn_es1e__., and I know that these facts can be pro-
coming to America 511- I
I began working in the mines
began working at Mine B Jan.
I have never held en presently employed there as a digger.
union.
o Progressive before I want to iiine B, hovinr; Joined lik
#4. Son Catalonia Joe Albeneso! signed me up U1&;'iA in the
3 vrosh house just a couple oi days after I started to work. I was mver
throatened or boot up but I heard about some of the men gottirg boat up.
* I didn't know any of the men who were beaten up or why they were beaten.
. I'-
.- __
T f I
2-1"
- *" I voted in
seemed to be e fair in
"st presentI joined Ill-HA because tho men told me that they were in the majority and I
didn't t.-link 1 could get o job if I we-s Pm. '
the NLRB election in 1941 which the UMIA won. This
squint election. _
I think both unions are about the some and I don't
'-%~~£- favor e it her one .
ee'
~01"?»
-V - 1 ";|'itnessed:1
2
r
§
g."I have had
- The some is true & correct.
" Springfield, Ill. ,the above statement rend to mo by Agent_
/=/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
_ - 232 -
.11 I
T,
.
=-""5
"-7'3' .__l1 1- .. 15'." ' -'-.»;'
.'_:-1£',:"£4 - ifA" ' r
. Au
.;""92""?_,¢ -
_
._
'
.»*r% Iv
. Y-1+
-..
- 1*._.e
Z :9--
L¢ 1,,-92r __ _.. _ ..,.-7, -_ _ ii ___-__ _ . W , zs ll-._,_ ., __ W .,__' t-.. - ~ k
"L 92--_ 92-
/ r - 0 ~
,5 -.. r .1 "W4 -__
um mm L. mus, Em. '
a 92
XI" emvx P nun _*"' Springfield Illinois In
ooporn W
e ' of his leek of ow e e o o l£ino- situo on starting there
it is not believed that ould mko e good witness-
hes no known criminal reoor . He nishod the following sign
ste. ement.orv ewe at his eeiol Agents
and was e
" Springfield, I11.
September 18, 1945
1d 11 d "I, Bpringfio , I . 0volu 2. he c owing; s gno o n to Special Agent?
Ne threats or promises of any kind vo.
boon me-do to cause no to nuke his statement-
I was born in eanm to America in
I T !p_5 'r|Q_+:n~n'l'i7.0d in Slnrlz-vv__:|.o __ T'|'|-.i T bgu-r_;;1_ HQ whfk HI - -'1' lo * I ---' o -' 0 ' ""' "-the mines in * joining Illllh at that time. I have never hold an
office in an union. on presently employed at Mine B es e digger,startinv on Before starting at line B I worked tag
e ong to About two or three months before I s
I iriod to get employment there but was refused. OSCLR FI»LCB'1TInaked me where I worked and I told him _ which he lmew was PIE».-
He told mo that he was filled up. I never saw Hr. FI-LCETTI hire anyone
else while I was there and he never mentioned ULHJ. to mo.
"I have had the above statement road to no by Agent It is true 6: correct-
/-/ _
'+1'itnessod:
Special Agents, FBI
Springfield, Ill.
F. _-__v :__ .__,___ __________*___T____ __,__,__.,___ ; __-_-,..,..,
.-a.
---92 .-..,.--
92'
. V!- , ,2- F 1
r In- L3:;
.' Hr
..w 7' _
" I
v.
.1-7..
IE
,¢ _.-.eW .3.-I3.3. .
-Ll I...
_.-1 ii.-1-_ -
., ~41
r w
1 £5
,s _.e,,_.1. ."7:-!- .it
t, I* 5
-~:" ' '~ s "J II A** ::_*~:--~ __--» :1-1.,r " ~. -
-Y " """* -- X .
r ,___' O L. M-I
92 9292
92.92.
mm JOHN 1.. LEWIS, szrm,
1 IIITERVIE-I men sprin;;rie1e Illinois was inter- 92 92! a viewed at his ms i iii I»iente Q ad so 0 was re-
__ ;92_ fused work at Mine w o t mine was we:-kin under an "open chop agree- } . c'.:0";'ur it is not believed tlmtévould make a good wit-r92 - "nent Hnose inasnnch Es he wasn't speoifieally refused oause oi his union
affiliations and was not asked to join Ulfi as a condition to get a jobs_hc.s no known eriminal record. He furnished the following sigiod
statement.
" Springfield, I11.
September 18, 1945"1- Springfield, 1:11., doveluntaril make the fc lowing statement to pee al .dg;entand Ho threats or premises of any kin ve
to cause me to make this statement.
"I was born in and eame to America
in I was naturalized in Springfield, I began working inthe nines in inneriea in- joining UMIA at the e. I never held an
office in any union.
"I never worked at mine B but I did ask for n job there
once while they were working open shop after the strike. Hr. FAIBETTI
asked no where I had worked, and if I was E Progressive. He also asked
~ '-sive friends at ne B and I told him yes. Be me if I had any Preures
t d that he was hiring plenty of men ~ wouldn't ;',ive me a job, but I unders ee
at that time, some almost every day.
"I started working atqlnd never tried to geta job at Mine B again. Lt present I'm a digger at nther Creek #4.
Some of the men who worked at Hine B told me that if I
t I didn't want would go to see a UB3» organizer that I could get e job, bujoin UIJSA at that time be ause I hoped to go back to any job at _ hen it opened up, and was Progressive.
Q who was at Hine B, and used to work with me at _Q asked me e g o Mine B and ask for york. He told me to go to-
ne eeause they were hiring men.
-235-
4
1..A.§'i:l- ..;
n1, ,.
. '=-" ?
1
.1D
391.
w.
f
_.-_
4,».-
f= ~*-I
J .
. .. -. .,f.-Q,
--"nir-
. _.__ _ J. ..
""" ' *' ' * '? * "7? ' '" l»1~~'
RE: JOHN L. LE'92EIS, ETIJ.c ' 0».
1-"rnzav :1: wrrn "1 have ma tho abovo 1% pages of smtamnh mdo by no rendto no by Ag;on_ Tho-68.130 is true b om-room
comzzmn
Springfield, I11
236 -/=/ i
1
EI
i
F
.
r
.,,
-1-
-ti
-1
74'
.-3
J,= 1
.1
.
-1
'~;-' .-:31;
1
:1,
§,
E
l- _ "'
92] 131$
1:. d__., - --.__ _, _,_....__:.___ 7 T* 7 ;_l _ _.%_ __ . _ _. t »_ L-u--uOI"-r I5 92 - - _»
1c ,, e o
run,
IUD;
INTERVIEW WITH Illinois:
on a
because he failedeasel anfused employment at Line B
occasions, and went so far as to file a claim ".-rie
to secure employment. For this reason it is felt that he would make a
good witness on the "refused employment at liine B after November 6, 1939
Pm? question". has no known criminal record. He furnished
the following signed statement: _
Springfield, 111.
September 20, 1943.
ii do voluntariiymake the re11ewP No threats or PI'OIIli8BF- were made to cause me o e
t 1.5 statement and I know that the facts can be presented in court. e
"During the fall of 1940 I applied for a job driving mules at
Mine B, on 15 or 20 occassions, talking to Oscar Faloetti on each ocoassion.
The first time I was there he took me in the office and he asked me where
I worked last. I told him Panther Creek #4 which was PEA!. He told me
nothing doing" and asked me to come back again. When I returned one
number: of occassions he would just shake his head.
"I had a friend by the name MP who got a' job I-I
at Kine B, and I tried to get hm to no. .. t I still didn't get-
_ :.___E UUE5
a job.
"I saw others there on the days that I asked for work, but
never heard him, Oscar Faleetti, refuse or hire anyone else. However, I
know that he did hire some miners from Panther Creek #4 who changed over
to ULTRA. Some of them talked to me when I was out there looking for a
job.
E
|
-~!er,--'--w---eew -,...,., 1_~-">
92
_,7 HI1"._s
>
"/.
1has
fl -r- '-.1
.*C I
Q
.,,
e V
<__,
.¢ --'.- ;
.2
Q",
7???
T or
-I3I-»--_
..-_,..
1 -"urfsi" :='§Q
n,
1
"___5,'.~.-. .
1% . _ _ _._,_,__, p - - l_.___ _ . ...|. ..,,.. 1 ;s__¢_;,92 - ,
O Z 61-
RE: JOHNL.LEWIS,ETLL
' Ihe following individuals were listed by the Pill union as having
been refused employment at Nine B after November 6,1939. They wereeeeeeeeeeee ee -eeeeeee eeeeeeieeei i
From the replies oi. these individuals which are listed hereinafter it
appears the Pm union possibly submitted a list of their unemplopd to the
line B office to secure employment for their unemployed without the knowledge
of the individual miner. one of the miners did make inquiries at the line
for work, but did not leave their names to be called. '*he individual responses
on this matter are as follows: -_
llinois, advised henever o e i at the mine ,didnotmae>p ce nquiry
for work, and did not request the PHI». to do so.
Illinois, advised one
a mine pu s application in for him at Nine B,
never went there in person, and never was requested to report for
work. _ _
, Illinois, advised
he made an application for work at the Mine office in November, 1939,
but was advised they were "filled up". He stated he did not see anyone else
being hired, that he was never called later as he did not leave his nails
and never went back.
Illinois his individualis presently in Chicago, Illinois oo ng or work. He leithreceny
and has not advised what his Chicago address is to date.
Illinois, advised
he made app ica. on or work at the PW; Union Hallie y and not at lline B. -
He stated he never was called for work. A _L___ F 1,
Illinois,
in 1939 he ma. e app ca on or work at line B. throu the FHA PitGommittoe in the Hash House. That he never made application at the W _office, He stated no one was being hi;-ed that day and he did not g'o ba'.ck","' '1
Illinois, advised he
made an application or inquiry for work at Hine , and never requestedPMlauniontodoso£o_rhim,' -_ ' "
Illinois, advised he made
inquiry for work at Mine CG!1P=1l'" office after it opened in November, 1939
-238-
4 .
______________________u____ _ __,_ _;,;_,__ r i__ __+_w __._:,v*;-_.__;:__ ___e;___ _;_e_4-,-;_ _- or -
9.Z
rtF
?
EI
.:---;_ 1i .
ei
x113?
.;:.'_-.1
,-2: W
. _-"*--I
1-:3
. 1%
p
¢-_-
vi:
-
I
I,'- r'~- .,I
gig
e!
m&:
.,,
~.'I'¥ -
J-. .-
-
"'4'.-1-1"> ,,
p 'QIl§-
i{ '.
__ . _A A.__ __.__ - .1 ..* * * i - . .-
4'!
RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL.
Th followin miners were int d at their hoes by BpocillAgents and on September 20, 1943,
and all o em interrogated along the mes o Refused employment Mine
B lfter November 6, 1939 I%3T'.
The first four advised. that they had never worked at Kine B
and had never asked ior a job at Uine B at all. The next three never
worked at Eine B, but had asked for a job, but i E11 itieei the date
of the asking was before the strike in Hay of 1937. The remaining two
individuals had never worked at Nine B either, but had sought employment
during the years 1941 and 1942 after Hr. Elshoff had purchased Kine 1.
!pringfiei!, l!!!noia.
-
Q'§&
-rIrw-
Ciao
_,.
_. .,-:"¢J1t »-H1 1 o _ ,.;f toe? J_~ g-1,; £¬=, .-.».,..-... ~ .~*--&.'*_~¢-~I-'
- "j: .|'92_."' Q .. "'-_ -1 ;.; ' 9 * 1 . , .
, _ ', 1"92'- ..'. . I p lIInvestigation failed to locate ' .. '
- . 1",»;-=*: UIi r
I
?'.a
I., 1 ' . ,
1i_ __. .. ,__ _ M. ....---------'r-"""""""' """"" ""- t_ _ _ u - --._ W . _ , _
{
i RE: JOHN L. 1.1=.w~'I8, ETHI-
£1
- a
-l I
V -nu. IN'1iRv1E'.92' zzrrn
>-
we-.
%§
-51
1'-j
3.
_, .¢1._,.._{_ 1'.
*5 5- ,'.-4;» +3-92 92- _r__ , ._I ,.w
?4
.. - '2.;:..i-i
'_,'?-.i
.__, E5
§ @5
v---:
-4'r _
. .1-.3., ~ = 5;
4:.-92e", -' ,1~.-1-'.~;,'
lb___'-
-¢_
.uk92'lI:!'
u '.92¢ .- ,
L. .
I
e
I. 0 F
signed!
, F.B.I.
lf Justice."
r.
'1
B
L
>1
F
er
/um." "§".'92i'
i
" #1"
an $1--wk. _
-§if*
___-.-.._C
-~@+¢
"I-1» .1 .- I
1% ='
.u ;
.~. , _"hill" _
.4 k
-.
'j..~,:
L»-,._,r
' .~/1. ='f.* -5a'.- '.--92 ..-rfi 4.9 -~.-341.5-41? '3':
,_., ,
'5: *9-5"";=5-"- §1-3%.,
-* ii
in
fg
3' _ '-r'.!.""-
#i2§§
. 1".
.- -I. ._ 4-.7-1
-..i"'¬*.... .,. ,. _, ~.' -. - _ "H- - r~ . _ I .
a*~ - T
§
.§'__ _ - ,_4-1-? ,W,,_--- ___ _ , . ,_ -1.-3
l 0
e: JOHN 1.. u;..1s, mam,
ii92YTEHVIE"¢¥ Uii i lrg;
continued!
pegla gents, F.B.I.,
U0 SI
-24:-
¢
-;i':- '7-'71 - ' * "V7-" '- T-Iwv-w~_rTfnT- ' '_+' _' ,____'_._%¢__.n,.|-'..,~_¢_._'_,.,,,,._',,,_ __ . ._
0 .1 ' 1
'7;& - O"
L; INiER.lEi *
sincere and cooperative, although his info:-mation relative to instant case
is rather limited, He would make a good 92itness to testify as to the facts
set forth in the 1o1.1o1'-'ing signed statement-L>
vu-
1,. 1:"-34 '
92-
n-
__ <9-;
.;_;r-
4'77 Kl
~ -1-
1»? '
I
I
62..-1$-%'. -F.-_.;,.JP*--..'*:-_ .
. .____92. tW.-.-92--,..,.._ r92,J»v~'*,
92.__1q.
t.'_ __ "
-92
lIEn I
__ h__ _.,,_ ._,___,_______ _ , , ;_____ I -_ I ~-,.-.1-_ - s" _. . __._....___.........;__._"_ _._ i ..
I ; re, JOHN L. 1.1-rrs, ET AL-
iavred by Special Agents
lat Springfield, Illinois on
, at time he appeared to be very
"Springfield, Illinois
September 13, 1943
voluntary statement to
them to be Special Agents
No threats or promises have
been made to me to induce me to make astntementu
"I was end presently re-
side at miner nearly all my life
and have 92"orl-Zea at Iiine A since January, 1941. I am Still E-TIP3-0305
there.
"I .LI'5I. joined U.}.£.T}. ingwhen I came to the United States
and I as new a U.S. citizen. I ave never held any office in any union
and in 1932 I joined Progressive when it was formed. I had nothing to
do vith the ion-ietion 0.1 P=!{,i=, but I ms ieverebly inclined torsrd
P.1:.A. '
"Mine 1. had its seasonal shut dovn in the spring of 1941 and some-
time that summer I learned that Elshoff had bought Nine A. I think I
got a letter from Fyan telling; of this and I aiso think I saw it in the
paper. .
"Chen I learned that Elehoff had bought Mine A I felt that I vrould
have to sign up r-ith Uiliil-6 if I 92.'='ented to fork at Kine A= I felt t-his
ray because I kner-' that Nine B has United and felt that Elshoff would
I101. h<'1V0 PQIEQI-u Lo
"The only meeting I attended at that time res at the Ells Club.
I remember that e notion cane up as to whether we Tfeuld join U.!i.TI.
and .2. standing vote was taken. Every nan there, as far as I know, votedto join U,11,*_, qt.-=.s Discharge of this meeting and led the
discussion. Lftsr -re vo e o go U.H.T., some of the non Tent and get
Eiemdseni He talked. to us for e short tine rind had brelight U=!!='-.Z=
cards with him which -are signed, He told us that the nine would open up}
-343-
M q
. "',-¢_.. .,1 .1- e
7 it
_._.._..__
v1.1»-
..
_-._ .
, ...-1% w11" *1
_ af, '._-' -_-'_7-T ' 5-. z;. ...--=1" .';'é?'I '. 1 -~92¬e. .-.- -
7:. 3'31-. .92-I ._.-.1.!. -- ~_F
n
'1
e
.=---=r~">.;
2
.. . 1--I-'_...*'I!H--'- .-9
--. -=..'m
.92 ..'.. _.__.,. .
E?
£*__' .
F
e
E1_ ___,.. __.,_ -___._ .. . - t-* V * "7
H
I G /
R2: JQHL! L J'.B"'IS, m AL.
I at: still at Mine A and I believe eonditions are
the sane nor as they were under P'.L{'.A. I did not
hear anyone at the meeting at the E1105 club 1:011la F ' T -
'
on lnue-5
, -us that we had to join U.II.' '. if we ranted to work
at Ilinc 4; but I guess that most of the fellows felt that that was ao,
"The above statement has been read to nc by
and I declare it to be true and correct, i-" '_"'i'
/$/ _"I itnesscd;
S Q
Spcci gen s, .B.I., -
U.S. Dept. of Justice."
-249-
nab
i ____,__,____,,...,,,._ __,_,,,_,_
.'|.N'1'Lh'.VJ.b'I'l W.l'1'1'1
1.
"J
ea
_ .1.H :'..._-L _.,;
2,: '~,},_-.-¢-.--
' lean
$3_ ,___i *;;___ I ,___ _ _-- _ V Y ->.-» _ inT 1 _ »
f~e
C . Q./I
Re: Jam L. Lewis, ET AL.
wed Special Agents
at Springfield,
He was friendly and g
cooperative and could be used as a government witness to testify to those
matte-rs,set out in his statement which follows.
' e Springfield, Illinois
' September 11., 1943.
e ,1 M1,: Hm follwdng ._..¢__|_.
both oi whom
oi Investigation. No threats
or promises have been made to induce me to make a statement.
ids
nes in L
I went to work at .I
E. vi. and in
I A. I remained there mtil about J"'|y, 1 _ I " ' I
while I was a member oi P.1£.**. and U.ll.n,
"then the miners joined P.li.A. in 1932 I was in Chicago
and so, had no part in the formation of this union. Fvhen I came
home I joined P.li.A. at that time I felt that Progressive was needed
and that I was right in Joining it. From 1932 mtil 191.1 PJLA. was
getting along well with both the men and the line A officials, and
there was no trouble of any kind that_I know of.
"The mine shut dorm in the spring of 1913.1, a seasonal shut
down and late that summer 1 learned that Elshofi had bought liine L.
I believe that the first notice 1 had of this was what I saw in the
papers telling of the sale.
"As I recall, 1 attended a meeting at P.l5.A. hall shortly
after Elshoff had bought the mine. I guess the meeting was held
to see how the men would react to Elshoff owning 1-ins $.'This
meeting was presided over by _ As I recall there
was discussion as to what Els do with the mine;
but I don't remember anything being said about switching unions.
I knew, of course, that Mine B was 'U.l&.. and I guess that that
Iras in the minds of most of the men.
I did not attend any other meetings mtil after the men .
had voted to join U.E.I'. I Icnt to the U,ll,h. building and Joined
U.l.1.?'I. on the last night that we could join. I know nothing as to
fa-J
AI
A i
.1 _u--.5.
r 2.14
a--1; FRI
-.1 L-
-.
,- 3;11'?TI.RV '* ITH
N t d!
_1___ ______ __ __ _ _ _ ___ _ . c :_--
< , M
Re: Jom L. 1.12.13, £T AL.
92
what happened at the other nnetings for I was
in Chicago fox-"a. while, and it was at that time
that the other meetinvs were held. ton lnue a
' . "Although I had no desire to Join U.H.". I had to if I wanted
to work at Jnc A. I don't have any information that would indicate that
the min; was bought to get P.Y.A. out, but there was much discussion
among the men that made ma think this might be so.
"I have read the above statement and declare it to be true
and correct.
/Vi
"litnesses
/S/ ! Spzcial Agents, FBI
! U. S. Dept. of Justice"
~ 1
1.
251 ~
;_r-92II!-I-P 7 "7 >7_ ii ___ 7, ____ ___, __ V W- __ _. _ _._;___-_,.'_ - - ---- :v~ +-' ---- *;~'-"'-"F-7 """
i.
_ Aw _________ _ .__. ,____* éjgi _ _ - - _ _ -.0
. __1 -- -1... -
g | ,, . 0 If
'-I I u
INTERVIEW one residing s
ineis, was interview b eial Agentsis
Q
2
11
:-
I*_
.-
.1!
_
-.'. .' .. -" "J 1-. -".1
$1.1.-,e : 1.1---,»- . ..~_
5
-.-?'4'92-
-_¢
22
1.1
. _._.P"vs.
._a,
Tl
' f .-,..
K-'.. ~RE: JOHN L. IEWIS, ETAI.
i and in ,,,,,,,
but not particularly we n orme and t re ore is not e ng reoonmended
as a witness. His statement is as follows: -
Sept 16, 1943
_ Springfield, I11-
" make the following voluntary state»
ment to peoial Agents of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation. o threats or premises have been made to induce mu to make
any statement.
"I was born and have been acitizen since M I new live at and am employed
at Mine A. I e been a miner all y e an irs s ted working at
Mine A in I I joined the P.M.i.. in 1932 when the men signed up with
Progressive. I felt it was a good thing at first as it meant a ohange Of
hands and I felt it was good for the men to have a ohango.
I was working at Mine A in the spring of 1941 when the
mine shut down. I reeall getting e letter from RYAN saying he had sold
Mine 1. to ELSHOFF. When I first heard the news about the mine being sold
it made mo feel sorry because I was afraid we wouldn't get our mention
money. I thought the mine would either shut down or open up under UJIJY.
I just heard a lot of the men saying they thought it might be a united
mine.
"I went to a meeting at the P.M..£.. hall and the men were
saying that we might not be working at Mine J. in the fall. They also talked
about mining ooel out of Mine I. through a hole and pull it through lline B.
He were afraid the men in Mine B would mine all the eoel.
"I also wont to a meeting at the Elks Club at which time
all the men joined united. I signed up with united at the Elks Club, but
do not know any of the details of the meeting. I joined U.ll.'fI. because I
wanted to keep my job, Everybody wants to eat and I would sign up with
any union if it meant getting a job-
"This statement has been read to me by_ it
to the best of my memory.
/°/_is true
Speoi , FBI
U0 '3. Of Jut-16°.
. -252 _.
1
_. Q?
=¬£§1Q,_ __~_ _ ___ ___,__,_ _ _ _ ________,._,__..............' --_ _ ~1_ 1: Vh_?1|k_; +' r~
3
C"? I0 z
Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
I, ,,. Springfield, Illinois,- 1: on ep em er 0, 1945, b s 15.1 Lgsnts'
- 1
-»
.-ii
_ -I» In
.->.~-qr
__.
W
. . .2 .4,-2b1 ,,~
!-'a?."*
Y
-;J.1. 111.~-.
53'.-
1
e~
-~._¢3r--1.
4-
..
* ,
->-
-4
,.»..
1
<sL In
1and understands is very well. e a he i no take mach mqmlym %P@*'
of an interest in union activities, -noted that he always has preferred
the United Mine Workers union to the Progressive line Workers of America.
He said that he has never been arrested.
The following signed statement was obtained from-
Springfield, I11.
September 10, 1943.
I, make the following voluntary statement to.Q and whom I knew to be Special Agents of the
Fedora ureau of Investigation, of my own free will, with no threats or
promises made to me.
"I live at S ri field and an employed
at Mine A. I was born , and started work
at Mine A i ' -n - I ve been there s nee o,
"In the summer of 1941, I don't knew just when, all the men at
Mine A got a letter saying that Ryan no longer had an interest in Mine A.
The mine had been closed down since April, and, in September, their unemplqy
ment compensation was running out. The miners were talking among themselves
of getting their jobs back. The consensus of opinion among the men, after
they heard that Elshoff had bought Kine L. was that it was possible to
work the Mine A through Mine B. No one over said anything about this to
mo.
"I feel sure that a large percentage oi the men at Mine A were
anxious to get back into the U.H,TFi', I personally was never satisfied with
the P.H.A. because I didn't think the leaders of the union.were capable men.
"I don't remember bei v resent at the P.M.A. mecti s on ssptoubere and 11, 1941. 1 was told by and thRt I had
been appointed to :1 committee. m sure 1dn't go o e meeting at
which the comrnittee was selected, because I would have disputed aw appoint-
ment. an appointment was made for the committee to moot with Falcotti at
Mine B. Ls I remember, the other members on the committee. and those
that saw Faleetti, were
c asked Faloetti for t e 0*. evn inc , . .. e
men could expect. Faleetti saw they had bought the loaso from Ryan, and
were figuring on starting the mine about October first. I don't remember
any talk on the part of Falcetti pertaining to the U.'ll.H. The report ofthe corrmitteois conference with Falcetti was given to the P.11.A., 1»;-
I believe.
- 253-
.,._a . _,;,,__.7,g¢___ 5,-.___..¢"~I--T~"""""'"--"1__ _4.-..-.1.-._
1.
92>~
f.
.a,
-31-
~11-
~
;_
,;.
:3
5%;-i5 C5?
-. .__
8-A.
. w _:.- J'. .5,-"_. f..__.
-00
v
92-. <-_92
*-.
1-.
.: 1;-
.:.:-wQ.-r 92
-. . . - - , .
Q O e
i Re: JOHN L. Lcms, 2:1: AL
n W TH I don't remember an conversation at any P..A. meeting,
or anywhere else, to the effect that it was necessary to
continued! join the U.M,W, before we could go back to work at Hinc A-
It was cert of token for granted. We know that Falcetti
was dealing with tho U.u;$, at Mine B, and know he didn't want to hve to
deal with another union in Mine A. I don't know where I got this idea.
"One afternoon, at either the Elks Club, or the K. C. H811, we
signed up with the U.H.K. I think o vote was taken, and the majority agreed
to join the U.H.W. I don't know of any force or coercion used. After we
hed decided to join, Edmundeen come into the Hall, and said he lac glad to
see the men back in the U.M,W. I left right after joining, and don't
know if Edmundson took the new officers to meet Elahoff or not,
"I have reed the foregoing, consisting of approximately two and
one half pe;es, and state that it is true to the best of my knowledge,
j<senu<=>
slgned!
Special Agents, FBI
Springfield, Ill.
10-254-
_,_ __"* F ... ., _._---_ _- _, i -_, - :;:_~;*~A, I e '4 e -4; 1' 1 ' W-,__,, _ - _ -,' -4*'f# jI_4~' K-rr; '+;
,
4.I
1
.
-1
-.1-
: Q.-'-9':: -.-.
1: ;#-
£_ -rt * -
.--_ .__--_-_-...-_ -_-- _ - __
. ' E X
¬ ' 0; '
Rel L0 ET J-J0
advised Special L,gents
t he had no information of value to
There is set forth below the signed statedINTERVIEIJ '.}I'I'H
_ instan case.
nent executed by
Springfield, Illinois
septmbf 15 J. I
make the following voluntary statement to
an knowing them to be Special igente in the
e_ern urcau of Invostlgutzon. Ho threats or promises have been made to
me to induce me to make a statement.
and I started work- "I was hem ==n
at hlre A 1n 1936 I uit working at Kine £ in February, 1940 to take
framin I. ' t. I know nothing concerning the switch
._.n. o . .J. at Kine in 1941. I am new employed at Peabody #59.
"I have rend the above statement and declare it to be true and
correct.
I I .
/W?
Bitnessed:
Special Agents, F.B.I.
U.S. Dept. of Justice. '
M*-,-ii if j, i i -; ; >An o 1 W,J ' -. .; . * _
+-.._.. -. +-
..a1 _ I 'l I
_ _ __ ____ ___ -,_ ~g_ ___ _; --- Q --- -. *7 - ~___ V __'_ __ _~ -- - ?A.... -
r
I 7 .
st ff
H B5: JGIN L. LHIIS, El AL
»_ _
139"
Q
Ln-_=,,
. F?-*
. ...
8. '-
I -I" Q1» :7"--ll;.. -': -
..;.
.1; __ , .
.;_,r-. an i.,,-_-
" I
If ._,r.D1'--Q-.- '_~§- .~ 92I
.4. '."'- .--'92- _ " - -.
.'_;_.,-92-v FT-r.='f.?
_q.___~,-ad' it r I_. ,,-. r_---
On-
_ -T1 _JP l
uri
,-1
-
i,1_-.1_
F.-3 .- ii
F -h:_..f_- ,
2'-». . =
é
iINTEFFJIFI. w ITH interviewed by Special Agents- it the outset of this interview
a good job now and wasn't going to
s anvthing get him involved in any trouble with am union.l5O expressed the OpiniOn that the government should have taken
ac ion a;;a1nS1; John L. Lewis years ago 1-hen the U.II.l'. was more active.Eras quite reluctant to discuss instant case although he stated he
1'10 o estify if called upon to do so.
He speaks good English and seems to be of average intelligence. It
is believed he fnuld be only a fair witness to testify for the Government.
There is set forth below the signed statement executed by
"Springfield, Ill.
Sept. 15, 1943
make the follovi ng voluntary statement to
Agents of the Federal Bureau of
or promises have been made to get me to make
any statement.
1| 1 s born in and presently reside at
I an presently employed at Peabody mine #59. I
en a miner a my life and I joined the U25? at that time. I was
president of the Uri. local at Peabody when they turned over to Progressive
and at that time I was in favor of the change. The men were dissatisfied
because of a cut in wages and I think they wanted to break away from the
III; 92'-hen they did in l932. I joined the FHA in 1932 and worked at the
Peanut Lne in about 1933 and 1934. I started at Hinc A in 1936.
-
.4
1,-4 '
-1-,
-..!
L».
-.
»
-I
-+1
-1-
1
- F
-.
'7 9
4- --;M1. -.¬.., v§.- '92,;|
2.?-~1-1
-I5
.f_
' M:
Y
=2
I
rc 3-t-.,
-;92-"'>
s»
i.
92 -r
C
Ya...
25!:
@171,
92
92_ _____i ____ ___;__ A -~__-L _ -- - --U -__;A: _~ _ A _ 7 _ __ ___ _ __
- 1.
O
re: JOHN L. Lexis, E1 AL
' TITH I learned some time during this period
held several meetings to discuss their
c e I never attended any of those meetings
at the Peanut iiine. I neirt heard that
I-Zine A had joined U.35,T. -. so I found out that the balance
going: up to the ULW hall to sign up. I decided I wantedthat the PM
future policy, but
as I was working
all of the men at
of the men were
to go back to l.{:i.ns
A so I tent up to the hall and signed up. Nobody threatened me or forced
me to sig up.
"I quit Working at Hint-3 A in liar-ch oi 1943 because I found a job
peering; more money. Conditions at Iine A Vere better after the fall of
1941 because the U.1J.. . raised our basic rate scale from a day to
a day. The leaders in the Uilil local at iiine A sec-med to be about the
sane as the PILA men.
"I have read over this statement of 3 pages 3; wish to state it
is true to the best of my memory. I 1'-ish to cleriI_y the above by
Stating that the basic scale as stated above was in connection with idle
days at the mine.
<s@=<=d> i
T itness-es
! Special Afents, F.B.I.
U.S. Dept. of Justice"
-25'7-
.. f_. ' .
-*2-1.-.--'1;
-i- e
"590
_92-.
,5
. '4'-'5"
"I 3*.
a>,_
Y...
.-1":
.7 -,
-._-.-<R . 2'-:~.-»- :1"V, _..-.
'-re-*1..,..=, _
.v*'~. E
Are ='..__~ 1; 1
:32. .'
.x.,-"
9 , ,-
92 ' '
:9" S
F
-'2111- '-v~4._ .--. __
1
_.
n»..-
_ f
:=
- -.1
.n_.'__. ,1 -g__ ,-
- -~ .1
._.w. F
R
_ ___ W___ ___A __ it _ A , . __,___.,__,_ __ _ __: __ 3 _e~__ A V _ ____ _ _
G ' O
re: aom: L. LEYIS, E1 AL.
mm W
13, 191.3. Inasmuch as
he has no irzfermation
leiSeptember
'3 Ii, $11318
1s set forth below the statement
"Springfield, Illinois
September 13, 1943
"I, m ac the ollowing voluntary state-
ment to and both of when I know
- » F I v t o
nto be Specla ngen s 1n e. ederal reau of nvest.r.ba :.on. N
threats or promises have bee m d e ' due me to make a
statment. I was born and started
milling at Mine 1. in Lt that time I joined the United Mine
I-erkcrs and I have never held an office in any union. In 1932 I
joined P.1.I.1... I joined When the rest of the miners did but it made
no difference to no what union I belonged to. I worked under PJLA.
-Z L § until I quit m:Lni1g in the spring oI 1940. hen I left Line A I was
satisfied with Pd!-L left ' - n becau I ouldnlt make enough
money. I am no? I
know nothing concurnlng e svrltcn back to UJL1}. y e nmers at
Mine A. I have read the above statement and declare it to be true
and correct. -_
/S/
Witnesses
/S/ Special Agents, FBI
U.S. Dept__ of Justice"
E
- -
n- -»
= ---192
_ __ _ ,_ ___ _ __ .. ft-::AJ£ -"7;-7 ~~ o_-;; ~ _q_I}cf " '""~* -
c>' J!
7 Re: some L. Lsrs. Br tr»-
h septonbor 13, 1943 at
_ '-'1_i" l rather advanced in years
_- and is not sure of any of tho details surrounding the meeting at the Elks
club. It is believed he would only make a fair witness to testify as to the
:'" "- information set forth in the folloving signed statement--77
"Springfield, Illinois
"; -_ September 13, 1943
-n__
-' 1 "I-_ residim st foil - , ing vo1ur?t:92{r_'; ototonoot" t both of___§ when I know" to be Special nbon -.2 -e oral Burehu o ostigationo
~ 4* I-Io threats or promises have been node to no to induce no to make a state-
= nent. I on nevi a shot firer at lime ,1. -
"I 1-"rs born in and st 1? 1-king in
_>';_:;,;~,§, the nines in _ I Jozuio . '.'. -. in I
started -1'or1-ting at Iiinc 1'. in and at 1 me o onge 0 U.I*.t..
In 1932 I joined P-21.1.. because I always "rent Tith the msgjority. nine L
usually shut devn every summer and it F218 during the shut dern, as I
- recall, that 1-e joined P.1~.r..
,¬ "I Pas 'ror'lcing at Efine 1. in the spring of 1941 than the shut
'~ dovn. e had 0.11-"aye got along all right with Bran, and the non were.'"f»_,1" satisfied vith P-ILA. ' "
. I'-
tt "Sonotine the early part of September, 1941 I Ierimed that a meeting
of P.7!.I.. TY-".5 to be hold, either st the K.C.'s hall or the Elks Club.
I think n felloi" th:_~t 92orked at fiine I-. told no about the meeting. He4-_ tdiclmt know the purpose of the meeting. I rent to it and at that time learned that Elsh-off had bought nino 1.. 1 remember that M' "L"'id if I recall correctly he said that the meet g us de-
__ _ Cl e 1" ac or 1 e would join U.I1.... or stay with P.I'_.L. I do not remember
5 any discussion about this, but a standing; vote was taken and every one
1 L voted to join U.!3.l..
1-f; Then I first learned that Elshoff had bought the nine I felt that
to vould have to join U.?i.T.. to keep my job. I know": that iiine B was
" : u.::.92.. and felt tn.-it Elshoff vould not operate Iiine A under p.::.;.. 1
2 think that most non felt as I did, that Ktsheff would not open Mine L
unless it T'as United. I never henni aqvthing about operating I-fine I,
through Iiinc B.
"After the non voted to join £1.11. 0 someone sent after Edmmdson
and he cane over, bring__ some membership cards Pith bin. Fe wanted to
- 259,-
I-
i
I;-;,
if
>
E
92-
<=,,_:1!
1
5
n-2
K5
, .F -1 I
,A ,31;._ __ ,.1: "5
._,_ __.
92- Q..___.:
.'-P
.53-. - -3-
,-_.;,;, IT
A--.» n
2"
R
2
9
E
E: r 3 d:_ * -
H , _,, _ _ _em ,_ lee, W» ~ + '_"ttInI_ ' *' 1II-- *' 7' '-""~_i"1* '~-"4' *7 *"'*
G ' O
}l JOIN I-Q L: IO m. I-514:
INTEWIE PITH ask hin that teuld happen to the exonerated mater:
of P.},.... and he sand they could ecne in U.1£.T¢., that!_!on!1nu-on is. those who had Yorl-ued at Itine 1.
"I Y-as not threatened or intimidated in any tray to inuence my vot-
i11P1T for U.I{.T{. I 1"as old, and had a job at !'b.ne A and I felt -that if We
did.n*t join U.I*.92-. we ~r:;>uldn't go back to fork. I knot" '92"h¬'.b had happened
at Iiine B and felt that Elsho would not open the Iiine 1. under P-H-L
I sinned a U.TT.e.. card at the above meeting and don't recall attending any
other meetings. Conditirms are about the sane at Hine A new as they were
under P.;i....
"I have rend the ab-we statement and declare it t-'2 be true and
correct.
I /S/ i
"Fitnessed;
/s/
S, FIBOII
U.S. Dept. of Justice."
-260-
E
i
§
2.,
-.
.
4}.-.
---1.
to
.9-
.
§
3
.15
. .-
J ,..'A_.1- 1, ~_
2 F
'--an
--
@-
we¥ .
S 1<
t-! 1
:_,- -rka;-_ -~ -
C ' O
rm JOIIH L. masts, E! AL.
INTE.iTi.i' T EH5pscia1
and
and appeared to unable o follow a logical _is not mentally__ ine of questioning. It is not felt that he vould make a desirable
92'l'U!E3SS. He furnished the following statement.
"Springfield, Illinois
September 13, 1943.
v
make the following voluntary statement- both of vhon I k;no92'.' to be
eau of Investigation. No threats
or promises have been made to me to induce no to make a statement.
"I was ¬'..I']d started working
ploye there and nor reside at
I jOl_11Ld U.I-1.;-. when I started at Mine} and
when the rest of the non did. I joined P.H.A.
because the majority did.and I had no particular feeling for one union
over the other. P.I.-1.A. get along all right with the men and the com-
P8113?-
"In the spring of 1941 the mine shut down and that summer I learned
that Elshoff had bought Iiine A. I got a letter from Wan telling of
this, and it was also in the paper. He one approached me to Join
U.1E.' . and I didn't give it much thought,
"Sometime in Septcmber I saw". a notice in the paper telling of a
meeting of the men at Mine A to be held at the 1-lkls Club. I attended
this meeting which I felt vas to be held to see what would be done
about opcming Eine A. Nearly all of the men from Mine I. rere at
this meeting. The men tore talking among themselves for a while
and finally someone, I don't remember who, got up and said ve should
vote and see if tho fellows ranted to go back to U.ll.TI. 4'. standing
vote was taken and the men voted to join U.1-1.13. The men elected
officers then, and Edmundson came over and talked for a while. Tie
all signed up for U.H.92.. then.
"I joined U.1£.'--. because the nest of the fellors did, and also,
I had belonged before and never had any trouble with them.
"I have read the above statement and declare it to be true and
correct.
/S/ _
"ilitnesses
/S/ Special a'.gents,- FBI
U. S, Dept. of Justice"
1 _ - 261- -
5:
4s-1
I
I
- J
a J3
_.,__
.:-"'
4- .-j-'2.
-r'
s-1-T
A .1
._,__
>
-a-'-
....»._.
L.'1 Y .
A -_ _
__ i _ __ ;*_ _ __ _ _ _ 7____?_ _ ___ _ .,_~_ |-Ag,g-|;;1- -__ f_*'A_
r - r
O O _
12, JOHIJL. Limo, EPAL. -
INTERVIEII TIIITH
er 4 _43_ He
d und i st s isyearsk of_age, has e poor memory an er no c rcun ance
TOLL e ma e a good vitness. He furnished the following signed statement.interviewed by Special dd
"Springfield, Illinois
Septenber 13, 1913.
at
n s in
No threats or premises have
been made to mo to induce mo to make a statement. At the present
time I am unemployed.I'I residinz_ folloinng are a a encnt to
both gf who have identified
the Federal Bu?5§u of Investigation.
"I was born and havebeen a miner for t e past 1 tednine Yorkers and s e to work at Line I. in about Q
gt that time I s a member of U.L!.Y.'. In 1932 I joined P.!I.!.. an
oontinued working at jjine Jr. Conditions were good under P.1.I.A., the
offi cers rcrc well liked and the mien got along fine with Kine 1,
officials.
"In the spring of 1941 Iiine l. shut damn for the summer, as it bed
in the past. Sometime that summer Elshoff bought Mine A. I first
learned of it through some friends, I don't recall exactly who told
me. I rencnber going to e meeting at the U.I!.Y¢. hall and signing up
for U.1!.1.. I had been told that if we didn't join U.1{.T.. the mine
Yould not open up. I didnlt Want to join U.}[,T-. but I felt that I had
to ii I ranted to l"OIk. I don't remember hearing anything about working
ifino A through nine B. I do not remember going to any other meetings
other than the one I mentioned befom.
has reed the above tetoment to me,
and it is true and correct. .
/$/ j
"Witnesses
/S/ Special .'.gc.-nts, FBI
13.5. Dopt_ of Justic"
-263-
5;
In
u-...
;"!;r
1.5-
92-.'--~,
.5,
... .
..__
in-I>
'. 5
1
.' I;
'Ii.'r.
..11?'92|v,
.I; :- 1 .
iéi i _ _,_____ __ .1 .. _ _ *1: ~, ;_ ---t;_, r-- __ -.
O ' O
: 3.: aom L. mas, ET LL. ~ - _
mwsnvmv WITH Q r_ 5P@=1a1 gen 5 _- on September lj_ _ _ _ _ _ .nois.He is years of age and unable to read. He appears mentallysluggis an does not understand questions put to him. He fumisbed
the following signed statement:
"Springfield, Illinois
_ September 13, 19/.3
roluntary statement t
bo .. .
a . .th of whom have identified as p"'1a gen s
u of lnvestigation. No threats or promises have
been made to me to induce me to make a statement.
py-ears old i starts nor ing a ne . t hat time I joined
.l'I.". and I am still employed at Mine A.
"I joined P.L1.A. in 1932 but inasmuch as I was may!yrs. old then, I didn't know much about unions and one was as ood
as another. The mine shutdown in the spring of 191.1 and that summer
I got a letter from Ryan telling that he had sold liine A to Elshoff.
1 also saw this in the paper. at that time I didn't know what Elshoff
would do, whether he would open under P.ll.1-. or United. We had been
satisfied with P.l£.A. and had been getting along well with Ryan.
"The only meeting I attended during this time was held at the
E11-Us Ulub. Nearly all of the men from lline e were present at thismeeting. As 1 recall, *asked ii the men wanted to joinU.P£.'., a standing vote was en and the men voted to join U. ii".
After the vote was ta.ken'the men sent for *-dmundson who came over
and talked to us. I don t remember what he talked about. No threats
were made to me to make me join U.ll.'-1'. I joined U.I.ii. because the
rest of the men did, they all stood up and I did too. is far as I an
concerned, one union is the same as another.
The above statement has been read to me by ' and 1 declare it to be true and correct.
/s/ _
cial Agents, FBI
Dept_ of Justice
_- 263- .
Fr
x:-u
-.
1
zi; "N-.f. 1.--.
-|'v92
--noum
_. i
~-1
n .-
92
. ._
1- .. Z
i
E
Y?. 1
A_,____ :__,.u_ ;~+ A-~~A-,;,:, ,,-_ ~ - :,A:-1 " hill; " i t t if? I V i e- -fro - -- f ~ , t _.' 1
P
G O
RE: JUHH L. IEZTS. ET 11¢
ITPQ ' I " After the mun leading the meeting told us that we could
CC"1 1-I"Ue
L1. U1. l92..|.192:n 92.-nunnot go back to work at Mine A unless we joined U.H.?d'a,
the neg by a majority vote decided to join the U.H.'.'i.
:11 - -... 4-1....-e |:'1..92...mv -H -.+ A 4-he 11 'M,'_';o -in 1!-inn A ha- QJ-l.a.lLlJ.l Iildl-ID-i92L VII UICQI I Q-in III-4-DIV DI W"
cause of the trouble that hr-.:l happened in Mine B, nnd we lmew that we could
net --::1r}: in Lline n unless we signed up with U.}.I.T..
"1 don't know if any U.:.t . organizers were st this meeting, but
they could have been there. After the vote by the men, Ray Edmundsen came
into the meeting, made s little talk, and left the meeting. I don't recall
what ho said.
~|hu.'1'1 the men signed up with U.I..-.-., T
t.:.-.2 the felt es I I. I A 0 I J
did. I needed n job, and if I did not join the U.L'.=.., I felt that I would
not be able to work in Ilino A. I felt the intention of the nine company was
to get U.1.I.'... into the mine, but was not sure that they would not work in the
P.i£.1t. I figured that the only thing that I could do was to join the U.li.'92-1.,
so I joined of my own free will. No force was used on mo to make me join
the U.I.I.T.. I went heme right after the meeting. -
"Under the U.!:Z.'.a. conditions were just the some and as good as
they were under F.'sI.A. as fer as I an cencerned, the 'J.II..'£:. is just as
satisfactory cs the P.l.I..b.. I was ju
with U.L1.Ii. Either union was 0.K. f
"LA-zen I first heard that E
that the union would have to change.st as satisfied with the P.1I.A. as I llh
or me as long as the leaders were honest-
lshofi had bought Iiine 1:, I did not think
Iuhon I heard that Elehoff itantcd tcurun
both mines under the some union, I knew that I would have to join the U.1I.'Tl.
if I wanted to work in Hine 41. I know: this from the talk that I heard from
the men who work in the mines. I don't lcnow any particular person who told
me this. I also hoard that -E-Ishoff was pier.-hing to run LEino'!*- through the
Zine B shaft if the miners did not join U.1»I..Ti. No one talked to no about
joining U.l!.TJ.
"I had been perfectly ssti sfied with P.I~£.A., but 1:11 of the circum-
stances which I have told about above mode me think that it was necessary
for me to join the U-}.I.T.'. if I wanted to work in Mine A. -
"This statement consisting
has neon reed to me, and I state the
end recollection.
Tiitnesseszof thi s and two other typewritten pages
I _ -_..|-_- h I-92-H. 'Lu92q~I- 1-5] --up 1-nu-o92 Q-slangIll-1 cu 92-11:; uu 5 u u J. lei; a.I-sun LUHBU
<=> i
A.gents, FBI, Springfield, I11. '
:1-P
E
E
i-
-'1
-v"
UQ
1.11£-
.92.->... _,
Ii-F
'.
I'..
"J
'1,-
*1F1:
.- ,
-
-92.' aK
*"' "' ' ' I I - "l*"1 "'*:- - "lea:-1": _ :_-:- =-1r- ~ ,_92-:9»-¢,; 1 _ _e_~___ 4T__,_;* ,._ __. :.___ _ _
. ' Y I b a oq I joined he niied Mine Workers and0' O
RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, om.
_ i e , -, was in erv ewe a s residence onSeptember 16, 1945, by 5peoial Agentsa.nd_--1--__ This man understands English very ieii, and u span:
ng isn co oren y. He said he is willing to testify if necessary. E0
stated that he has no criminal record.
Springfield, Ill-
September 16, 1945
"I make the following voluntary state-
ment to and whom I knew to be Special Agents
of the Federal Buu of InTa¬t'i'gation, of my own free will, with no threat
or promises made me.
"I lm living at d, Illeg
and am working at Mine 11. I was or: and came
z to the United States in ee
was o. mom or oi that union unti 1934, when I began a 3,
and joined the Progressive Mine Yorkers of America. I rejoined the UJIJI.
when all the men at Mine 1. did in 1941. I never held an offioe in any
union. Of the two unions, I preferred the P.ll.h. a little, although there
isn't e lot of difference between it and the U.M.Y5. In PJ-IJH meetings,
men were allowed to speak up, while you eant do it in U.M.92I.. meetings-
I heard from some men that ELSHOFF had bought Nine L from
RYAN. We wondered about it, because I had heard that ELSHOFF was supposed
to be broke, and wondered how he got the money to buy it. he soon as I
heard gent 31.33103? the bought the mine, I felt that I would have to join
U.M.'e'§. to keep my job, because of what had happened at Mine B. I was not
contacted by anyone about joining the U.l.l.W., and I don't remember men
conversation about going UJLW. to avoid trouble at Mine A.
"I heard at a PJI-It. meeting that Blehoff was going to work
Mine 1. through Mine B, and had sent an entry toward Mine I. from line B.
At this meeting I heard a report that ELSHOFF would put one hundred men g
in Mine L and pull coal out through Mine B. There had been n. committee
that had met with F1-LCETTI, and Fa}.-C-.E'l"lI my have told the eoimnittoe this-
I don't know where the report started. I thin}: that this report was a
bluff on the part of ELSHQFF, and that it oouldn't be done. I heard other
stories about what ELSHOFF was going to do; I oe.nt remember them now, but
I think they were all a bluff to get the men to join the U.H.¥I. I don't
~266-
F
2
.,-192$5?i
I
1' '1'- , ,
,F
_
KL
.: Fr
E5.__-1
:'-.
_¢_
w~_ _,.
*51-»'7 " " "* " - * e =- *-" **->*+~"";'*Ii" """-J-*"-r --,¢___-__--_w-Inn-4.1: ,1--1-~ ~_;_:_
C -" O
RE: JOHN L. LEQIS, ETAL
Fnwmmknn Bnnrina hn92r+_92-HY-920 Ahni 'RT§'n§1i Qltfil-vsuv...---. nQ92|rv-Q1554: -"J --H-uh -----I ..".--...v-- --J-9
that he planned to operate line A with the U-I-I-
=1 no men. There was e lot of talk in this meeting,
wondering what E1.-SHOFF going to do, but I don't
know of any committee being appoint-ed.
"I went to a P.M.A. meeting at K. C. Hall on a Sunday after-
noon. J. big men, whose name I don't know, conducted the meeting, and said
it was best for the men to stick together and join the UJLW. if we wanted
to work, and ii we tented to eveid trouble like Hine B red. ii -ver the vote
to go U.M.Y.'., EDMUNDSON spoke to the men, and said he would welcome us back
He said the mine would open as soon es possible, and that we wouldn't have
to pay an initiation fee. There had been several meetings ji-st before thie
at Progressive Hall, but I don't remember any oommit'tn.'. being appointed,
or anything special going on.
Since the u.u.w. has been book at the mine, things are
about as they were under P.M.A., although they might have been a little
better under 1215.13. The only reason I rejoined 3.15.11. was to keep '..~.;-,' ,0-
at Mine In 0
The foregoing, consisting of two pages, has been read to
no and I state it is true to the best of my knowledge.
/ _
Witnesses: -_
je-p6C1a gents,
Springfield, I11."
E
;~
g
E
9
i
>
.
i.._l
-92 .
3=
1,'-=%i.5.
J-.. ..
.' .=_ is
1.
_v Hi.3'5-..'§_ ' .... L92 .
,--.~ £1.-'.-*4'.__._'_',§,-v
r._.8
?+_
I
.-" -_.
-'-
--~-P
.->51*'*:""
;~ ....»I-54":-,_sg.w-3 -,..... _-=29;
,. . ..
"'-'.r- --.921-Is;--1--0-I-' 4; 1" _
i _ ____ ____ _ .. :_sA_._:__ ..___- _ _,W_ I; ~ 7 ~~ _'A _~ ~_*=;¢1-ee. ':- _ _-_-~~ V-..
C-' IO
92 I
Ran JOHN L. 13115, IT -BL
Spring!l.16!!, !!!!noL, wssl !n!er-slows! his
4 rssidene on Se tsmbsr 16 1943, by SpecialAssn *s1=<1 *=P"~'=* ""1understands En s var well. He said ever ng contained in E Y
the statement set forth below is true and correct, but he declined
to sign the statement claiming that it would be embarrassing for him
if he did. He would not elaborate upon this statement. It is believedthat his fetho:-P who previously had refused to sign astatement without e up oval of his attorney, had tolgnotto sign any statements. iioes not appear to e person of
strong ehnreetcr. '
The following statement we-.s executed by :
Springfield, Ill. '
S0p'bc:n11Jc1 16, 1943.
statement freely
1-nd volunter y end who have
identified themselves me as Bureau of
Investigation. No threats or premises have been made to me to
obtein this statement.
I presently resideand re eyed at Kine .3. I was ha I started to vrerk ot iiinc A ine.nd that is when
joined the United lline Workers. In 1932 I joined the Progressive léino
forkers of America when all the rest of the miners did. The ohnngo
to F.I-i..i. made no -difference to. However, it seemed to me that the
duos in P.1~r.1.. vere 0 little higher than they were in U.li..'!.
I reed in the newspapers that Elshoff had purchased Kine it
from Fr. an. it that time I ':'.':;.s doing some carpenter work. I motp to.-:n one day, and he asked no if I minted to work at
liine 1.. said that the mine was going to open with n 'U.1al.»"T. contract,
one that if I vented to work in I-Zine J. I would have to join the 11.15.11.
"In the early fell of 1941 I did not go to any of the union
s
E
n
'1 .
L
.-_-Y
: -.. __
I$14'? ' I nevefheard any other discussions
_-.5 on the matter.' _, ' continued_.l¢.
...
.=
5'.
r!»_-'-..-
;ci 9-
M12
.»
. -M '/'
.�1 .
.-¢- '..
'. 1
3
154;
92-*-
1
-.=,5. ,
.1
"¢-_
,3= E
__k,~+HA_ ---__<;;i; _, H , _ _ _-~ .,1,;_, ;;_ . __, _ __<7__;+__W:: _ __
Lt "' m '
-.-,_
;_ , Ra: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
P-
'I have read this statement and state that it in
true to the best of my knowledge and recollection.
_ said everything in this statement 1» true, but
doclincc to slgn , saying that it would be embarrassing for him if
ho did.
I Special Agent, F.B-I-, Springfield, I11.
ul Agent, F.B.I-, Springfield, I11-
- 269 -
!
Q" I
In-.
9
3.3
"-"1
4.-I . ,
1
R:-92,l,
E
~.-C:
' 1
. _».
~,f-?
L_" ;-
'_.',;-'._5:§¢.'.'.:-,-=-
oz if
rise-".1" _'l.1,
ii
55% ; '_~- 7:-.*:=r-r¢
I lan
.-... _-¢
._,_ Z, 1»-L 4 ed
315%
1:3; -
.__
tr1-
|Y-~=-.'
'
_; -7!a -I_x. {
_ _ _ __J: i __ __V _,___:; ,~~- --t-7'*-- --Q-An-1- ~ - A _ - aura __ .-_,_ i-= -- s * t
O O
RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
-as i sp=~1ne1~1=.
Illinois, was interviewed at is res
' 15, 1943, by Special
-225.During the interview
was present. J understands English . was
friendly, but was r ticent. He said that he has always preferred theU155 to the BIA, hrefused to sign the statement set out below
withou: the consent and approval of his attorney. He said he did not
know the name of his attorney, but admitted that it was the attorney forthe um. _;oio that no one had told him not to cooperate with
Federal Agents and to refuse to sign any -statements. He said that he hasalways declined to sign any statements. }*;c:weVer, said all the
facts set forth in the statement are true an .at he will stick to the
truth.
"Springfield, I11.
September 15, 1943
"I, make the following statement freely and volun-tarily to and whc have identified them-
selves to me as DPECIBL Agents 01 the reuerai ourean of Investigation.
No threats or promises have been made to me to obtain this statement.
"I presently reside or Sp1i5gfieldJ_llll4_nd am employe in 1394 .
became a c1 izen o e States n Springfield, Il1., in-
About_ started to work in Mine A. so that time,
I was in the United Kine oraers Union. In 1952 I joined the Progressive
Mine Workers of America with the rest of the miners. I went along with
the majority of the miners. Personally I would have preferred to have
UMW at Mine A because I had always liked LL'W. All the time I was in PIA
I would have preferred to be in UNM0
"I read in the newspapers that Hr. Ryan had sold or transferred
his interest in Lfinc A to Mr. Elshoff. I did not have any ideas as to ho!
this change would affect mo. I remember that I heard some of the miners ;
talking in town and saying that the mine was going to sign a contract sith
ULTW, but I did not hear anything about the miners having to join TMW to
save their jobs at Mine A. '
"I did not go to any HM meetings in the summer or fall of 1941-
I don't recall signing up with UMW. It seems to me that I merely started
to pay dues to IIMW. When I wont back to work at Lline A, it felt good to
be back in UHW. I don't know anything about any discussions or talks in
meetings of the unions in the summer of 1941.
-ZTQ-.
.
,,a.
1
.i-HI
L
ji
-I»-1 -4"L_ _. ..
.~-ég
S A
-5
,-. ,.'
-£2;
,_,...,;__
.g_.-_:__'
7!: '
I-I Y1J! ' 'c_- - _c
é
2-
r
L
g.__ _ _ __ A __ _ _ _ _ A T ___~___._ _4;~_~ ~_______ ,____ ,;_~ -~ _A___ ~'_-_ _., _~'_._
C ' O
RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
INTE1-WIE..'92'J"1»IITH "Conditions at Mine A now are just as good underE UM?! as they wore under FHA. '
_ on inue ! '
"I have had this statomont consisting of this
and Ono other handwritten page road to me, and I state that it is true
to the best of my knowledge and recollection.
idea-li..ned. to gizn
!g!s gatamont without theaoozv
sent and approval of his attor-
ney, but ndndttod the truth of
the facts contained herein.
Tiitnes so s:
/=/
/=/
$p0cia1 Agents, r. a. I.
Springfield , I11 ."
- 271 -
1%,,-
%
-n.-..
§
-ii;
1-,
F5.
. .
gun.
._ ' E.--v-
.. .4:'~.."$
1: ==-=-
,..I'
Q.
-
. - 1»
1... |
./
»*
'92
Q-%in It on A@ i
A __4__:_~;~:.. _**»... -r; ~~* - f - ,4; 'i:-gt-aar-' "~'-"1" *1 [if " u. ; ;_ ' ,**<I*-~ " 'h¢ ~-~* ~ _
C ' O
RE! JOHN L. IEHIS, ETAL
linois, was n or owod at s rosidonoo on Bo tombor 18by ==1=<=-ml new apoaks and rstands English very wall. Tho s omont sator ' o
of a paper. aid that no one had told him not to sign a statonont _cw. was road to ho said ovorything in it was truo. H0 do-
olinod to oi n it saying that it was against his polioy to sign any kind
taken by Fodora! lgonts and also addod that ho has not boon in any kind
of trouble.
" Springfiold, Illinois
I Soptombor 18, 1943
I mako tho following voluntary statomont too.nd whom I mow to bo Spooial 1-igonts of tho
odoral Bu:-oau 0 II1VOSb1[;8.tiOIl, of my own froo Will, with no throats or
promisos undo to mo.
"I am living a
linois and am working at lino
at ogan wor ing o
tho Unitod Mina Y-Jo:-kors at that time. I joined lino orkors
oi Amorioa in 1932, and rojoinod tho U.ll.W. in 1941. Tho twitch to PIA in
1932 mado no difforonoo to mo. I noithor favored or opposod it. I am
only interostod in making s living, and stick with tho majority of tho non
in anything they want to do. '
"I saw in tho nowspapor that RYAN had sold Mina is to
ELSHOFF. I had made up my mind that I wantod to koop on working at lino A,
and if all tho men wont U.M.W., it was all right with mo, just so I oould
koop my job. Booauso of all I had hoard of tho trouble at llino B, under
ELSHOFF, I folt that I probably 'wnn1an'o have a job if, for any reason, 1
didn't want to join UJLW. I didn't boar any rumors about ELSHOFF pulling
ooal om lno A through Mina B, or that ELSHOFF was going to work lino A
only with U.M.W. man.
"I didn't go to any mootings hold by tho P.ll..a. union in
Soptombor of 1941, and don't know anything that wont on. Ho ono app:-oaohod
mo boforo tho purohaso to join tho UJLW. I signod up with tho U.I.?I. at
U.!l.''. B111. I was told to go to thoir hoadquartors to sign up with thou,
just boforo tho mino oponod. I don't romombor who told mo about it. I sour
a lot of mon signing up thoro, and I folt that I had to sign too, ii I
wanted to koop my job.
I 0272-
a
'3'
.- 92_
_
is-
4
-aw
A
-- »101§
.1
.I
-2
Ia?
P :4
t.e.»-'
¢.- _.._-
E
E-.1
E= - ' I
_ _ ,,_____ i 1 i i,--_---4---- -_q--@_-n. L ~~ '1 , H1 ,~,_: '' ' .54-an .' '1-,~~~~ -~-
- -_0 ' *0
RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ETAL
mine. As I said before, the union in control doesn't .
-.1-92l-_ n_-- A-I 850..-_.-.-92-... J... -H-. I--4-L --. I n-. -1-.-_'b nun] I-..-w.III-KLU ll-H! _LlJ-LLUIUIZUKI DU lllU| JI-I-Uh DU J. II-MU IUIL U-I-H-L LUUP
my jbo ' _NTERVI I ' TH "Since I've boon working under U.HJH. again at lino A, I
haven't noticed any greet difference in conditions at the
.e1:'1"11:UE1:-
"I have read the foregoing, consisting of o little more
than one page, and state it is true to the best of my knowledge. _
stated that everything ho said in this stato-
ment is true, but declined to sign. _
Special Agents, FBI
Springfield, Ill.
-21:-
L.
L}._
..1'
Ce-
.,__
ii
1.
_-'.
._~
F.
E
3. ,
1'
é
-2?
.1...
if -1»-.._ A
*4 '~._"1 - sn-
"'F;1..'iF'
;.u..¢.,a-
A .-.<
Ii-Q - - -- 7__ii-;"' -_:__ iéwq __,___.:,.|_ ______ ____.-_-,__ __ _J_____ >7 _ii_ ;* _ __ _ '_ _92 _ __ _ iwk ;v_
O' . 0
RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ETAL
!pr1ngIIIeI!, III!noi|s, was Intervile-are! In as resilenoe'on September ls, 1943, by Bpeoial Agents F
see I This ran understands and speaks &.g__s.- 1.!-2--enough to !es!!Iy, ~1_1| lelh he is willing to do. He said he has no criminal
record.
" Springfield, I11.
Beptember 16, 1943
I make the following voluntary
s statement to an whom I have to be Bpeeial
Agents of the Fe..ers- _.aresu en, oi W cw-1'2 irse
no force used, and no threats or promises made to me.trill,
"I am living at S ringfield,
111., and am working at Mine A. I9 I began working at Mine A the United Ilia?
-or ere in that year. I joined the ive line Workers of Ameriea in
1952, and rejoined the U. H. W. in 1941. In 1932, when we switched from
U. ll. W. to P. M. A. I was in favor oi the switch beoause I was not satis-
ed with the way LE-'v'IIS was running the union. Q all '|.=l'!¢_! tine I was a
member of the PJLA. I was satisfied until toward the last, just before I
joined U.li.Y§., when I grew dissatisfied beoause the dues were too heavy.
The P.M.A. needed the same upkeep as the U.M.h'., and didn't have Hie
membership to take care of the expense as well as U.H.F!. Then toe, the
PJ-LA. didn't have the power the U.M.W. did.
~ "I saw in the newspaper that ELSHOFF had bought lne
A from RYAN. It was a surprise to me, and I didn't think it would affect
.... .:..1. 1.........._... 4-as en-ring e.-H- CIA Tantra +.n ha wnrlrn. nn if -me nn-war struckus: Jung, vuvn-uuu uuw Ill-chi-l92-I nu-ma. AI-'I92r Iv wv .-U--- I -- -- --- --v-_- --.-.-_.
together, wed be the ones to work the mine. Ho one talked to me about
joining the U.ll.W- previous to tint time. I heard, from some of the .
other men, that ELSHOFF might operate Nine A through line B. I heard "
that he might be doing this to save the overhead oi two _sh.eits,_and
knew that both mines oould be operated out oi the same shaft. I don't
know if this rumor was spread for a bluff, to get men to join the U.ll.I.,
or not. I also heard about this time, that ELSHOFF would operate Nine A
under a UJLFJ. contrast, which he Ind already signed. I thought this might
be go, beeause I mes of all the trouble they had had at Hine Q, and that
ELSHOFF hild U.M.W- at Mine B-
Shortly after I heard these stories, because I needed
a job, I went to Mine B for a job. The bosses there told me to hang
on for a while, that lline A would open up in ten days or so. I knew_ one of the bosses at lline B, but I don't remember if he was
the one hat told me this or not.
I4-._
0 »0 ' i
_ --_,- -, _--eA~* Q -e --- ~~- :_~ '1---- : ~: -_ '--I4 -nus-_ :;:, .
. IE: JOHN L. LBYIS, ETAL
J!92a
¬'1ERVIEM Y "I went to only one P.l&.A. meeting during this tine,
and that was held at the Elks Club, on n Sunday» 01.4 u ED The meeting was for the purpose of trying to
what the men would do. There were some P-ILA. officials there Ind.qnd some other men did most of the talking. A oheirlmn was eleofor he meeting, and. tellers were also elected. vput the questions
to the men, whether they wanted to go U.ll.W., or s y P.M.A. He said that
all the men would go the way the majority went. Ballots were prepared,
there was a secret vote, eaoh men putting his ohoioe on a piece of paper,
and when the votes were counted, we were told that the U.ll.W. Ind a
majority. After the vote was announced, someone suggested that EDMUNDSGI
be invited to oome over. He oame over and said that he was glad all the
men were back together again, that there had been a lot of trouble, but
that was all ended now. Before the vote, in talking to the men around
*7 there, it seemed to me that most of the men seemed to favor the UJIJL,
' and to get it over with.
Since that time, there hasn't been much differenoe
under the U.M.W. from what it was under the P-11!-A., except that there's,_ '§-if-.
"'_' - possibly less wrangling.
, :1.-
:' "I have read the foregoing, oonsi sting of about three
pages, and stated that it is true as well as I oan remember... ,-
'_
I
E/=/ h -
-I
, FBI
Springfio 1a, 111."
0
92
-275-II I
~rF4.e
1.
LI
~:
1'2f-.iA_ W _ _ _ ;_ u V_ i _ __ _ -_ .,i____ i_.-ti, ~~ -5.,--W - ~<»- *,~*A~;p|n-I -- e ~ ~
__ ' . ..:-
C O .
RE: JOHN L. LETJIS, ET kl.
inois, was ntcrviewe it s resi once on
Se tenber 1'7, 1943, by spccial Agents andspeaks, reads, and mer
s lcien ._y vro to tosti y. e said he is willing to testify. He claimed
to have no ::'i::.inal record.
, The following signed statement was obtained fron
1
1_
1
1ii
1
T;
u
T.
ll
9
.'92'
¢
LL..-
.£
,_a.-:
_,_.
13%*2
-.1. 1-"Springfield, Ill.
H September 1'7, 1943
the following voluntary statement to
whom I know to be Special gents 01' the
of my own free will, with no threats or
promises made to ms-
"I an living
at Panther Creek Mine
cane to the United States
I was a member oi a unionand an working
eld.
and when I came to country in - I
was switched to the Uni I joined the Progressive lineTforkers of miner ' I was working at Peabody Mine No. 5'7. Inpor of the Peabody Local. I .ave never re cine-
the . .u. n nugus o egan working at Mine A, and worked there until
npril of 19111, when the nine closed dean. I didn't go back when it 9p<'.=2'i$d up
that fall, because I didn't want to change Iron P.LI.A. to U.!l.W. In all the
time I was in the P_!._',,,,, I was entirely satisfied with tho union, and was in
favor of the original switch from U.H.I. to P.lI.¢'=. in 1932-
"I read in the paper that Elshoff ha-.1 bought Nine A from Ryan. after
hearing what ha-.1 gone on at Mine 1 in the switch from P.H.i&. to U.H.W., I t
felt that the same thing night happen at Mine A. I felt, when I saw t.he_notice
or the sale, that I wouldn't have a job unless I Joined the U.1¬.1I. After}
BI'92'I1 -I-11-F: nnd-4 ac,» in 'l-kc; hhbi !|1+'|'-unnoh T Inc nn1:r|:921 slhnnnrlhn 1' ! larnrnn inpg! y¢;4_g ;5.Jg,|,yg 1,44 1,4149 rat-t/1.14, I-11,1-maul-I614 -A Iii-cu ll-I"I Brrgvuvnnvu Iv; insvualu
U.H.*.i., I heard that the U.1¬.1T. was circulating a petition to Qt a
at the mine. I don't lm-ow how I heard this, for no one came to no iith
any such petition. There were several rumors circulating about this tine, one
. to the effect that Elshofi would work Mine through Mine B, another that he
would operate the nine only with U.H.'~.i. men. These rumors just added to the".
feeling I had that I no longer had a job, because I would never Join the H.153,join the
1:2. j nrity
"After Elshoff
at Preressive Hall-U.!~1.T.T.u-I think gwcs chairgan of this meeting-h oldhang ha a o o say in the discussion, and favorc. a swi to thebought the mine, I went to a regular P.HLA.' meeting, held
at which aeetin» there was a discussion about ioininr the
92'_."§¥
Z' ..I 92
2
F...
4
$1.-
-F
12'.
1.
!
Q?V,-4
,--*1
| ,v.1* -.- 1
.-
3'
-2-,. .-
'2
¥. 2-
- aii_ _; T e ea-a»~~a~-4---¢-~5 ---h;-*-*-~*
0' oi"
0
RE; JUHN L. LETJIS, ET AL
INTERVIEI I H but nothing was decided at this meeting, as to that
the future action of the men would be. I don't re-
continued member anything being said or done about a committee
i being appointed to see Elshoff at this meeting.
£.n>ther meeting was scheduled for the following Sunday, at a neutral place.
I didn't go to this planned neetin-_", or any others at all.
never sent back to Mine A, but I hoard that sow?-..~ of the _..-n Jere
beat u there. I don't know who told mo, or who the men were. I also heardthath and some of the others from Mine J were doing; the beating.
I don't kn-an anything more about this. On a Tuesday after the Sunday meeting
mentioned above, which I did not attend, at which all the men switched to U.}-I..'., who had been on the T_.H.I.. Pit ommittee, met me on the
street ant o ' me that the next day was the last day non could join U.H.Z¥.
anl ,4: back to work, and that I'd better join up U.H.T!. with the rest of the
men. He di 1.n't threaten me in any way.
"I have read the forc;,oin_', consisting of two pages, and state that it
is true to the best of my knowleclge."
/s/ it
, special n_cnt, F.B.I., Springfield, Ill.
Special agent, FBI, Springfield, Ill."
-277-
11
>
E
i
.'_»tu'
3-7:13,3-1'1$ 1-.6~..1 _-
.¢
»_3'~"~
_
iL--¢
.35,
->aw
k ..
sir.
: _ .
,_0*
=F .
5.
a
5
%
?_ _ .._' 77' ._=:é ....__ --~ 2-: _- ' 1.. '__,;_~hn1~_ ' .1: ;'F::'92-I" __IlI-II ' ""1 if __ _ o 77477 7 A" -7 - -~
O .
Re: Joan L. isms, er LL. '
INTERVIEK CITE
cocpe rat iveO .
ewed by B cial igentsqLlthoughms sincere an
no ormstion o value to zigstsnt
case. There is set forth below the signed statement executed by
"Spring.fie1d, Illinois
September 15, 1943
"I .n
¥ erel Bureau
to me to induce mo to make a statement-
"I was born
and became a U.S. citi
I now work at 1-line A and res
- and joined U.k!."-i. at thatke the following voluntary statement to_
both of whom I lmow to be Special Agents in
tion. No threats or promises have been made
I came to the U.S» in
Came f!Om Ulsl mu
I started mining in
Etate went Pro-
gressive, I joined P.!-LA. and at that time I was working at Peabody #55.
I starts. at liine A in 1935 and was satisfied with P.l:!.i.
Kine 1-._c1osed_do~.-m L13 the _s gst of thatreel - I didnot come ou un 1 c o er , . ~- n I came bac Mine A had gone United
Mine Worker. Hy wiiehad sent me a card and I signed it while I was atF which was the way I joined UJ.-I.i'§. I don't know what happened
w 1 e was away, except that the mine was sold and the men joined U.l¬.F.
It doesn't make any difference to me which union I belong to. The abovestatement was read to mo by_ and it is true and correct.
Tiitnessecl :
3 FIBIII.
U.S- Dept. of Justice.e
9---.'- £75/=_/ l
Ili-
0
Q
I§ ,
; I
E -2'$3,:
F
...»
A i
-_r
~.
Y
.
I
5
E,
3
4-,-
.1
1
92-
I
I
-r__ . 1
.' r " ; 92_ _ , . .___,_,,__..._....__,__..._,,__,, ;_ ?_ - -- '~;r _~_ and H A ' .:::~ ----I':_,"_In1 ,A
0- '0
as. Joan L. LEWIS, sm.
INTERVIET WITH Springfield, Illinoll, Ill-I *8!-_ terviewed at his residence on Se tember 1B 1945 '
Special Agents and
understands and speaks English s o ent y well o es 1 y. e temen
set forth below was read to him, d he stated that everything in it 1! true.
However, he declined to sign it. said that no one had told him net,
to sign any statement given by to Federal Agents. He said he has ne'- -
eriminal record.
.
" September 18, 1943
Springfield, Illinois r _
m<1when I knew to be Special Agents of the
Federal Bureau of my own free will, with no threats or
promises made mo. I-'make the following voluntary statement to
I
l am living; at
am working at Mine I-.. I wasthe United States in -. I
served in the fie:-ld War. I be an working; at Mine
a member of the U.lE.i-'. sine I joined the
in 1932, when all the men at ne A switched ever. rejoined the U.H.I{. '
in 1941. and .
of barring
having been-p
Mine Worker;
"In the summer of 1941, I was working i
and didn't see any-thing in the papers about the sale of Kine 41. I di J
lcaow anything about it being; sold, or anything about it, until one day,;
some man, whose name I can't remember, told mo there was going to be a. =
meeting oi all the men at the Elks Club. I didn'_t knew the purpose of themeeting, until I get thero. presided at the meeting, and the
discussion was whether to jo n e .-. . r not. I was in the bask e£"the
room, and didn't pay much attention to what was going on. I don't remember
who put the question of P.l-l..A. or U.l!.W. to the men, and don't remember
took part in the discussion. I voted to join the U.ll.H. at that neetingr"
because everyone seemed to be in favor of it, and not for any pa-:_'tieula]:Y-.'-,
reason. It doesn't make any difference to me which union is in, and
eonditims have been just about the same at themine under U.M.W. that they -were under P.l.!J¢. - ' . 9 " '3-"
This statement has been read to me, and I state it 1|
to the best of my knowledge. 9 '
-21s- "
2,.
5
' z
1:
.71
1
-5
1
.|
6
-2'
~
if;ii -
-i.'..
I~ ' T2.» -,, _. -
E
F
E
i'92
__..._;~+--;_~"~A=~- 7' * ~~ :4 7 7 7 -1 " '_~Al7' 7 777- 7 ' ""* ' ? V 74 7
C*' O
RE: JOHN 1.. wms, ETLL
I}!1ERVIE~ WITH
!!F3NT INUED!.
stated that everything in this statement 1!
to sign it.
Speoinl Agent, Springfield, I11.
Agent, FEI,_Springf1eld, I11.
-233-1
*1?!. _2
7
F
%
- 5
-
n -
-t
-IQ
;u..
_
*3?
' I7".--1'2 J-'1' Y I;0..
._4-.,.
~ .{-'
I0-
.-..
qw-
.9}
1".» .
U
r-;;.=.+92_________________,__,_ _ _A_ _, A_-T - _-___. __ +___ .~~ :_ F - - -um _~: *~I...t~#v-*-,- A _.
- T1 H 011
8-Ild
- years. I wasS,- I .' H. t
0' 0
RE: JCHN L. LE-FIS, ET AL
Special
this interview -
entirely COpCr¢tiVOadvised
did not appear to have a very -_-pod
pertinent matter. He is above avers-_e in intcllihence for a .':i.nar. It is
felt that in the event he is called as a witness he will be only fair.
_.p-ave the follewin_, si _;ned statement:
Spr1lnke!:., !!..
Sept. 18, 1943
eive the fel1o'win.; information _
J are known to me to be Special *~ -ents oi the
promises have been made me to -L-;et ma te -ivc this
as o hriver. I have been there about
_ I have hm 1*statement. I an at
citizen since ab rut
"I Via on vacation when the switch from UH?! to Pl-Li if-as
ma-tie when I cane back joined P1-LA. Ifhile the PW. was our union I was
satisfied with then. -
"shen Elshoff bou;-ht Kine h I -Jot a letter telling me of this. When
I -not this I talked with the others and we all felt there was nethin -, to
:1» but .~_> tn U, 1.-Z, J, because blshoff haul taken the mine over & if we clidrt
join over there woull be n: job 1 or us. ht the time Elshoff took over
Mine "A" a couple: if fellows from P.II.¢"=. came to see me and said they would
help us if we stayed out & I rii:ln't join U.}I..'. Ne one from U Li '2." came to
see me. I heard that lshoff L11 .ht take the coal from Eine is through
Mine "B" if we didn't Join U.l.i.'... I don't recall hear-in, that Elshoff
would keep nine - - Cl!S¬C1 if we didn't Join U.H.'.."'. but what I heard amounted
to the some thin¢,. From hearin; these thin,-s I felt I would have to Join
U.M.'.'.~'. if I wanted to go back to line "L" to Inrk.
"I attended s special meetin. at P.H.I.. hall where they had some .
arjunent and a fi.-,ht zi.-"wn stairs. The P.1!.i... men wanted to decide what _
we c>u1'1 do about -_.'ettin, the nine opened but the officers wouldn't let .13;
and the ncetin; was cl need. I feel the P.li.£.. officers should have let
the men have a chance to t»:'.lk all they tell us was to stay :ut an'1 not 1.0
back. he men tried to appoint a committee tr: see what could be done but
the .>.fficers wouldn't let them.
"I atten-"led a mcetini; at the Rednans Hall this was to see if they coal"
,_;et a majority, en-tm.~;h '11 . n>t shall up s they had a neetin: at the Elks C1»!.
-2&1-" -
fB --
"4"
1
§,
=3 .
.-1:}
ii--is
. 92 '
1.1- "
if
. I-.-~
__,§
-:
n
~ a P--
'3'-:-
@;;.; -. -
,..41
.. 3*
nu._ .. ' _ '-
92 - "
i___ _ ___ ____ ___ _ ,_4,_,. .. __ _:r -1- 1--._-1:: - JJ-=_-..¢_- v- --pi---V - Jrss - - -
O
an JOHN L." LEJIS, er AL
IIIPERV " H They then decided tu hold P. neetin; at the Elks Club.
If'think both 01 these were advertised in the paper. At
continue the Elks Club neetin; the men decided to gr: on back to
T;T.TI.~.?. so there vuuld not be any trnublc like at W.? was in char-;,e of the 1:|eetin_;. He had a standim vnte to
-'.cc1 e v-h~.thc-r or not ta .-"a back ta U.H.*--'. and all of us vnted for it. I
Vutcd for U.I.i.".'.. because I wanted. tn L10 back to work. Edznmdson cane over
bui;.r»- it was 1'!VuI and gave a talk. He said the men shaulrl all be back in
UJ-1.1;. and welcomed us back. Tic si _ned up for U.H.Ta'- ri-_;ht there that day.
I was nst on any cnnmttee at this tine. I cli'1 mt _.;o tr! Elshufs er
Ed;.mntis0nB office after the 1:1eetin,.
____ ;.92_.. __4..___. 4" n u '.' _'_.. '92n.|'1 a. :-. __ ..l nu!-... .h. _-.4- 4-.1-U-...4. J-L.-.LHCU LIL. TBDUI11 731 Uqtlu Ill, .Ll1 Ljq.L DH-J-I-I ,b H-D I-J- U " G1 U UJ|-ll-v I-Ill?
sane as under P.!.'l.s.. It makes no difference to uc which Uni ~n we have. t
"I have had 4.I¬I'1t read this 3 pa__e statement tn me and it is all
true and correct ts the s sf 1:31 knowled ;e and is as I have told it to
the A:_;ents. I an sinin, this 11 my own free will-"
Mi
st. Paul, Llinn.
Sprin field, I11.
Sept. 18, 1943
-ZQZ->
'11
4
.4v -_ .,;-- r I'4:
1.
.1!
1?
1~-.
Ii
12*
._.r 1
1"*v5
. _-
L1.-
9 . _ .
4' '51
.-
5
'2
P
5T .. 1 ' _ _
I
V i _ VA _ A* V ki 7 _ __ ___ ___ __ __ __ ___, - 5-ail:-1|:--n|n.A '7*v -_ .
' O IQ
Re: L0 AL;
IITERVIEW ma , Springeld, Illinois, was interviews at s Septembe1943 by Special Agents andiis;-leaks and understands English very well and will U¬§92nL£y1! necessary. He stated _he has no criminal record. He rrnished the fol-
lowing signs-. statement."September 11., 1943. D
I . Springfield, Ill.
"I,|nah-e the followim statement freely andvoluntarily and who have iden-
tified themseles to me as n Bureau
of lmrestigatione No threats or promises mve been _r;-ade to he to
obtain this statement.
"I pre and
W35
came . 1 ec
zen in Springfield, Ill., in
II1 began to work in 3.Eine?about and quit working there
in 191.2, Before 1932 I was a member of the United I-iine Jorkers,
but I never was an officer of that union or any other union. In -
l932 I was in favor of the switch from U.l£.'.'u'. to the frogressive.
hiine ilorkers of r-merica, I thought the PJLA. would be a better '
union. After 1932 I was satisfied with P.}_'.A. and I wanted nothing
to do with U.H..
"As I recall the purchase of Iziine A by Elsho was announced
in the newspapers. The change in management in I-ne A did not bother
me. I did not think it would affect me or my job. Conditions between
P.1Z.A. and Hr, Ry-in always had been 0.11.
"No one ever asked me to Join the U.M.'»i', prior to the pur-
chase of wine A by blshoff. When Elshoff Uought the mine-, I had the
idea that he would try to change the union there because I. had heard
of the trouble at I-cine .6 between the management and F.lE.A, and I also
heard that blshoff favored U.!-in-.
"I heard rmors that lshoff was going to work Eine A through
B. I believe that this was being talked about to force Reine i
men to join the U..£.'...; this was the pressure being used on the
miners in iline A. I never heard any talk that Elshoff would open Hine A
only if the miners switched to U.l1,'.-I. -when I heard that I-lshoff bmght
E-fine A, I believed that sooner or later the miners in Hine A would
have to join U.}!.'~.-1'. to work in the mine. I had this idea because of
the trouble that had occurred at '1-zine P, and because of Elshofs
I
i=
,.
5;. V
v
_
5.
|_ A-
1-
'4
....;
.., ,:_@-
9_,.
1*
.3
1
.-l_ "i7 T- .__._-_.- - _...___j__ ___ *;i_ _i_ fr? . __"__, _t_f____.i__.-L"i- -' t:~~ - *~.T; ',-=5-'1 . ___ __:_.._._;~v 1: 7
-'1
in.
hr.____
' 7-_.-_
_ ~13.-;-- .5......:_;,|*:.
- --=2
- 1
s!
f1-no I
IIITEHZEJ '-FITH "I went to quite a. few P.lE.A. meetings, and wentF to the one at P.M.A. hall in °eptember 1941, which was
on inued a regular meeting. I did not go to any of the met-
ings in the Elks Club or Redman's Hall, and did not
know anything about them until after they happened. I don't remember
any special mien metings about that t.
"1 was not elected to any committees to meet with the mnage-
ment of Fine A. I did not hear anything about U.I.I.-'-I, organizers or talk
about joining U.*;.'.-T. I heard that a committee of miners contacted
I-lshoff, but 1 did not hear their report, and 1- donit know the results cf
their meeting.
"after Elshoff purchased Mine A, I went back to work without
signing up with U.1I.II._was president of the U.M.iv. local at
1-"line A, and he told m f I did not join U.l£.-'1'. I could not
work any more in Kine A. After working about six months at Lfine 5 under
:-lshof.f's manageuent, I quit. I dad not want to work uhder U.L!.31. I
don't remember whether talked to me before or after U.M..T. signed
a contract -F.i"-Lh Elshcfi. '
"I dld not go to the meeting when the miners voted to jdin
£1.11.-. I never did rejoin that Union. I did not take an active part in
union affairs and did not know what went on in union meetings. After
I -:.-ent back to work in I-line A I paid dues to U.T92l.T.'. because they -.-were
checked off my pay. I never did sign a. U.L£.». membership card.-
"I have read this statement consisting of this and one
other typewritten page and state that it is true to the best of my
knowledge and recollection.
/S/
/-5/ 1 -Lgent, FBI, Springfield, Ill.
' *P@<=i~§1 seem» FBI» Slifiefleldc O W
3.
§ _, t
1'? ..a'-
,,_r_
.~,..~
1-.
._; ,
_a
-0
,_.
_ 3iii-r
ii '7Q. 1v. F"-if=1 - .
.. _ __ is :=---- < '*f' A - -T A _ W, "W '__":I;~ ::1-r"-v-s. . 1 -,..._ - _q,,...,.¢.¢_ _
O O V
Re: JOHN L. IETIS, ET AL
INTVRVIEW UITH ' On 13 19£3 Special
Street, . During the course
was Ob:5eI"VcQ that did not appear to be too bright or reliable,
but he did, however, cooperative to the best of his ability.
It is not believed that d make a reliable witness.
The following signed statement was procured from _
QSp1"in,gfield,
. Sept . 13, 1943
give the following statement to-
known to me to be Special Agents
have been made me to procure this
I came to the U.S. in
rking at theW glen. For the past 12 yrs. ve
gger and driver at Nine "A". I quit because!
statement.
"I was bornvane became a citizen
0., have been there for about I.
at Hine A off and on. I was a di
I couldn't make a living there.
to PJJ
ll IIat Kine
men
the Pnltnlio 92.1IliOIl ITO!!! 01-40110
$0 '
"I first hoard that Elshofi had bought Mine ".2" through reading
of it in the paper. I was not glad of this at the time. when the mine
opened a man who wanted to go back to work could, but the Co. didn't
care whether he did ».or not. I__ you wanted to work there you had to be a
member of U.E..?. The excuse they gave for this was that it was the same Co.
operating both Mine "1." 8: "B" and they couldn't have a contract with both
union. Ho Co. or Union official told us this_ e just heard this talk and
felt that it must be the situation. I never nah any kick when the PJIJL.
was handling the relationship at mine A. Before the Elks Club meeting a
couple of men came to see me about joining over to the U.Ll.W. I dent
know who they were. I rrnet to one meeting that was the one at th'e_ka
Club where they voted to switch over. I heard that Elshoff might operate
Him I; through the Lline B shart & at that time, I guess it could have been
done. I didn't pay much attention to this however. '
I read about the meeting to beheld It the Elks through
- .335 ...
T
92
Q
-2
1-_
-
-w
*9: r
hjj
=7, _
fl
__:_
'3 *-
I, _-1.11;fl.I05?t.-1,7 4-I -
1.
ET
I. 7*-
is
.1»-._.1
§..-2:5
I
'1..
n
: ?H 1
Alf; ~~ ~ -7 -_ is it 1 ~..~ -ridcree '=-1-, e I eve -- T - _-'::T=qisl:,e.:-7_.~._. .. -A
t <1" <>
Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
11~rrER'~"'»:'1 the papers at that
time. The understanding of the men at this meeting
continue was that if we didn't get mine "A" opened and go back
_ to-work there we wouldn't have ang'uork and the only
way we could get to go back to Mine "A" was as U.M.W. Ray Edmundson, talked
to us at this meeting and assured us that our rights would be fully protected.
It was the understanding then that if we went back as a group we wouldn't
have to pay any iniation fee. There was a standing vote at the meeting and
most of them voted to join U.H.W. and get back to work. I did not belong to
any committees appointed at this time. I voted to go U.H.U; because there
was nothing else I could do at that time if I wanted my job at Mine "1".
It was our feeling that if we didn't go U.H.W. there would be the same sort
of trouble there that they had had at mine "B". I did not go to Edmundsons
office or the Leland Hotel the night of the meeting. There were cards at
this meeting and we signed up right there. The mine opened shortly after
this meeting. I did hear that Elshoff didn't have any money, but I dont
know how he got the money to buy Mine "A".
"Since 1941 under the U.H.W. the dues I believe have gone up
over what they were under the P.E.A.
"I have read this statement which is written on this and 2 other
pages, it is the truth so far as I know and is as I have told it to the'
F.B.I. Agent. I an signing this statement of my own free will. 7
Signed _ - -
r.-l '
!p., ii !!!"!, ll!l&I, fell tsil iiull liirm.;;_ Specie g- ., ;.B.I. Hilw.! -
Springfield, Ill
.3!;§
weSept. 13, 1943"
- 286 -
1
U __;::> ' j ' " ' ~~'~A _- -:_. " " fill *4-I-*' W A ,_ ~, '-~ _f-'I_~_f- -_~ " _ ..._.__._._._...__.._-..-
. ; I .- .
1.F ' I C ' O
H?-vH.u"'3
-1
1
- *AI
-
1 ~-I92 - 1
v?¥?'-92
.. .4-*_
~¢
" x',
5-1;.
F .._.
.>92
ta
i
F
.
1'.
i
F
ISRE: JCHN L. 11:-.:1s, m 1.1.
INTTRVIE ' '~.-iTH -On
aivisecl that he wasSpecial A
of U. S.
hnl an excellent rec llectim of pertinent events andif it were mt !or the fact he is an nlien withphe would
'ne - e z ' make a £1 witness. He was m st frienily and ent_re y cooperative at the
tg ei t s interview
gave the 1 .>ll;min,_; si,;ned statement:
Sept. 1.8, 1943
"H -ive the foll.-min; infzurxznatian to _ ___ _ Wh] Era. 1':-tn'}'u':n ti; QC ta»? '
the F.B.I. N: threats -e-r pr-arnises have been male to prwcurc this ement.
I was
ab mt!we-kecl n I. tn nb jut July 1942 as a di j__cr. I have new
been beck since nhmt Feb. -vr March. I went -aver to P.t1.A. in 1932 at
the time I div-.n't knn: much ehmt it s> I just went alon; with the rest.I ha: little Eeferance at the time. I read in 194.1 about Elsh-wff bqfinzf
liine =11 _,_ It nienft make any '.Iiff'¢IG0é sh: -irrne-:1 Hine I was just
w.92nrlcrin_i when it would reopen. I was always satisfied with the way P.1I.I..
y-,an1le'1 thin U-s at Mine "A". At the time *'1sh>fi bau-;ht Hine "4." I Iés not
appr.»ache:.. ebaut . :in_; tr: U.H..;'. I heard runers that lsheff mi-jht aperate
b th t he 1 ha- min-e A thru Mine B. I felt I wmli be --ut :1 a jc , a wan .-. nee
nise then an"; make me nine rut of i hea -r. runurs that lsha wouldeEIy nperate nine A as a U.1l.'.i. mine J_ tel: us that he ilauld
see Elshlff about this at the last P.1'!.I~. meet nag. » en I heard about
this I felt that 1: 1: could .__et another jab I would never ,,-n back. _
sart cf appointed himself to sec Elshrff. At one -11 the last P.H.LIE5?
in..B there was s Ii :ht vr scuffle. I heard 1:1 the meeting; at Rezimans Hall
I heard of the neet1n_ at theb I cane to the U.S. when I was
2..-:1 mu plyin; f.»r cw citizenship papers. I
..1@n ,r_> ere ms no e member of any committee and I
did nat ,0 to Elshzffs -:1'fice or Ednuzklsons after the Elks meetin__. I
j~ine". the U.H...'. at the Miners Blrl. on the '7th flwr. hey had a mjurity eel
--' iy formed a 1-108.1 ans! there was nothing; for us ts do but si ;n up.
was there and he t.->1-. us Ii. need not worry about any picket er any-
n;j;:. his ncetin , was hel'1 ti ;_ive us s last chance to -aver to U.H.i.
- 28"! -
Vr
>E
»
i- .0-I-u
. 4
Y?
Q?
_-92
-4.
1
-'-.
ill
-§-..§ =_
RI17
4-1
92--=__ _ __ -__, _ - _- -. --1-A 7'; -__A-~:,7_ ___ -_ --,--u-an» - - é " '"-'92~ ---*~ 5*-_: f_:**'_: P I!" <1; ;' '-~V .1 -1| . -_-a
O _
Rs. Joan L. IEJIS, ET AL
bet-are the mine -opened. The nine was 501.1151 to open as
UJLW. and you had to sign up if you wanted to work.
Now things under U.l£.W. are just about like they were
under ?.1i.A. it first it was pretty tough but it is
about the same now. I have read this 2 page statement and it is all true to
the best uf ..1y knowledge & belief. I am signing it of my own free will.
/5! in-nu-~ -Ii
.1; Sept. '12:, 1943
St. Paul, Him. INT RVIE
con lnuc
$nr-5 M. . I11.
i
4
IiI
_-.1-
14
1"!
.4"
.. p
Ilr
-:- ~
.a
-'.In
-0-
'1-J.
-
1 - I2' _ iI, --f
' 92
O O
' Ir
RE: .1e1mL. L1-:wIs,s'r:.L '
INT TH TH Agent s
FSpring£ield, I .¢~ es.
a vised that he had no criminal record. was friendly and en»
tircly cooperative, he seemed to have a of pertinent mtters
but had a good deal of trouble expressing himself in English. In the event
it is deemed advisable to call him as a witness, it is felt he will be sn-
tirely willing and will make a fair witness.
ave the following signed statement:
Springfield, Ill.
sopz. 18, 194:.
n1 am Giving this information t
who have identified themselves as being Specie on
o F. B. . o threats or romisos have been made mo to give this infor-matig. I was born in years 1150 dz I became a citi-
o of-rs age, s ' ' i are at Hine -is yet 8: startedab as a digger. In 193 c ange over to P. H. A. as everybody
went over & thero were better conditions & no arguments or fights. I
hoard from other men that Bill Ryan sold liiric A 6: also hoard that line A
would stay shut down & that they would take coal out of lino A thru iline B.
I wont out to Mine A & st: 8; he said I should wait a while 8: that
the mine mi ht re-open as wan e get my mining paper from him. Severalmen, end another man told mo that at l o'clock the following 'day there wou a a meeting at R0dman's Hall. also said to mo that
.LL_.L I ll LL ___ __ant "0 U If 1!? L_ ?..1J __= I . 92 .92 ._ X1 _l._192.Q -__92__ __.|,I10 DLLQ BBB EJ511011 WHO Bill Ill-X-I ll UHUN H I BO "I flu IUULU TUwas with QI believeopen Mine A otherwise he would lot it shutwho i When I saw
inasm as wasn w n d in U, H, TI. if the uc or g tel h I
others did. I wont to meeting at Redman Hall & in charge t
he told us that on Sunday there would be a moot 's Club. I
did not attend the meetings at P. ll. A. Hall regarding this matter. I wont
to El92c's Club moeti too J: saw Edmundson A; 4 other men but I don't knowwhen they came. h started the whole business at the Elk's Club.
We had e standing vote & so did I as I felt if I didrt they would thr
us out. I did not want to go back to U. H. W. but I had to otherwise I
would not have a job & I did not want to seo any trouble. New at Kine A we
get docked & never know why but under P. 1!. A. we were told 6: thenws had
Pit Committee but new under U. Ii. W. just about 5 or 6 men run the Ihob
local J: we miners don't have a thing to say any more. It never was like
this under P. ll. A. At the Elks Club Edmundson said if Ire signed up than
it wouldn't cost anything but if we signed up later it would cost us $10.00
or more 5: he also said ho would guarantee that lino A would re-open in s few
-289~
irf:
$1..
1-.-
4
1?;-'
J!
e -951
$1 ':3 '
Z3
.-= E-
1--
»
..;-
.
Y *7..,; -.-'-u-_~ '.Q ' 1- "
..-I >_'_",.'4r. '
1.?..-_. ~ _-_, - :77-~ _4~-7_,-_-::,,Ai+i -~__-_ ; _ ~_~-~--- -- ~ ~~ -
Q_ _ _ ___-<r'~_ - :__, ,~#_ ore: __,__ ,_ _
7 O .
RE: JUEF L. LEYIIS, ET AL
I1 'l ED-.V IETI WITH
Lon! zmue!days so we all igned up curds there. I
signed up to get a job 6: not because I liked
U. ll. ET. but I needed work. I never b 1e enged
j - to e committee than 6: I did not go to cffiee
of E1_}_she-ff or Edmmdsem I went h one A-. then went to work at 1-line A even
the it we: 1' H W Thin s w , . . g, ere better under P. ll. A. then under U. ll. W.
The men den": have much to say new any mere. I have hadIt I _ . . ¢,.92 . . , Agent! readc mo this {.5} three page statement 5: it is ie é; eerreet to uni -..-est of
my knowledge & I have si n d it g e of my own free will.
/*/ .
"Witnesses:
/s/ j
_ _ Sneciel hgent F. B. I.
/s/gpeeiel Agent, !. I.
St. Paul, Minn.
Springfield, I11.
Sept. 18, 1945-"
-.2Q9- F
'1
E.
w
v-
"Q4
I
."-7" I---» »r,___
v t_
is -111?.--.'.';|ii':,?Him
I _"-92.* . . B.» 1,2 '
. ~-.3 ii"
r
-7 -J; ..e ..£} #-
. 4.5 ,;;_- ,. _.. ,
* . '=1- S-'-,5' _u;~_'. 1 W7, Hm- 1,-_~
3 R».
v.: _..-
: 4-1; 1i
4_____e,..._ -.-- - - ----l,,:,T:-¢:~'1,;_4,<~ ~* ___ . W -77 ; " '5' 7 A -1 s. '.'7 * _ __
Q ..92 1!
K <3
Re: JOHN 1.. I.E..'IS, BTAL.
INTEFf»IE' WITH The followi investigation was conducted by Special Agents
FIT!92l E
YQI :1 i
inte 1'
unable toat Springfield, Illinois and
-943 = - Sentember 15
Sprin field Illinois, Agents
as he was
or speak the English 1 d Z - ' imguage. e advise
has never been arrested in his life and it is felt he would make a very poi!
witness es he did not seem to know much about the pertinent period and if he
is to be a witness and interpreter would have to be obtained for him.
IAgents obtained the following statement wnichsigned 1o as she said he can't write. This statemcn 1.5 a
follows : -- _V. ._.-- . . , 4J
gpr 1| nggil e HE?
zive the following information L;
Tied themselves es being Special Agents of
has acted as interpre r for me. I was born incame to U.S. aboutaz became a citizen MPyears & I quit in Jan. 191.2 as I got sick.
1932 everybody joined o?r¬r to P.kZ.A. so I did too. It never made any
difference to what union I belonged. In 1941 everybody else joined over to
U.H.W. so I did too
been told by anyone
I heard that T-Zinc ii
union was just like& I never was threatened or forced to sign up. I had not
that Mine A would be blosed if it didn' t go over to 11.}-$.13.
might be kept closed 8: opened thru }§i¢'lE2- B. To m one
another and I didn't care which one was there. I went to
one meeting on a Sunday 8: we voted over then &, raised our hands but I didn't
sign anything then.
-1- . A W- 1 F5. -; , »
'.> - £92-ggf-1-: _ Q, DI.
SPQCQ Agto FuB|Io Ell!!
Springfield, Ill.
Sept. 15, 1943.
-291-
_ $1» - e
.6
11.1]
w.
L
__ .'
1-2
1-?
3
- .-.,_ ....
7 "s"
=1 ~
5-; .. |_P? -.
J-
..|-3
=! "§~s
,_ ,,.. .1
|...- E»-., --
s.. ________ _ U 1* _ M-_>
i I
.._.-s- _ _¢ -__.- M _-,_
Rlh oer-is L, r.ew.ES, E'11=L _? *
nrrsnvm": WITH at I 1 neis, Special A ts 5
'=== 1=**=°"1="*=°
on S p er 17, 943 He stated he had never
arrested in his life. It was noted that he is a rather intelligent person and
answered the questions in _a elear tone oi veioe. He seems to knew Irlnt tent
on at the m-".es and he appeared to be honest and very oeeperative. It is felt
that he Woulu make a very good witness if his testimenqrwere necessary.
Ages
statement :
" qh
3opt. 7, 1943 -
" give the following information to
themselves as Special Agents
I
L
31-P
1.
.--
...»f. IJ: _,,_,.. ._,,2? ~" --
Z .
fa.
~ 1<. .4
.2" -'
*3
-
v
4
*.5.
.1?
E
=
Ee kg
¢ *: {'
_ _ --1--_~___ _-_ ~:%~:1_ nun-hi i|qQ-n-qh- I __..._l__ _ -Q...--..='= ~~ --~' _ _
nC* ' O
92
RE: JE3 L. IEFIIS, ETAL
INTEI-{VIE-J WITH at Elks Club on n Sunday afternoon. We voted te go1< to mm by n standing veto. ml voted to goOI UTLED back under the circumstances. e in 1' -' -
charge of the meeting st he told us the
Um er to picket line A t than questicn ~.-~:~.:. It no either to go back to
ELSHOFF w-..~'=.'_ take coal from Mine A thru Mine B. Someone got EDMUNDSON then,
*- al men eumo in with EDMUNDSOH. EDIHIHDSCII tnlhed too, 6: he we.» ..hore. Sever
to us & said -whet they would do 8: that he would see that Kine A would ro-
l el 6: officers. I think IO signed up open 6: that they oou 1d have their evm ee
that afternoon over to UIM. I did not attend any meeting at EDMDNDSOHS err
en difference between UNIT & PHI. except ELSHOFFS office. I could not see y . .
d s were about the snue. I never had thnt the deck boss got stricter but ue
any complaint against PM; at nny time 6: they handled things smoothly while
A We men went back to U251 to keep off picket lines & boeuuue they
tat Mine . .
needed jobs 5; did not want to see things happen e'- Mine A as they did aMine B when all the tIDU.b10 was 1 have ma Agengreea to no
this three ! page tatoment J:
ledge. I em signing this of my
witnesses:p001 gen ,
St. Paul, Minn.
gpoczl 0.! AQQHE, 1|-IBI
Springfield, Ill.
Sept. 17, 1943"there.
it is true 5: oorroot to the _es.- or 2;" no!!-
evm free will.
signed
92
- 29$ .-
rv %** . _py-u;--1 1- - 1f~~ Ff - ?:_ ______ _ __ __+~;_____.-;_-. -~* . _. V
_ - '..
1'
-
» ~ Us.-K '- .__ _ ._ -- __.-n-Ah-:~-»a-7 M -4. "A' e _:- -*-__ 7;, ~ if _ --?_7_
< C O
4n
.
.*1
T
-5:
it
F.
,4
ffi.1 _
. Jy:. _4|'9292-. -_vI-, I _92. .l5.
<lf". .'9 V
ii-._¬.
-_':i92-.
-u_.
-_-5_.
:-
92nnw
-..~»-' " '
~-mi
..v_
,
eRE: JOHN L. LEITIS, ET AL
II~YIE'-RVI ~ Y The following investi ation was conducted byh =~=P»=1~=1 he-=1~== he p_et Spring ie s on e1e,'1e-as. ' ' _
Lt his residence - pringfisld, Illinois -
Agents inte.'?iewed w o a vise e as no criminal record.
It was noted that e very cooperative, and he expressed himself rather
good, oven though he is an elderly nan, and he seemed to have a good knowledge
of what went on. It is felt that he would make o fair witnes.
Agents obtained from him the following signed statement:
Lpringfiold, Ill.
Sept. 18, 1943
give the following information to 9
are lmown to be to be Special Agents o e
have boon made me to get me to do this. . o
" eon at Mine A since 1928 as u digger. I was born in. I became e citizen about _
In 1932 whenwe changed from U. M. W. to P. H. 1.. I joined the
P. 1.1. A. because everybody else did. I joined because if I wanted to stay
at Mine A and var!: I had to join. I don't care much which union we have
ho.-rover the Progressives were u. little bit worse, they would fine you and
not tell you why.
Jhen Els hoff took over liine A I got E. letter from Ryan telling
me of this. I also read of it in the paper. I heard that Elshoff was
going to take the coal from lline A through Mine B, ifthis happened we line
1'. men would be out of a job. No one came to see no about going back to U.
If. '1'. I heard he was just going to run one mine with U. Rial. men. I
didn't much care about this I felt I could get a job some place.
"1 attended a meeting at the P. H. A. there they discussed whe-
ther we were going to fight to stay Progressive like they had at Kine B or
whether we would go over to U. M. "PI. and not have to fight. The P. ll. It.-Q
officers would let the men talk if thy talked'their my but if they didn't.
they would not let them talk. They had a committee which reported that A
Elshoff had said he would open the Mine with U. ll. W. otherwise he would
leave it shut down. I didn't see any f§.5h178 I hoard about them.
Tie had a meeting at the Redmu-n's Hall to se w at we were going
to do, this was to see what Elshoff was going to do. was in
-294-I-qr
E
-S192 @-
5.
'- '-
if
____J_;
F»:
-he
.»
.-. .....1-
, .,.1? 1»dv. ~ -
.3.- ,r >
" .?L:.,_ wq 3
*' "8:, -,
.,.~. 3-
'. '.- '
. ag»F Q
.p-
,.r'
- !
.;_.9292
I
- -3!
=<, ».-n-
' ' $1.-A-
Q;
5.*
. L
a g1
r " ii
um" A__ _A__*__1,_,|_ A;-gun.-|pss~-I-in-an-- _ A t qt, ' ;t*:Ff_' _ l:Z-A '_' Kl? ,;f;_ _;1 1} ,__:£;~ 1, *T*- 92 - -' .1, . 5 M
' V = .-_, V 4»
c= 0 '
nz= Joan L.'LEHI$, ET AL .1 at '
INTFRVIET charge of this meeting he told ul that Ellhoff
had said if we signed up with U. I. I. he would
ontinued open the mine but he wasn't going to open it
" with P. ll. A.
"The meeting at Elks Club was also in charge oi" this was to
see what we were going to do, they gave us papers to sign up er the U. I.
W. and all -.r.ere but 26 signed. Bdmundeon came over after we had signed up
with U. M. 7., He said he was giad we had come back so there would be no
trouble. He told us we would not have to pay any initiation fee. I signed
up that afternoon. I signed up with U. H. W. because I liked thou better
because they are all over the U. S. and Canada. The Progressives are only
o. small organization and they can't push anything.
I was not on any committee in connection with the Union switch.
I did not go to the office of Edmundson or Elahoff after this meeting. Gen-
ditiens at Mine A are very good and the same as they always were.
I have had Agent - read to me this 3 page handwritten state-
ment and it is all true and correct to the best of my knowledgé I an sign-
ing this statement of my own free will. -
"S1$"°1=
"r92'it nos sod : -
/8 ___._.__..____.__ _ !eCi{'.1 A Ont Fe BI In/minim U BC IO P99 Q gan ;
St. P8121, 1111111.
"Springfield , I11 .
Sept. 1e, 194s."
0
I
-295-
o .._?
-1
5" ' 4 » s
t-
_,-1...V. , ,
- - - _ -
sel >1 _
""3
"-v-4
on
=E-. .1- ,- 1'-31-.
"3
4' '3
-».£<.".--¢ _ _."~§'Z _-'1 '.»'.- '-5.»: .
k .".,_---V. .._...
rt.- :- .._ _ _
Q -- t - ._.- . . .
1183 JomzL.1.1sr1s,2.'r1L _
IN1ERVIE"T WITH The following investi ation was conducted
S cial Agents- t Spring!!e!!, male on
nts lent to the residence of
Qpringfield, Illinois and he or se o
n an inves igation but had nothing to say abodt it as he did not knoll l
thing about it, and he denied that anyone told him not to say anything.
He was interrogated by Agents and shorthand notes were taken
not-.gonf;'U_:mioh are being rstaincii in one e?1ibf.t section at this
case. ne BU-VlSBCl 1-L.gGI1LB I18 UB5 UUUH Uh .|..|-1.11.6 It ELUUI-lbare that he is on the to doesn't associate with ' ye 1 P: ' ~ - ~
he is a dock boss. He further said he is a citizen of the United Statesand was born i He said he has not been con-
taoted by anyone in regar _o _ is JTVBB igation and that he did not know
a thing about it. He also said it does not make any difference to him whatunion he belongs to just so he has a job. Qadvised he was at lline 1
in 1932 and went over the way the bunch wen . said just so he works is
all that he cares about. He advised there was a meeting at the Elks
Club and that they voted to go into UHF and that that was the only meeting
he attended. He further said ho did not know why they voted that way. He
stated that all he wanted was work and he did not care anything about theunion at all. According to Whore was a notice in the paper about the
meeting to be held. advises that m heard through someone that Carl
Elshoff was going to buy the mine A and that he also heard it in the
papers. Ho also advised he did not know if Elshoff was going to reopen
Hinc A or not and that he never heard anything about going through lino B.
He also arid nobody contacted him about going back to Him 1- I-he further
said he did not know ii the men were satisfied with PLEA or not and that
he did not attend very many meetings and that he still does not go to
many. Ho also advised he never hoard anything that Elshoi'f would only open
Mine A as Wit. At the Elks Club he said the men Just voted over to HIMand that the chairman got up and took a vote and that ::El up
and asked what way. He further said that after the moo g y dson
came over but that Edmundson did not say anything but just took them intothe mm union. said he voted to go back to mm and that he went along
with the rest UL uni men and he said he guessed his job dammed "..pon .
Ihieh "rm he voted and he again said he did not know why they voted over toIMF. also said he wasn't a member oi any committee and that ho did '
not go over to Elshofs office after the meeting nor to the Leland Hotel.
He also said that since Hino A has been 11151 his job is Just the some and IBP1
n little better now as he non has one job to do while with FHA he had,_,.., - e e .- ~~ ;~ ~I::--r" - -: - T '~-, ,i-_-_-__-- - <1, -- 1.1:; .1- _1I_ -1-B--I:-~, -K-1-_;< -I -1T;=-ti;-gag", A
gE
. -5 ,
1
0
-Q
e
M .9.I .:-'1
._I,-.
, o
='- .2
**¥i
7/5
.15-_ Q. d<"- _ - .,.:» "-'
'4!-, _.r1. ' -
___. ___,__-.,T______i.-_-,- ~ 1* -'Z'i_ :-. ~ --i ~~i.~__.-1. 4*-».:~ --_~=r --f "''j>=- -I1 1- *_-r-1-=11: ;"j_%#; *-!9¥~*
0' 0 e
BB1 JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
is all that he knows and that it is true to his
knowledge and he said he would not sign anything
IE5tInued! * _ -even if it were written up. He said it =iit
' Z non of his business" and that he doesn't bother
with anything out there and that he didn't vent to get mixed u in the
matter. He further said he is still working out there and they don't
bother him and he doesn't bother than and just so he works is all he
cares about. Ho also advised he never has been arrested in his life.IEEERVTEW WITH
It is felt thatgwoxild make =1 poor witness but it is felt
he has not told tho truth an pro ably has been contacted by somoonn t0
keep still. Q
- i H
fl
' 111*
p;»ii
__J
_..:.r
*--:1
es
.. ____.' J
¬F%+
as-.='=-Q
[
f- 297 - '
_ n
4- - .|Q .
"iii
:-1'5 I5
L. - -1
s-~
_.
~ ;
1 ~92: 4_
.- fl__l-=1-.____. " '_-.
-' Ii glf-.<*."1
"1---."11:,
s1
i .
._ .__.._-..:_ _ - e~'- --- ---e _~ a __~-A77; _-._ -_~~ - --~__-_ 1';-I:*;I:=:_-.=i-d_ _ -_ A_'e;- _~ _ -__-' 4- .g.:. 4,__h_- - >~ '
0' '0
Re: JOHH L. LEWIS, ET LL
II'TERVIE§»' WITH The following investi ation was conducted
at Springfield, no s, on September 16, 943:
At his residence Springfield, Illinois, '"3ents inter**.awed dvised he never has been
arrested in 1.-s li e. He a so a vise agents he was not contacted by anyone
in regard to being seen by Federal men and he said he would answer any questihe could. It was noted that Fe rather intelligent and appears to
know a lot about union matters an , as noted in his statement, he is in favor
of UMW and has been for years.
It is to be noted tha1:_wo'.»ld not sign the statement whichhe gave and which is set out hereinafter. It is felt thatwould make
a rather impressive witness. -
;-.- --- . . -- - -. . . . 1;_p__; anlhe fOllD'Wlng 15 the unsigned Sttmnt ODCHIIIBQ II'OH1_
gpringfield, ll.
Sept. 16, 1943. '
1. give the following information t
who ave 1 en 1fi8d themselves as Special Agents oi-__ e . . .
o threats or promises have been made me to give this information.
"1 was born i & came to U. S. in 5; becamea citizen thru my father. I ve een a Mine A since%still there
as a company man. In 1932 I went Progressive because every ody else did a
I eould never have split if I had anything to do with it. 1 did not have
anything to do with getting U.l5.W. back again at Mine A.
"I read in the paper in 1941 that Ryan sold Mine A to Elshofi k I
was worried a lot about it as I felt Mine A would shut down as I felt that
Elshoff would not operate line A. While P.li.l. was at liine 1 I had no
complaint against them at all. Ho one saw me in regard to going back to
U.H.??, at all. I heard that they were going to drive an entry from lline B
into E.-Zine A A: I know that could not be done as it would cost too much to
do it elthe it could he done. I never heard that Elshoff would open Aline A
if men joined U.ll.'fi. I attended a meeting at Progressive Hall. That was a
regular meeting If I remember right 8; that was the last PJLA. meeting I
attended. They discu sod the matter 1'; they had a controversy there so Ileft 1!: went home. hid us all it was one of those had situations
F; that we would hav'o to wait till the whistle blew. I heard they had an .
argument or fight down stairs Iater on but I had gone. I heard later on
there were some strong arm men there at the meeting from the southern part
of Illinois. Ho committee were appointed while I was there. I also
-298-
I
5
- 1
54.;
I
..-
U:-,
.-
i .
.- f :__ vi. L:I -1'15" '71.?-3;4 .,_-- ,_._-'--
.92.,.1
A 92-
5-";2.-
wi-é
F
F92
k':;
,_.. 2;:. I92 ..
'1g e92 . .
- ' W W, -"HA? N i ifj éhi; T W "'5 7 7 7 ':_v"" If; , '_' H--_,'-,T- _. < ' g 92 4. .. r~ .,,. , ,, 92
?
C O . _
Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
attended the meeting at the Elks Club & I heard ~
about it thru someway & I voted to go beck to U.I.I
& it was s standing vote. I always have been I_ -U.I£.. sinceig & that was why I voted over & 115'
job also bothered me, but I felt it wou e better for us all to get
together sgair under U.M.W. I believe the local P.M.A. officers had charge
oi it. _was the temporary chairman. I don't recall just whet was
said at the meeting regarding going beck to U.M.W. The vote was taken to lee
if we wanted to go beck to U.H.W. I voted of my own froe will. I was not on
any comittees then. I came home after meeting at Elks Club. I believe Ray
Edmundson was called over to the meeting b he didn't have much to say & I
believe we all signed up then at the meeting to be with U.H.W. Since Mine A
has been changed back to U.M.W, I don't see e particle of difference as dues
are same now as they were under P.H.A. I have rend this three ! page
statement A it is true & correct k no one influenced me to vote the may I
did, This is all true but I won't sign anything unless l first see our
attorney Kr. Fitzgerald, who is the attorney for the union.INTEQV
continued!
This statement was road by
"Witnesses: t he said it was uld not sign it.
n <=e=e>.Special Agent, .B.I.
St. Paul, Minn._ *
peci .B.I. Milw.!
Springfield, Ill.
Sept. 16, 1943.
- 299 -
4?"
of
it
s.
E§ ,E -~m_@;:~~" A- *+~ --~->1 w*@'1J~*~ jq@m=@mm$Twr=%yr:»»r~ -, -» I
1 992
,.E
1
' RE JOHN Lo LEWIS. ET 5L0
.':
The following imrsati tion was con- W alia--M
Springf e , o s, on 9-15-
Springfiold, Illinois, agents
ho has no criminal rsoordn
ornto and although ho understood
in a very low tone of voice and it in45» at his
intarvinmd
It was non"
the quostims
041+ 1..- _......"1.1LULU Ill-7' II92-JV-I-92-* ducted
.1?:=his I;.nswcI'B wore
mako a vary poor
Be furnished tho following stn-tomcnt but said ho would not sign
- 1 it unless he really hlld to nd inomnuoh as ho was told it was up to him
1 to deoide whether or not he wanted to sign tho sumo he said he would not
s sign it but that it was trua- 11
. t
-"I I- -_ ... _H J u!ulllll ! ..
Uy4L&B&&U&u. LAAI
Soptmbcr 15, 1945.
IE
J? .
I I F1. I give the rollvwmg. mromwiw w"I; identified themselves to mo as Spe -I-g n .B.I. No throats or premises have boon mods
no to give this infonmtiun 6: I tun giving it of my mm froo will. _: V .
"E N-r ...-.. 92......... 4... . ......- ¢..-. rt as 1.. ._n.L IHD UULH &Q m vuuv nu uuu0.u&.....rboomno u citizen in -in Springfield, III. I have been at Hino 1.
8 yours 8: I'm still there us n digger. In 1932 I wont P.M.A- as I
bolieved it wns tho best union then. Now it don"t make any difforanoo
to what union I belong» I hoard that EISIIOFF hr-id bot Mine A when tho
time one to open up in the ran of 1941. It didnTcnL~kc any difference
to mo what hi!-PpCn0do I huurd tram other minors we would have to join
UJl."i. if we wanted to go book to work. I was satisfied with both PJIJ-.-
didn't make any difforonoo what union was tho:-on No one
to join GT3? to ¬:'.ii.-L I not-or hoard tht $1.33-5?? '-'-mild
'¢.j. tuko 0001 out thru Mine B fran Mina In I novor hoard that EISHJFF
I would close Hino .1; unless it was U.}I.U. I ottondod one mooting ht PJIJ»
hall d: they had on argment thoro & tnlk was as to whether wo would
5: book to work or not 1!: I think they dooidod to go buck whothor
__ under Pau or Ui{.Tf 5: I don't rooull if any oonnittoos wore nv-do as
" 3 I don't understand things vary 710110 I did not attend any nesting; at
Elks Club or at Rodmnn's Hall. I signed up for U.u.*J. buck at Kine &
when it 1'0-Op0nOdo Sinoo B-1!-1?. has boon book at Mine A things oro just
the simo for mo as thoy iréré ondor Fdiau I had to sig r iith
U.!-I-Th as tho Mine A was that my and in urdor to go to work I had
to Join up no tho loo:-1 wont that wily I hoard altho I did not vote over
thnt way. I did not know thorn wore to ho any noetings at tho Elks
Club A: at Rodmun's Hull. as fur I an ocnoorned just so I have a Job 18
an 1 oaro for G: 11; don't m-.w=T?h1un unim is there r<-r us. I have
_ snn -vii
we
- 6: U¢ll.92l'-» 8: it
.._1___92 __ .L92____-,3 UBLKJU mu UIIULL
Pé
4
ri
J
I.
W
92
-5!-4
.».l¥*
l'. Ii- _.
I
E3
__7§,
,;~
§
3-: ' '
'31* ".192-n.2.-.L.4£.,
-'15:; '
-~,
é" -- -1'
a .u .
F
F
i_---_ ._ _- ?; __ __' *_ ' "'" ~l' 7' - * * -. . _;_ ;R'_';v'{J:l@;.a...7.""'
92
c-' o
RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET
INTERVI31
c_> gntinucd
?icnessos.-
Special Agent, F¢B»I .
St. Paul, Minn.
Soecu .:qj;t| F-Bil. _1-ii
Springfield, I11-,
Sept. 15, 1943- 4:110
lw!laud 4.5-,ontQ road this two ! pago stato-
nont to no J: is true I: uurroot to the bout
oi my knowledge and I I111 not sign it tho un-
less it is absolutely necessary but it is true.
II
._-n
ii
i
lR§.' 5
.4, ..-
i-
,._ .
i
.
--.-"5
4 " '
.,.
E ,
_
"~
_
' {92-.
, 4.: . .-11 - ,,'__2;.- ' -
KQQ
_¢
92 -'
a~..E¢ I
0 0
Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
I"TI."2YI!T- WITH The follewin investi ation was conducted by Special
Agents in at Springfield,in Illinois, on op o or , 1 1
I-.t his r s -1 Springfield, Illinois,agents into; viewedm up until about five -
which lest name was
. l.L L@139 Gllg FO_years ego 0.-S so he nosthat of hi; q_-__ but that heand that it was or 5 no. ly
_appeared to be rather inte11i;cnt and ho took great
pride in tcII1ng agents of his activities in connection with T-{inc =11"-
He would make e good witness ii his testimony is necessary.
Agents obtained from him the following signed statement:
Springfield, I-1 0
, give the following statement to Q
who are lcnown to me to be Special Agon s o
ts or proniecs have been made me to procure this
"1 was born I f t -nined o. mine union
ld Ill
I cm -.- e e H-Ol IO!
August 1943 as e driver.statement .
Then the switch came in 1932 we didn't want to go over to P.!.i.A.
but it looked like there was nothing else no could do. I took no active
port in this. From 1932 to 1941 there was always some who wanted to return
' to U,!I,£!,, I was one of them. There was no certain group but you could "
toll the Fay some of them felt they wanted to go back. There was no
active organizing or agitation to return to UJLW. P.H.A- local 51 was
just like may other union as far as I know. Kine A was closed each year
92 - =1 ml -+ A,-mm 'I"h r -an n 1I92'|'m':i' u-mn +1-m ninr abut down that1.02 1'1 itaenai lzuunu uvuu ....O2.; ..- 3-, qunusdwa --s--.¢ ---- -a---a ----.- _---._ __.-_
the union would be changed to U.I!.'.i, The first I know was when along
in the fall it came out in the papers that Elshoff had bought the mino-
Aftor this was in the paper every man you met on the street seemed to
-302--- ---n.'..__ *.¢.'.--<,3.»,.' ~..'.- ?.~ ."' , -"
V .
1!.
Q.-... 5 .
PU».. .
Zie-
.|.
ii:-.
1
-1
,1
G
J
1- l.
p. S.. oz;.;
2
1.-
_92_
as92._- ..~ -.
-- .. .1
D14
.1. V 10' 0 I
R9: JOHN Lo LEWIS, ET LL
INTERVIEW WITH feel that the only way we could go back to work was asH e.n.*-7. Also the men were getting tired oi the dues that
continue they were having to pay P.!.!..A. I have paid as high as
12 or 14 dollars a month for dues & assessments to P.F.L.
I don't know why the duos in P.M.A. are so high. Re one approached no
about going to the meeting to change over to P.M.A. I was of the first to
start trying to get s meeting organized to discuss among all the miners
working at nine A as to what we would do. ?hen anyone got up in a P.H.A.
meeting to discuss this matter the P.M.A. officials were standing around
ready to pounce on us and wouldn't let us talk. At one of the P.M.A.
meetings a committee was eppionted of 6 or B men, by the union members.
They were to go to see Elshe as to what was to be done. The P.H.A.
officials wouldn't got information as to what was going to happen and
ecce . ' a ointed Some of these on the committee! I ! !!s! !f_Le c n appointmen Ill. o
was Elsheff but we couldn't get him. As we wont out some
one pushed hit me in the back of the head with their fist.here was a ound the deer on and some others they held
back when the rest of us won ou an beat him up on the floor.>e i not vet in touch with Elshoff bunontacted with Falsetti and
we all went out to see him. He told us w on e Company buys anything
it has a contract with U.!£.".'. already and ho guessed whatever was bought
would have to be that way tee. He said they really did not knew if they were
going to open Iiine A or not that they might get the coal out of Hine A
through Iiinc "B". He didn't say so but it was felt that this would knock
us out of a job. Tic then told Falsetti that we wanted to go over to U.1{.W.anyway because of the dues the P.}£.A. was charging us. Fe did iell him we
would like for then to keep Fine A going and not abondon it. nd
I went around with a chock paper to see if the me'x1-1Tn'tFd to go so to
U.l.';.?i'. or wanted to stay P.!E.A, We got ever a hundred names and only one
man turned us down. Te told them we were going to have a piece in the paper
onouncing a meeting we had a meeting at Redman'e hall and about 95 to 100
men were there. This meeting was about a week before the meeting at the
Elks Club. 'f.'e told the men at this meeting what I-alsetti had said and asked
them if_it would be OK to go see the U.lI.'-7. officials. Tie told them we
would put in the papers when and where another meeting was to be held. Allso men wanted to go over to U.I-'..H. Tie went up to U.!.'£.'.T. and coma
Io told him how the men felt and even suggested that Edmun a
e men at a meeting 6: explain the U.!i.T-'. proposition. The
following Sunday afternoon we held a meeting at the Elke. This meeting In-Iannounced in the paper 8; about 240 men were there. Q was the snn
in charge of the meeting. He had not previously been con ac od by us.mes at the last P.1:.A. moeti montionedL_l1e was not at the meeting atC . no, H.111 though. ere two officers under 1=.s.s..
who attended this meeting an ca r e -. er as U.1i.1'I. officials.
-303.-~'-**' ' W ";""" ' I" i *"'* T--*:._*,__._2, _.1u-gr-vp-¢__:.. -. ,_ .1 a _ q . _...-.._-_92_,.= T
-a
//5
; -;¢.q ,
@-
--» .JI-V
-
ims
.I' ""f..--_':*"==i'-_.
. ,4;-I
. 1,
25*, __ .,.___ -- - .___~~: V n-i::- 4- ~ 7__' - - -- -,=, -- - ._- - ~* - - ~*;~*-gnu-r: "L,--: -n: - ;; ___; *_, ~__;_,r,,yf,'-_~, -;, ----_-_ -! , D
c» o
t
Re: JOE! L. LEWIS, ET AL
' IUTCRVIEQ TITH "At the Elks Club meeting we explained to the men what
n hecontinued, had
the
us and that Edmundson'
was after the vote to
was not a en_ againsthappened. Kc had previously seen Edmundson and he
4a h 11a h 1 A + h tur . " t 1d sa-_ no woa-_ -e r_a_ :3 ave as re___n_ he _e_omen what Falsettpand Eclmundson had told
was in town and won. cone up and talk to us, thisi
return to U.E.R} this was a standing vote and'there
it. Another fel13h end I went down and asked
Edmundson to come up which he did. He gave a short talk and told the men
when they came over to U.H.W. he would do all he could
"The men were given cards for the U.H.§. that
know how many members
and later on I think we went over to Edmunisons officethey would
were elect
sworn in.night so. .we had. That same evening Union officers
an were1
to keep Kine A going.
ed
Ednundson that night we asked himéif he cou1dntget the mine opened right
away, he told us that he would see if he could get in touch with him. so
then-tent to the Leland and had d: .or and then over to Elshoff's office
where we waited until he came down. I Cont know how Edmundson got in touch
with Elshoff. Ednundson explained to Elshoif that the men wanted to go ever
to U.H.T. and he wanted Elshoff to sign a contract. Elshoff said he didn't
wont to sign until he knew the men had made up their mind and wouldn't changeback to P.r:.A. ':.nd 1 both told Elshofi that we had over 240 at
the meeting and a me » t 12 others on the street and they had signed up.
"o told him he needs not worry that there would be no trouble. Te waited
till after 12 midnito before signing a contract as Blshoff didn't want to
sign on Sunday. I dent know of their being anything special about this
contract. The nine_3§Ened in about a week after this. All the men joined
the U.H.B. of their own free will. The non joined to keep ¥ino A from being
shut down and to get away from the high P.,A, dues. I don't recall anthing
about any letter inviting the Kine "A" men to join the U.H.T. It is possible
to operate Hinc "A" through the shaft of Kine "B" and at one time they '
actually started to tunneling and went about 40 feet and stopped. I hoard
nothing about where Elshoff got the money to buy Hine A. I never received
one penny for anything I did in regards to this matter. Hy interest was
just to keep Mine A going and to keep a job for myself and the other men.
Q 1 nun .l____JL.L__. _L-.L__.__..L1 have hni Agent T030 tnli 9 fife cwrxencn ubutemnntto me. It 18 to the best srlgq OI16d§Q and unis: all the truth and just.
as I have told it to the agents. I am signing this of my own free will.
arr- - - - q _a-do"Seed .. ..--1?/_ - -
Spec. Lgt. F.B.I. liilm!
Speciai Agent, F.B.I..
St. Paul, Minn. Springfield, 111.
X.
itb
r
i
E
5
E
F
-:1
.
1-
_.
13-
Ias
3-»-
1"
1:_ ..
{£-
a-X
1:»:-
'-av
. H
.»--..A_||i.4F _@ 1 T___.._......,..--
Re: JOHN L LE"IS, ET AL
to the persons mnntioned above,
ITE?VI"'"TTH
!cont1nu-d!and th_t " 0% Hine A
t C, O;
» r
1.
ii
._
Ir
r .
0 v.
Q
-
-..-._.
,1
'_'...
is
Q'_.i.V;_. _
1 as
43..-=1
.__=_- _~ v
. +1 5- -'. -92 ..|- -,- -5"
V 92'.. _¢-..|- -,q- -.. ._ re
R,L, ... A
'_» Q1
i
i___7_ __ ll '__._ "5, .._ __ _ _ _ i _ _ __. _,._1
RE: JOHN L. LEITIS, ET LL.
INTERVIEIZ 1;1'ra
SPY
1945
-interviewed at ma residence,
gfield, Illinois, on the after-noon
t Special Ia-gen es!is s person o average
to ig , Ea declined to sip: the
following statement on the general principle that he does not sign things.
He read it over, however, and assured that it was true as far as his
knowledge of affairs was concerned.
"Springfield, Ill.
September 1e, 1945.
' "re !15_1"'1¬3 is I was born in_
I am now em lo ed at mire A I make the following we
who have identied
themselves to me o e Specie. en s o e o oral Bureau of Investigation.
No promses, threats, or consideration of any kind has been made to me to
make this statement.
"I have worked at Mine 5 for about Pyears. I was employed
when Ryan sold the mine. Prior to that time had heard no talk among
men about changing unions. I thin}: they were satisfied with the mien
it was. I know that I was satisfied with the Progressive Mine s-OPRLBPIthe rethe
as
of
america. I do not know way the men changed unions. I did not see any men
or talk to them about the change. I did not especially care what they
about unions. Either union would be alright with me. I did not go todid
my
meetings where this matter was discussed. I went back to work. I did not
sign an application to join the INS. I had my card in the HIS transfe
and went on working as before the mine had been sold.
I do not know much more about the situ
see that there is any change in working conditions P:-og
Mine Workers. J:-t tho time I was satisfied with the
fied with the INTI.~ I do not
Hz-red,
ressive
. Now I am satis-
"I have read the above statement on this page. It is true and
accurate .
5*
E
i-.
~ a
.*§
5
2?
?
I 2
4
w.--'
197
A
HQ
,3.
ii.' -n
,_:'
- -
1
-.:~
@
.1-
i_ 6
_ _ ,.-._A_,_ - -- **-~ '-*>--"____!-_ - __,..,, A-_-.7 -----_ -___ __ AA _ __ _ 1,, . -
- >-
C O
R0: JOHN L. LEXIS, ET AL
¬_ resi ence
I I945, by Sph . . . . , , , A _____,_,_at wnicn B11119 n6 1L1I1l1BI1.b-D Lnt: iuinterviewed at his
on September 1B,and _.L92_- ti- 11.. -nap an U "BB q§Q692ll!o giscuss the matter-involved, and stated he would be a willing witness to
testify to the facts as set forth below:
"Springfield, Illinois
Septeber 18, 1943
t I make the following voluntary statement o
an whom I know to he Special Agents of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U. S. Department of Justice.
"I reside at , Springfield, I11. I am presently
employed at Nine L as a iggor, an eve worked there continuously since
"The first mine union I joined was the UM? in June, 1932 at Kine £-
1 voluntarily joined the FKR
favored the FHA after 1932.in September, 1952 with the majority and I
In 1941 I first learned Elshoff had purchased
Kine A from Ryan from the newspapers. My reaction, after knowing about the
previous Mine B trouble, was
and I would have to join the
my job. I would rather have
"Uhcn Ryan operated
working conditions were very
I did not hear the
Kine B or that it would staythat hlshoff would sign a contract with the UH
UMW, the United Kine Workers of America, to keep
worked for Ryan. ' "
the mine, it was a good place to work, and the
satisfactory.
rumor that Elshoff might operate Mine A through
closed until we joined the United Kine Workers-
I only attended two PEA meetings, meaning tho Progressive Nine
Yorkers of America, when the
joining the UNI. One was atmen of the FHA local at Hine A were discussing
the PEA Hall and one was at the Elks Club.
"I received notice of the FHA Hall meeting from the newspaperl.
they did not decide anything at that meeting, but wanted to got in touch
vith Elshoff to determine what he was going to do. A couple of the men
vent out of the meeting to telephone blshoff, but could not reach him. There
was a fight on the stairway between some FHA members who did not want the
local to join the UHF. I did not sec the fight, and tho meeting broke up.
"I am not interested in either union. I felt that the men were
going to join the 03$, and that if I wanted to continue working at Nine 5,
I would have to join also. It is my opinion that the only men who went to
- 307
5'
r
F,
o
;J
Z.
___ ._.5:-
-I-rT'
,..-.
-».-. A1,
Q,-"I
H1 _ 1
___.. _..._ __...,_._ _____ A ~:___ _ "-bm''r- - -'":~i*:~r1n&4 *"' ---1i;"*,Iui; LL his-I; , A7 _ -- ~ _, '1-, .__ .:>?-.._.- e_ . ~~ . -.v'¬}.4-.~|_;. - . >_,_ 5. - ._¢.. N ..-> Q. _ _
0' 0%
I
Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
INTERV H R the Elks Club meeting had already decided to join the l
mm. I had learned of the meeting from the newspapers-con inued _Pres1eed at this meeting, and in a standing
votc_tney voted to join the UHF. After that, Ray
b ht a notary blic with him. All
the "en filled out UH? membership cards. After this. phonetic!Edmundson of UM}? was celled in and he roug i
I heard talk at the line A, among the miners that there had been a
meeting in the wash house at the mine last week before work in the morning,
and some UHF officials whose names I do not know, had stated that the mines
the should be careful whet they said to the F.B.I. agents and instructed
miners not to sign anything. Since I was not at the meeting, I ean not
furnish accurate information about this-
"The working conditions at Mine A have become worse since Elshoff
bought the mine. '
"I have carefully reed this statement consisting of two and one
quarter pages, and it is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
. I . -signeui
Witnessed: _
i<=1gned>peeial Agent, F.B.I.
l can-m>
Special Agent_?.B.I."
- 308 ~
k
92-
%'.
E
Fw
.
92
"J
E;._!
A
.-1»,
.-
,.
if_ ___ __ _,_____ _._ ;~ .~~ -' -L 1_~;_n--_,r-n- -ti '' Inna» 7 W _ __ 7 -_'¢ - - ...i_-.___;7:
0. 0'
RB: JOHN L. L§:I5, ET LL.
_,iie___i _.__.- __. ,.. -._. 1-i Sfrriflgiieiu, Fvi, lT ,Illinois, was Join y interviere a s residence onSeptember 13, 191.3 by Special Agents HdHe is presently employed as a digger a ne . e d
not desire the change of operators and stated ELSHOFF treated the men like '
slaves Then he first started operations at Fiine A. I-18 attended the four
meetings prior to the shift of Iline A employees to the 13.1" but is vague
on details of these meetings. He executed the f0l1d92'?il'lg written statement.
..- ~ 1921_I92._1 -A-|.!____'_
":.prJ.ng11eid, ,L.L.LJJ'-102.8
September 13, 1943
_ "Iin make the following voluntary statement to
11-;_ whom I know" to be Special Agerlts
oi the Fedora Bureau 0! Evesggion, U..S. Department of Justice.
Illinois. I am presently er.1plo'e a liine d Illinois as
I first joined the United mine .or ers o erica, re erre -'= ~.er-sin-
fter as the IJMIA at the T-oodside Itlne Local 999 at Springfield, in
I renained a member of the U311 until about 1932 Then I joined
egressive Elise T. orker of .-9-.me:':Lca, referred to hereinafter as the
A, at fiine A vhen it signed a BEA contract. I started working at.ine A insnd have continued vozkirlg there to date.
"In 1932, vhen I joined the PUIA, there was a vote taken in the
PL.I".A Hall at 6th and T ashington streets and the majority voted for the
P151. I rent fith the najority to retain my Job. I would just as soon
have stayed xrith the LEA as I ras a charter member of UTFA.
---- J-.1.---QL;-92ul Jun [rosa--v92_92H-3 LXLLCJVU DUN. J-ll BUB? "njter 1932,. I paid duos to the ?E.a " .L
I ing nv job, and not in any union. The first I heard of the change in
. operators was in 1941, throupgh the nevspapers. I did not relcome the
change, and 1-would have preferred forking under R-'an. I did not think I
rould lose new job, but felt that after a vote, the mine would go UIIIA.
It 1--oz-ized out that ray. I thought tho miners would vote for the UIEIA
because if the PIIYA Y-on, Elshoff 1 ould bring into the nine to 1-Pork,
other UPS} miners. e had a vote at the Elks Club on a Sunday afternoon
at 2:00 P11. It ras a fair election. The U111 Tron.
When R/an Yes the Operator at Liine 1., the vorking conditions there
under the BEA tone good, and the men were satisfied. I was not approached
by any 1111.1. organizer to join the III A. I heard rumors that Eishoff Tould
operate !!ine A through Hide B; 1.2 reaction '-"as that he Would not do it,
but I did think he 92"ould hire some III A men rho night take HU Job, and I
still ranted to rork, so I voted for the UIFJL. There "rare rumors that
-309-
-. -- -- ~..-¢ .. _. *_T.¢>q._- ~_.__.-urn-7* .|qu-IlIII£__ -Ii -'iI=- --- *P'W4'-** * PM
2
Fv
as
L
s
E.ti
.
3.
E1
0
ii
AF
3.
*':,_
J
' £
.1. ~-' -:r.'I- L?
..P,--:1;
_'>
4|!
__ : ~_4
EL
-v
.-..',
.1-
re
'1; ,Mg .1'1'
&>-.: .
F. f --
1 1
A.._ ~ -_+e;,,_ ' _...__ <.--1-;_ ~:~_-_' --- -- ~'*_ _- .._ 1 ' 1 7 _ ef _ - .-_:::;' H7. *~ .. 7. Q -
C O
Bit JOHN L. LHIIS, er LL.
IIJTERJTF. ' if-I Elshoff Tould open Lne A if the miners would join the# IM.,92 and we would start to work by October 1, 1941. Ion inued! do not recall the sources of these -rumors. I had all
ready nade up no mind to Join the U!-[1, going with the
majority, so I would not be out of work.
"I attended the four P1371; meetings in September, 191.1. I believe
.1 got notice of part of these meetings through the newspapers and the others
by vord of mouth on street corners.
"At the t1"-o P251 neetin s at the PI-TA Hall, the President ofthat union presided. He tried to hold the local at
Iline A, in the PEA. lne irst meeting oz-one up in an a.1'g1n21e"!T.. The second
meeting broke up in a fight. As to this .fi_'§h'., it T85 started by some men who
vere not employed at Mine L, tho Vere standing; on the st:=_"i.1"92-Tm. I think they
were PEFA men who wanted to keep us FHA membezs.
" .t the meeting at the Ridnan Hall, phonetic!
.'.t this meeting, "re agreed to have enct 1er
meeting the next Sun ay :1 he I-lks Club and to notify the men of the
coming meeting.
"at the tro meetings at the Hf}, Hall and Ibdnan Hall, there
tore no U!-I11. organizers present to my bomcwledge. Ray Ednundson did not
talk at this meeting and res not there.
"On e Sunday afternoon at the Elks Club in September, 1941, thereres about 190 PI.!..A men present There was
'53"one present, but the PIP!. P Sen , an we wrerc a coun e . here Fore
no UH 1, organizers present beT5'fé_EHat vote. Some one made a motion to
join the 1115.}, and all in favor stood up. Practically all voted for the
I]!£I;_. There was no discussion about having to join the UH,/_ before going
to vork.
"t.iter the vote, Te sent for Lddmundson to see if ho would ac-
cept us as a local. Edmundson came over to the Elks Club with a notary
public. Etlnmdsm took an affidavit that 1='e ,a11 wanted to join the IIIIIL
voluntarily, and then he sent three men to see Elshofi to find out 92"hen'
the nine could open. They came back within thirty ndnutes and said the mine
rould open by October 1, 1941. "
"I made up my mind to vote for the U!1'i.1L the day I ea" Iglshoff
had bought the mine. No one influenced ne.__ I figured Hine £._1"ould go
[M1, because Iiine B had gone that ray, and 1 did not want a long period 0! '
unemployment like they EX in Kine B.
F
F
5
'11
au-
.3
Fé
28
J1
4"
$1
,4-
Pithwk»-5......
_..-.,,,;_
.11
'--|
*2.v-- _ __~ ' -_7_ ' * __ _" - ' -T' :;_ _;7'_;_ ' _ '_ ""TI""Iii ;_ 4:.- ....;.. ..»
G O
ne= JOE-IN L. 1.11.13, III 1.1..
N'l ~-¥'1VI rtrrn
on IDUC"Yb Iyan had Mine '. 92"it.h a P'i.f'!. contract, he H1 .treated us miners like men: but Then Elahoff took it
. h .over he treated us llke slaves. He did not have eznoug
room; for the men and doubled than up to get the coal out.
d T uld not show" us Pkg re rare docked. He calimed He docked the non a lot an o_ . -
it res beca";-so of dirt in the coal etc. shoff knew he could got plenty
ts us well of men at teat tine, hovever, at the present time, Elshoff trea ,
because men are mrd to get.
"I have read this statement consisting of three and a quarter
d t 1s the truth to the best of my knowledge. pages an 1
witnessed,
/s/ Spc ial Agen F.B.I.
Specla! _-Qgen! , .!. l.B'. I. "
-311-
_ -
io-
sh
.1
gr
4.
_ 92..Cr T -
_ _ _____ _ _ _4e_i __i___ ,_ ___**.1_; ,___ . _4___::@__-- A__»___ --egg.-1_ _~_ -n - - __':~
0' 0
RE: JOE! L. LETJIS, ET LL-
interviewed at his residence,-
ld, Illinois, on the mornin ofby Special Agents Mhas an accent which s
gave information set forth in theINTERVIEW TSITH
ed F?to un er-stand
following signed statement:
Springfield, Ille
September 18, 1943-
I was born in is Qem an iamericen C1 ezzn, make the following s a emen-he have identified them-
selves s S coi en o e e oral Bureau of Investigation- me P
No promises, threats, or consideration of any kind has been made to me to
make this statement. '"I ow em loyed at Panther Creek Mine #5, which i¬oe.ted
, ansm n p
across the street from where I live. I worked at Mine A about years,
92- 'ending last January. I was employed by Mine A at the time t mu so
I do not know why the men changed unions at that time. I was n th mine»
member of the Progressive Rina Ivorlcers of -hmerica at that time, and I am s
' ' thmember of the I-Us of A now. I did not attend any of the meetings of e
1 al when the matter oi changing unions was discussed. I did not hear anyO0
about it. I signed up with the mm after all the other men had signed up," " ' " * ' " Tfsoieould
and there was a closed shop contract. .|. signed up with the uu
beck to work If I did not, I would lose my job. I did not hear any ED 0
talk of changing unions prior to that time. I was satisfied with the
Progressives, and I think most of the men were too-
"I have read this statement on this page. It is true and accurate.
//
j -
-512-
5
F
i5*._
J-
1.. .1. .1
,,,.'.s
£1"H
v ..58~ -":-L"
ii.
;¥§- -Z:. __.
Q-' _
B.
wn
,- 2
92
_.... 7 -_- .__ _..-.*___:V __ __ -_- : _'_' 4 A-_ - _-_ _ 44* _ - I--l7_--TA? -- - @_¢.~7 4__ - . . 7v_;;*_ *_ _i _i___4V_f7____ _._. _i
4 O
RE: JOHN L. IEWIS, ET-AL
e 'wB-B interviewed 1.-.1; his residence,
on the afternoon of Se tember 17 94 com en s .
' -1"! 1' l
person having a noe w ioh probably does not equal that or tne .
average miner. He 5.-s not difficult to understand. He gave info:-ration set
forth on the following statement:
Springfield, Ill.
7 September 1?, 1945
M on -M be-H mlnow gmgloyed at Mine . I nuke the following1'11o have identified tl1.B1Ik-
selves to me Agents of 0 - esu of Investigation.
No promises, threats or consideration of any kini has been made to me to
make this statement.Q
IHE
I have worked at Mine A for.years. I was employed there
at the time that RYAN sold out his interest in the mine. Ba-fore that time
there had not been mnoh discussion emong the men about ohangirg e unions.
I do not mow why the men voted to go beck to the United Him sis:-kers.
I thought that the Progressive Mine Workers were checking ox.-' too such
duos. I also did not see why there should be two unions for aolil miners,
and all the trouble that two unions would cause. Beonuee of this, I did
not care much which union I belonged to as long as I could work. I did
not go to the meetings or pay much attention to whet was going on. I went
to the meeting when the men voted to go over to the U.I.W. I voted to go
over because the rest oi the men were going to do that. I he-d no special
reason. I do not recall anything said about the company favoring more
the closeness st thst neetigi did soy that he thoughtthat we would get a1 the company if we joined the UJIJI.
"1 have read the above statement on this page. It is 0.11
true and accurate.
/~/ i»w -
-3l5-
5~
if"
I}.
fl
F.
¢-,
.33
'3
#
1
42;:
g__.'-5'
F!
"'1;
-ft
:1"?
e-
gwq
hr
Tl
5'~ -i_ W ~:_- _ 7 1 I" I , ' *-' -~*~""" ''r ' "" *_______________ _,,___,___._ ,__ _ 92 . .. .
O - O
RE: JOHN L". LETEIS, ET AL.' l
T I IITH On 50 tomber 14 1943» Pr Ei erv ewe ecio Agent d 1'1 Y P -PP6s:-ed to be ooopern ve oes not
proson - nope rnnoe O of character and it 18 D015 believed that hewoul-i be better than a fair witness. 1.1: the present time he up
and is not working, in tho nines. Ho disoleins any criminal reoor -
The following signed statement was obtained from-
"Springfield, Illinois
S0p'C8IIlb9l' 1-4'
andin;_, vc un cry Stu emo
I mow to be Special Agents of the Fedora ureau
ts or promises oi any kind have been made to me,S ringfield
:w' ' " . ..
whom - '" '
1 ' '
I have been told I need not make any statemert and that any stuternent I do
make can be used in Court.
I was born in I beganto work as s miner in i ! !e-gen !o wor! at Kine in as a United
liine Téorker. In 1932 changed unions with the majority and became a Pro-
gressive Liine Tiorkor because I didn't like John L. Lewis end the way he ran
the UJ-Z;-
"l first hoard nbcut the sole of Mine "A_" to Elshoff through talk-
ing to fellow miners. I personally didn't like this beonusohre Ryan was a
good employer and a fine fellow to
the Progressive Mine Union es they
heard the rumor that the officials
Mine "A" through Mine "B" and also
except through United Kine Korkers
influence me to change over to thework for. I had also been satisfied With
had fairly represented _the miners. I
of Nine "B" were threatening to operate
that Elshofi would not operate Hine '1"
Union. However, these stories did not
United Nine Lorkerse
"1 attended the meeting at the Progressive Hine Ziorkors Hall where
the sale of liino "L" was discussed. I noted thatL of the union took a prominent port in getting the miners o swi c ovo
the HM to 1lL?T. Be told no that he and the I.iiner's Committee had talked to
Elshoi and that Elshc.£__is reported to have said that he wouldn't open Hino
"J4" w'IT='1= the 1>.n.e. but that he would reopen the mine within so days 1: the
men would switch over to U.}l.'-ue
"1 think that conditions under tho P.12.A. were better than they
were of-her Mine Hi" wont U.li.Ti. because we no longer were free to any what
we wanted and we no longer had a vote as the U.Ii.Ii. organisation railroads-1
1»-JI-1. '5,
.. l.
2J 5
we»-
w
' I
vi4-
: _;,q.¥
M5
1"-ii
-~..
'2»?' . -
2*:
$-,192a
-~~
- ?_§'xy_'1
4 .
J. Il
ir-
_.-. » ,
_ _ __ .. __ -g :1 ___j* '<"i _7
0 ' 0
RB L0 ET Ll
INTERVIETE WITH their ow}: men in and handled the union to suit
thamse1vea¢gccntinuedyI I have read the within statement consisting of
two pages and it is Q11 true.
"3
Iitnessed:
- 315 -
._.{.
Z.
F
=11
-4
.;. >
C
1 .
a.-'
.. '. ~,»
'53-.
"Ii-
r..
.-1;-
:._L.
4
F-7 :1" c92
i__ _ ;a_- - ----L 71- _- ____e Afa- ____ ___ _______ ~----.._--;>;_ __ _-Y ___: -. _ _
Ot .
O O
Re: JOHi L. LEITIS, ET AL.
'TERVIEu-J WITH
Spring ie , inois, wa
home b Special Agents ands cooperative but it is not be eved
that he would make a goo wi ness because he didn't attend any of the
meetings at the time the miners heir affiliations from PEA toUMHA after the sale of Mine A. has no known criminal record.
He furnished the following sign¬H'?§tement.
"Springeld, I11.
September 17, 1943
ill. do voluntari y ma e o owine sta emen c Special A-gentsand f the Federal Bureau of
inves iga ion. 0 threa s or promises been made to cause me to make
this statement and I know that these facts can be presented in court.
"I was born emigrating Americain I became an American citizen in pringfield, Ill it Q1began working in mines i.n inir.g ULZJA at thattir.-;-... J. ve
never held any offices in any o . am presently employed at 3-Zine A
as a digger.
"I joined "1-ogressives in 1932 and still favor PEA because they
have better working conditions even today.
"I learned of the sale of Mine A throzgh the newspaper. I also
got a letter telling me of the sale and advising me to Join UIIRA to keep
my job. I heard talk to the effect that Mr. Elshoff was going to drive an
entry and hoist coal from ne A through line B. Also talk to the effect
that I-fine A would open only if the men joined UIHA.
"I never attended any meetings at PM Hall where we discussed
this matter. either did I go to Redmans Hall or the Elks Club when the
miners met or. this situation, because I was afraid of trouble.
'1 went back to iéine A after it opened and had to sign mam be-
fore I went down into the mine. At present there are to__ many docks and you
can't say anything against the union. I would rather work under PEA as
they have better labor conditions, and some sayso at the meetings.
been
I have/read the above volmtary statement made by me consisting1- -.1 ._ G92|__ ____ .n_ J_._.___ I ___..__...|.O1 11$ pages. I-HE Bmtt 15 truc cc correct-
"witnessed:
/8!
, ll/
E.
g
. in
v
..o
_r.-q-92.
-1.3S
$3-1
,4
.,_ -.. -,-
I-'.¥
ii» "-3'.- "'.~'||; ~,_'.*-
-_,,_;.§?-.1 ,
$--
1,39,
$5
'4-1:
u.1
'1 11' 4
_'_~, b; e,
§}"_ :2 F
-4- ,-.-»-,--
1-
a -1. L .
|_ 7 If
__ _______ ___ _ _ __ i _ n_ ____ >_i3__ ~---A ~i-r - __-- -nr~<n-3:1 a 7~ '1__1*;'T , "
0'» of
Re: J0-I? L. LEVELS, ET LL.-n...
INTERVIEW wlTH Illinois ,L H H = = B en
was cooperative ut it is not felt ' e wo t- eeniéIQQmIness, inasmuch as he only worked at line A for two nths and neverreturned after the shut down on larch 31, 1941. -as no
known criminal record. He furnshed the following signs s tement.
I11-
f September 13, 19l+3
I, 1. do volun-
tarily make the following statement to __ _w ' ' - ' "ho have made themselves known to me as pecia gen _ T113
Federal Bureau of Investigation. No threats OT promises have been
made to cause me to make this statement.
"I was born in ~'=1I='=*_...*"_5*=*'1 tedin the mines in and around Springfield, III_ inn
joining U»-HA at that time. I am presently employed at an i.L92I.,
Creek iwiine #2, Springfield, Ill.working
"I was only employed at Liino A for a period of two :n0nth5,
February and March of 1941. I never returned to I-iine A again but
started at Panther Creek #2 in October 1941..
U was in favor of the Progressive liine Iorkers 2; Americain 1932 and joined up with them while working at
Ill I am still a member of P 1! A I have neve h ld . _ . . . r e an o ce in
either PMA or 1*-WA.
"I have no knowledge of the facts surrounding the opening of
ltine A in September of 1941. ' I never attended any of the PLEA meet-
ings before the mine opened at which time they switched their union
affiliations. All I know about the situation is what I read in the
Ill. 5t:-ate Register and I wouldn't go back because I didn't want
to have anything to do with '§if.?A. ?-hen T -=" e
bought line 1* I just said to myself, 'wa read that m. Elshoff had
ell I haven 't got any Job'__
"During the two months I worked at Kine A conditions seemed
alright and the miners seemed satisfied with P.l!.A. I worked nights
and didn't have a lot of contact with the men.
"After Mine 1* reopened under Elshoff ne of
the miners came by and said that "scar Falcett wan me come bac
- 31? -R.
M_ ._____ . .7 t@____"__~.___--%___f,_,, ._~______ ____Y 92
' '1 -T 92 .
E .la
Ir
Re: Jam L. mm, er AL.
~ 1
mmvm" mm 1 told him, Nothing doing, I don '1. want anythins
to do with UNA.q-5;: Contlnue
f "I never heafd anything about Mine A going to be operated
.~ through line B, or that Mine A would open on condition that the man
join u1:...=..
"I have read the above statement consisting of l 3/Z Pages.
} The same is true and correct.
'3.1 /s/ i
E5} "Hitnessed:
X:mi
__
u.:
v
_'».- _
.61.Q:
_92§
I
.9*0
"RP
,_ .
:;
L
E
; ..:1e-
sc 0 _
Ff.,5.
s
'.
Q
.r_".'_
-. . 4
-{.1
.92.~ -. -:"~ '1'-.. L W.-~'.,'.-.'.-.'.-.f_
.._.._~.
q.:,_?;
».:~»
,,...-.3
__.
'~
.-
.-v
2%
-1.-.
r .
....-~=n .1 ,- __ .=
J?
3»-43;:' . '1. ex
~?: "' "'T1 "3" _ '2:
i_5;U_'§#03 " .. :;§-.3"-g
j§
_,,,?.I.-5:-.
:-7 .
§
E" "W1e k . s._----._ .7. :_A _:;._:_ j4g~_-;__ :-~I; .
~ ~-_-;r.. ._'r 1. --~.:_ _. 4*'*' ' 7' m
<7 ' 0-
IQ
RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
INTERVIEW WITH also known as
1561"-u
l1'§avrb.l IHHI we -
has no crizr-inal reco follows:
"Springfield, Illinois
§ep-tember 19, 1943
I, S ringfield,
Illinois do rank" -- '*""" " " *rol'"'=*nry !=1"~e1=Ie'n- 0
_ _. a ~ anu "" em I knew to be Special ents oi .-.e e erBw . No threats or promises of any l';'.nr nave been undo
to me; I have been told I need not make any statezae-n"'.: am. that this state-
ment can be used in court. -
_ v~-. _
I came to the United
a citizen oi the Uri:-ed States
I have "been 1ror;.*;.'; in the
Tiorkers. I washarn in
States via New York City
at Springfield, Illinois inmines since -first joining the Uni
"I began work at Mine A in as e digger as a member of the
United Kine fiorkers. I was satisfied Ii this union until 1952 when the
Mine '1. signed up with the Progressive Him rs Union. I decided to join
the P}-L1. and was in favor oi that union. The conditions were O. K. in this
union too but I did not think there was much difference between U16? and PIN.
~
I first heard about the sale of Mine M by reading the news-
paper. I did not think anything about the sale as affecting g lob. Iattended the meeting held at Red.man*s Fall presided over my WPat which the question of going over to the United Mine nor ere was
iscussed. I attended the meeting held at the Elks Hall presided over by
B Ray Edmundson spoke at his meeting and signed up the
miners zer tne united Kine e-rkers.
I heard that Elshoff would keep I.-line 'A' closed unlessit was
operated with the UWJ and that he would operate line '1. throqgh Mine 'B.
This influenced me to join United Kine Workers which I did at the meeting
at the Elks Hall. I don't care which union I belong to just that I have
Q. Jobs _
"I have been read the within statement consisting of 2 pages and
it is all true.
- /=/
SPEC 5; F-030 Is; I110 I.//5!
Ei-fi. 2
:5.?';"§
za-1..
1.-
.4.-sr
_ -..
- -78',
I. ....§..-
. -~,.." ..__ -
. F___';
' -.§- "[1
_ 1. -0
fal» _...Y .-/Y: -
-.
. -if
"
I 1or o ,. ...,.. _-
- '-. .-I-. '_-*92 .BI '7. ;u . *-
rU._ _:
..'¢<l".lr ,
,1.
1.4!
no
Q, run-3*-"2-'=¥l'.'B92
'-'3 . .
.- .' *
ii .-o' 5:?...out
,
- .
. J19
ii:-ii;
F_92".'.n| i
o_,,o_- _, -_ "*5;-;_ _ _:~__A_,_..t____ . in _ .,...:___. ""'92~<. W our W T"
O X
. F
RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ETAL
IliTE1RVIE=f'vJITH _ Springfiold Illinois, was interviewed
!I!ni'->= Wthat ho would no o snmoh as he had very little knowledge oftho ms. 1. sat-lotion." Q has no known criminal record. Be fur-
nishod tho following signo s enont.
" Springfield, I11.
Soptombor 18, 1945
. Sprin 1'1 ld 11. do voluntarilyivo t o following Btlltoraon o pocio. gor.ts nnc-
of tho Federal Bureau of Investigation. No ~'J;roats or
promises o any kind have boon mdo to couso mo ts malco trzis canto-nont.
and oono to America.
to work
-
mgon
"1 lonrnod about tho so-lo of Mine I. from the papers. I
wnsn't much interested and didn't think much about it at the timo as tho
mine was closed."1 nus born in
boing naturalized in old,
ning UMIII at that time.
I novor hold any office --
until July 1942. At present I 1:."-..
"I hoard to-lk to tho offoot that Hr. ELSHOFF was goingto
take tho ooal out of Mine A through Hino B, but I novor hoard that Kine A
would be olossd until all the non joined UBHL. .
I now-or attended any of the moetings hold by the minors
on tho Mine A situation, oxoopt tho first ono, at PHI. H111, whore thoro
was 0. lot of arguing. I didn't wont to get mixed up in any trouble so I
novor wont 050.111.
"I returned to the mine two or throo days nftor it openod
and signed up Ulfh. at the mine before I wont to work. I remember that in-'
more docks when wo first otortod up. 17
"Both unions wero about the homo but I favor mm booaulq
it is more clomoerotio and responsive tothe rank and filo. 2 .
-520-
1
F
u
-1
-¥.T0
Q
*5,
-u
*3.
ii
I1
Ma
J
$72
LT-'92
:n§
r 1"
if
CK.4
.__1 I
17'--1,¥_
-its
.
-
A
3?. {Y1
W
_, ,_. ..e "I, i
foll owing volunJ ;
1 5
_ . _ I. -_.._- ----- -t-.___-1 ' ~-' ~ _ - _~¢'" "'I"' - - ~ _7_~_ 6;; _ _~'A_ *_*' '1
0' 0 i
- r"
ne= JOHN L. mars, sr LL
nrrsmmz n11-1~1 On September 15, 191.3~ i after» WWW1 -E 1 we senta.r1d resents an averagepp'é'*I-_a a aceirm-_
it is be ievc 1a e Y-'1 . air witness. He disclaims any criminal
record. His statement is as follows:
nnrnufinld. 111inni8
§;§>3J££;I7i3,'i5£§"'
do make the
|a.ndary s a e_vhom I lcnow to be deral Bureau 61" ,
' No threats or promises have been :-:1=.~.de to me; I have been toldInvestigation.
I need not make any statement and that this statement can be used in
court.
"I we bow ir= I we *<> *">="1< t
at Mine "A" in about R932. I belonged to the Progressive Miners unionuntil 1941 when Mine "I-." 1'-"as sold. I have never held a office in any
union. At the present time I am employed
I left Mine "A" in January of 1942. T.h:Lle'I e'P.H,I»,_"_
union I Was satisfied with the PJLA. union.
"I first found out about the sale of Mine ".1." either through
the newspaper or by a letter which I received 1'21;-m H12 Bill Ivan Q
which he said he hoped he was still my friend. Y.-hen I heard the mine was
sold my thought was that they were trying to break the Progressive union.
I realized that if I ranted to nor-k in Mine "A" that I would have to change
unions froin Pm. to U.L .Ti.
"I attended one meeting of the employees of Kine "A" presidedbyt which the sale of the mine Pas discussed, As I 0781 -
remember my Edmundson spoke and that we were given membership cards to
sign. I signed up with the U.}.!.Y . anion at that meetings I figm-ed that
Elshoff would operate the mine with the United Mine Do:-lers union only
and that I had better sign up to keep aw Job. .
"I have read the written statement consisting of one and a hell
pages and it is all true. .
wed» iFitnessed-I p
, .
.2 '.
*:
92-
-
.
IF
- 1
_....1"
:21
an
3
.5 _-as
-n
J5;
M-
;..
__?_
-. .-I.-I-if,
1.155
.92-o'l 0
as. JOHN 1.. mus, ETAL
W W Springfield,
s ..,.1.,.....
was cooperative but s no eved e d
maze a go: witness inasmuch as he was employed elsewhere at the time of thesale of Mi;_e A. P has no known criminal record. Be furnished the
following signed s a emcnt;
" Springfield, Ill.
September 16, 1945
-1.hsw1..- field, I11. do volunteri we he following statement to Specie AgentsFm No threats or ewe... of any
111 were made to cause me o he e is s atemen :-.
"I was born at I first '
started working at Mine A about joining UWIA at that time. I joined
PEA in 1952 along with the rest of the men. I was satisfied with both
unions and all I cared about was my job. I never held an office in either
union. I am presently employed at
- Springfield, 111.
"I first learned of the sale of line A frois the news-
papers. It didn't make an difference to me at that time because I wasworking for At the time of the sale so far as I
know PEA was go a o with Hr. RYAN. During the period follow-
ing the sale no one approached me and tried to get mo to join UWIA._92
"I heard tho rumors that llr. ELSHOFF was going to
close Mine A and hoist the coal through Kine B, and that Mine A wouldn't
open unless all of the miners joined UM'.*L1. I didn't pay much attention
to these rumors as I was already employed at the time.
"I never attended any meetings at FHA Headquarters,
Redmars $11, or the Elks Club, where the matter of the sale of Mine A
or change in union affiliations was discussed. .
"All I know is that when I wont back to the nine .
after it reopened I had to join 'Ul&L1. .
"Tho only difference I noticed at line .5 was that
you got more docks under UWIA, and for that reason I favored PIA.
525 -
>
a
. - 5
-"Li
¬y .
I-H 92j.._--~
1*
fr-'
~?;
3.-é. L4. '
3
'3 75"';- 5-; ._;.'_,_. --I *'-..<_-§.'-" "-1:5_- __;_
-. v ~
.-'._'.!_'.
v.,-_Pr
I.-'m
.. __,
E L-TQj§
i"~-- - 5.1
_ i'
92
_ _____._~ {_@n T7" '. ~
ERVI , I have read the above statement oon;iIti"$ °£mges The 83% 15 tI""l1Q E-nd G@'rQ° 6c" ' O
RE _;Q;§1.L. X.E'iIS, E"Il:.L
' /=/ i
tnessed
Springfield»Ill15 .
I H
-.
r
;=
he
1- --
F.
.8? :I» 2it,
-4,-
-I-
1%.-
1
2.
75..
,1--»
I2.
'-
6
-I
,.',T-i-',
_ .
5
~r._:=.
.92:.32;?
$1.-
ii
1&-
.£
- -LT
5..
.¢» -7-
; .
F nk __P____ _ __ . * _ :1 7 7' "'7" "
;=- O
Re: JOIN L. Lens, ET 41..
INTERVIEW iITH Spr ng ie , no , was e ember
. ' ' n 8 h by S"e° W " Ihad difficulty in m ers -
tions asked of him, but he responded in a cooperative way. It is not
believed that he would make a good witness, He said he has no criminal
record. His statement is as follows:
"Springeld, Illinois
September 1'7, 1943
the following
voluntary stateme whom
1 know to be Special Bureau
No threats or promises of any kind have been made to me; I have been
told l need not make any statement and that this statement can be used
in court.
I entered the UnitedStates at New ox-k City about I Ecane a nlralized citizen ofthe United btates at Springfie , 1. in-"I was born in
at that time -1 belonged to the United fire "-J1"!-tare.
fhe union at this time seemed to get along all right with the J-line =5.-
I was in favor of the change to the Irogr;::-ive Mine iiorkers because Ire
thought we would have better conditions. I liked the Progressive Line
workers union during the time I belonged to it as I felt it represented
the miners. I would belong to it now if I had my own way."I am now em loyed at liine 'A' as a digger. I have been employedhere since about i
"I heard about the sale of I-iine A to Carl Elshoff through
the newspaper and through my fellow miners. I also received a letter
from Bill --y-an saying he had sold the mine and that I was no longer an
.-.._....1....-.-.,. ..t .A-..-. IA; I A-'L..._.-.~92-.+ a-Q.-.-.4 ..-.-..- -I.-J-. .---..- .-..-.1-V. .--.l.-as-=~ T in-inn!CEIIPLUJCC U1 *"J.JrC I1 | J. LrJJUU6lJ|-I 14114.2-Ln 111-! JUU "CID 5U'hU hill-I-CDC $ JU-I-ll925U>
the United Hine workers.
"I was satisfied with the way the Progressive 1'l'ine Workers
handled grievances with hiine A.
"I heard that Elshoff was going tocperate line 'A' through
Nine IB' and that he wouldn't operate hiine '4' unless it was under the
United Kine aforkers. I didn't think Elshoff would reopen Mine 'A' mder
the -Yrogressive P-line =:ork9I'S and so I voted w become a United ne '=-Iorlcer
so I could keep my job. These stories which I heard from the other
miners influenced me to become a United 1-Line --orker.
"I did not attend any of the meetings of the employees of line '1'
at which it v::-1: decided to .-zoom? United ne "or};:..o. I decided to join
" 925.-
E
I
pa
--we
. 4.92
.4,-, >
- ,-
*-.---Ar
Ii-
,-.
:--.
-'
-
[ .
é -% ._i....___...'- i-. 1,,-W - *v~~ -;.,_,_-,, ---4-- _._ --,__,_,»¢_ _._ii ,_ .u i_r: __', _ _ i _ ___ _
Re: DIN L. LE'IS, ET AL
by
"mm
" /5/C ' O '
" up with Um because the majority of the nan
voted to go over.
&5S8d3
Special Agents, .1-HSpringfield , IllinoisI
I
Gortinued!
"Pnis stat,eme_nt of two and a fraction lnges has been read to mein the presence ofnd it is all true
/we
-326-
; 4:F,-Di
2
,5
E
1
58
E3
cl
.
'='
';?-'2
:51.
0an
he
,"_ "u. _g$7.
¥
: <"';_r.T
g
F -- -"
Fl
L.1_ A " T
Vi_ _ ;__* , __ _ _V _ A _ ____ _ .. T, _ _l- .___.. ._ __:._l,l______.:,~_¢_: ,7 _A___,:.___l-_-_ _,_- "" o" :- ._ .- ..».;.,.. ~..-1.: -
O ' O
Re: JOB! L.,LE.vI'.[S, ET LL-
Ea -ma i
Street, -5pringfield, Illinois interviewedhis home by Special Agenan appeared cooperative but it is not e
tha e we a cod witness because of his ignorance of the lne '1"
situation. has no known criminal record. He furnished the
following signed eta ement.
"Springfield, Ill,
September 1'7, 1943
011,' d the Federal Bureau of nves iga ion. 0 threats or
promises en made to cause me to mice this statement.
"J- was born in I just startedworking at lhne A in !01I11I"g Irina at that ti|me. I have never held
an office in any mien I was at Mine A when PW» was formed and joineddo volmtaril makethe followin statement to pec a gen an H
ve -
up Progressive with the rest of the miners there. I think that the twounions same. At present I'm working at_
I learned of the sale of Mine A from the newspaper, and I figured
that 1 would either have to Join UIHA or lose my job. _ '' - -1.
"I never heard any talk to the effect that Mr Elshoff was
going to close Mine A and hoist coal through Kine B, oi-' that ltine A
would open only if all the miners joined Ill-Lia. '
"I can't clearly recall attending any meetings at PEA Hall,
Bedmans Hall, or Elks Club where the sale of Mine A was discussed.
I was out of town for a few days visitingWhen 1 came hack I heard that the men were 01 ! L! QMine A was going to open up. I remember coming over to my
house and asking me to come to special mee ng. ems to me that I went
to the meeting and Joined UILA at that time. a I don't recall the meeting
place, or any particulars of the meeting. . _ Q
"I returned to 1-inc Awhen it opened as a I "A member. -I remember
that we had an excessive number of docks after we returned to work. - ' '
"If I had a free choice I would choose Progressives because
they treated me better. . The ULLIA gave me a bad room over at liine A and
I t -1 1-»-
92
. 2
:-5
' I
5
..
.,'
v_-'.#' .1I'_92'
~4 ?
,3; 4
P1:
pw
~.-:~"
-.¢'...l -_~'--.*' !_-11?
,__ m__,,__ _ __ _:; - 7 ~ 7 ~-- _l ---4- ~A ~-- -*~_~_ v -P M,_ A :
R JOIN L LENIS, ET AL
11v1E.RVIE.- JIT1-1 "I have had the above atatement consistingi of 1 3/4 Pages read *0 === by AW l
The same is true and correct.
M i
Sprlngfxeld, Ill
F I
' '92
_~...I£11
ab
nu-
I
' '
.w'
_.,.-.
_-» u-1 .92-F
-Q.
,92
I: .1
.
-W
* :
..
-z-
I?-
7-
_.;92n .
Q*
.1 LL .,-¢¥.
.;,¢A.._-1~
V 7
» Z
3. .
g *|. 1_ _ __ __._. .. . ____. ___- - i~_,"_ - ;_-- ~ ~ ,~_,+~,,: 7 '. P e >___, W ---;-'---_ _n -c _ ~
O ' O
RE: JOHN L. LEEIS, ET AL.
" I T
. at his home by Special &gent*
as very coopcra Vinasmuch .3 1,. ... ....,when Mine 1: changed from Pm to mt-ii. 9 has no known criminal
record. He furnished the following signe s atement:
"Springfield, Ill.
September 15, 1943
1-. "1, Sprin field I11. dovoluntarily m owin statement to Special -¢1gents n _ an oi the Federal Bureau of .
No rea s or promises of any ind were made to cause me to make this
statement.| |
"I was be
the 5 in
am a _ am employed as 0. trip
rider. I have been an employee of Kine A since 1953 or 1934. Before
starting at uino A I had joined PHA while working at Peabody lline #59 in
1932. I was in favor of the split and the new PEA at that time and they
always treated me alright.
I found out about Hr. Ryan selling the mine to Hr. Elsho from
the newspaper and from a letter Hr. Ryan sent to all the miners. It made
me kind of sick when I first found out about it as I figured that we were
going to have trouble again. _
Up till the time Hr. Ryan sold liine -h he was getting along
fine with H11. and I was satisfied with HM; at that time,
"1 don't recall any rumors to the effect that Hr. Elehoff was
going to close down liine A and hoist the coal through Hine B, or that
Mine A would open only if the miners joined U!-E.-il. _
"I attended one meeting at BIA Headquarters where the men dis-
cussed what was going to be done about the sale of the mine. The regularPl-IA officials were in charge of the meeting. The mecti92ng was just sort 01'
an uproar and nothing much was done. The men decided to d see howt n to come out. Jbout that time I went td worked c few days and when I came ac e no
was runn ng again. -
"1 heard that the men had one or two meetings after I left and
- 529-
tn
5
1
1
V
P
§wa-
-=1:
-1 .';92_-'4
_-2;9
}
v,/'
0' 0
RE JOE L. 13.518, ET Al»
IHTEHVIE5 "' the majority voted to join Ulfiik.
continued Hack Keir-ra, Supt. at line A came after
me and asked me to some back to work,
and I signed up with _U}.ETi4 the next day. All the men who signed up at
once didn't have to pay any initiation fee-
_ was I leader in swinging the lline A men buck into
UL?-'I.A. I h1e_rE.Yn_wFTFf1d I've heard him say that he favored U-I575, my be-
fore the mine was sold. I recall him saying several times, "v'i8'd be I
dam sight better Off if we were MR1".
"I have read the above statement consisting of two pages and
the same is true and correct.
/=/
-"itne s so d :
B.I. Springfield, I11. "
0
Q
-330-
5
ina1 r
*'_
~ .1-
5.3' Q
re
£7
" '11?
r"-,
,,_ .i.- "'_p.1 - '
3
5%-
Ye-' . f-1'.
,
1?
>..
u
1
-'.=..-1
:5ewe?
-F-1*;
.
*4» Jrft?-r i
- -Q.-§.§F ..
0 ~' 0 -
/
Re: J0me 1,. :.:-':.i;,, :1" AL
IHTERVIE'IITHSpringfield, Illinois, was jo n I at
his I e on S 14 1943 by Special
and tated he did not attend
any PEA noetin s when the d had little knowledge
or ndor t n ncerni c is rosentl QJ . . 3 ' ners at Mine tuned UHF an _i ;. '1 Fir th itter under iniuiii H i if
oxecutod thofollowing statement:
Springfield, Illinois
September 14, 1943
statement mfgAgents of the Fedora u!
" was born at]
both addressee e ng pr ngfield,
Illinois.
"Thc last time I worked at Ifinc *5 was in June, 1942.Agents
the following voluntary
whom I know to be Special
. S. Department of Justice-
"I119 rtartod working in coal mines as a digger, working in
the Old Fleet -1 0, Springfield, I11, under tho United Liinc Workers oi America,
which will be referred to hereinafter as the L157. I worked a a digger inMine A off and on from-to 1942. I have never held an office in a mine
union.
"1 have no opinion to express regarding the formation of the
Progressive Kine Union of America, which will be referred to hereinafter as
tho PEA, in 1932.
For several years before 1932 I worked under the UHF as_cheok
weighman. At the time ?";.2A organized I had been defeated for the job oi
check Ieighm:|.n and had become 0. coal digger again. .
rK
s
n
5
1,.
,J-1
H
92. _
"!*"' .
.>j;.:..~ .-f- I
30
P
ss1a
,5?
"as4 '1
First...
Y -._;_
4
.-4. .
1;,.5 7
' .1;-,=.r.__. -1-
_*.,;.-,7J-$1!
7"!-D-.
L-
~--".
':I I
- " " " A o --* ~~~~ * W 4* *** -r -- ---,1 '11: 1;? ' :i *- ~ A~ ... .___.aa__._..¢'__.v:;-n._..--~ _ i_-_-_7-_ _
C ' O
Re: wen ;_ 1yj7;_ ET AL
" - "It was the general opinion among the miners that
Elsheff would try to swing the mine from PEA to
Continued UM? like he had at Hine B. I felt this way tee
I think tho_PMA were more honest at Hine A than the UHF had been
and that chc tin wanted the PEA to remain as the bargaining agent there. ;
"I heard the miners talking about the fact that Elsheff would try
to take the eoal out of the South section of Mine A through Hind B. I did
net draw any conclusions. The e rumors did not influence me to join the UHF.
"I am sure I did not attend any of the PEA meetings at all when thr
men at mine A. signed up with UHF. I had no interest tn going to any
meetings either to vote or to li ten to any talks. I wanted to stay away
' d id d whatfrom all union affairs so I Just waited until the miners had ee e
union they wanted and I joined iith the majority.
nil-L.-. 4-1. . rnr .....4- 4-1.... 92.. ,. -1...: 4 L4-ni nu? nut: uign 5. . mu, uaT5;,E.|.u.|.: 1'.|.5";uvF 31'» M133 A in "
.1.became rapidly worse than when the mine was operating under the
Elshoff brought in a couple of Peabody Mine 'Faee' bosses from
Peabody Kine #63 and #59. These bosses tooh an insolent attitude toward the
miners. They tried to make slaves of us.
"The UHF fined me illegally. There was no hearing, no trial, and
no charges presented against me.
I have read this statement consisting of two and one half pages
and it is true and correct.
'itnessed:
=isn@d!
1 c!aIIentFBIpe 92 .
nod!
pecia gent F.B.I.
-v
... -
Jr.
-I;., ~~--- -~----'--~---~-'7 " * * es ~ ~" i **"wy i - >_* 1~---:~ -r .__
e 0 Ar T1:
.-;._;_ -
at .
flee
.~__~' 5"-3:;
._" -
'._{1. '-.21., .,
~ -L4
92:-'
.5 .-~
.~--;-.
Ea
.1.
.,
414-5
~~I~.-
.'. 3'
|
r
i
~ - 533 -RB: JOHN L. L1-I.1s, ET 1.1..
INTERVIE. KITH Pmg 1° ' ° 3 "-B "18 one by Special £.gen* ndCl nnnnnnnrl nnn1I:1+§92? H111. . I8 HO. Q
...,;,<.».<=»n....';;"§2;§E..E"Z£"£§;;Eu{;;1';{' 235; ';£i=£'T=;
adopted and his lack of knowledge of pertinent facts. as no
known criminal record. He furnished the following signed statemen .
"Springfield, IIL1I September 13, 191:3
Tnu.-.1. ... l!=lI1!, -I ..|- aland who have made themselves known
aau of Investigation. No throats or promises .
of any kind have been node to cause me to make this statement.
"I vas born in an cane to America in we naturelize at pIing ield, l in I first JoinedIL. Il.I'l§n I begen to York in the pringfield. I
have never - an office in anv union. am p e tly employed at
Mine I-. st-artining in Nev.-
"I was neutral torards either III-5.4. or FLU. in 1932. All I 1-as in-
terested in at that tine vrs keeping car job. I Joined Progressives
at Ltlne A but did so only because I wanted to keep aw Job. '
"In the surzner of 191.1 I hoard that Hr. Evan had sold Kine A to
Hr. Elshoff. My 1'ifc also road about the sale to no from the paper.
hhen I heard the news I decided to go along Yith the majority arid if Hine
J. front Uile. I decided I 1'='ould_n't be rst and 1 1¢eu.ldn't be last to Join
U1£.A. The P13, took care of no Just about as good as nor, I was not ap-
proached by any organizers to Join ELLA. I
"I heard nearly all the men talking about Ilr. Elshoff going to take
the coal out of liino .1. through lino B. I hoard this talk in Beer
Tavems when I was talking with the other miners. I Was scared that I
vould lose my bread 6.; butter ii this rras true. I thought that I would have
to look for another job. -
"I don't recall hearing amrthing about Mine A being opened if all
the mm rould join I15-It. .
"I attended a meeting at the ks lub on Sunday. Best of the
miners from Hine A rare there. sked no to come come to
K/pad
F
|_.
F
F
P
0
.-4
4.
:15?
~..
ll
.4".
..-.-I-2*1 '.
4-,
"n .
-E;
a
Pia:..- 92-n-. -J .. Q
Ef. _ __.__..__.,__......_...-_. 1 . .»- ' ~-.= --'-_'-. __ __ .__ .. __ .*_* _ _,_ _ ¥ _i_r_ _: __;iV _ 7 i _ _ A Q
R2: JOHN L. LEIS, ET LL.
IIJTEEKFIE, LIT}-1 that meeting. I don't know who Ian in charge
of that meeting. Four or five men talked but
the only one I remember was the last one rho
talked, Hr. Educmdaon. .'~-o ell voted to ioie TEEFA. I Ties influenced to
vote U1 so I Eould keep qr job. LEI. Ednondaon promised to take care of '
all the 1""-r1¢:ers. -
"I member of any Committee during this time. Before the
closed d::*"n P151. it "res good. I-hen We first vent back to vork in
there was an avful lot of docks but not-' it is alright again. ninc
191.1
"I have had the v>11mtar'_; stntcment node by I1=; consisting of 2 pagesto 110 by ;;;ent who some is true a'~.;l correct and I do hereby
ny nane.
/F Qroad
sign
"iiitnessedg
/s/
Spec I."
r
- 534-
K
F
i|
J
1
2
E t
3
r
yr
13
a{L
."=
.' ... '. _$'¢',
I-2'3
;",92'
3.
..--
,{:f§-i
1,.__'f I.r .
-is "
.%_¥__
1-.-.-15;: I,_ ...
I "I.-51'. _ _» 1..
.. - .2319?
f.*E.
5
in92 ' f
II-B ~ -~*i';*"I . ~1-_-r ~ - V V A. A 7 _,_______ _, i:__. .. _-_,-___A, see _ -_ - -, _ .__,__,.i_,__._,,._.__...._...._...' I
Q F C; Pi
v=- Jenn L. Lswls, ET Ar
Strleet, !prin ' Illinois, was 1| %8IV'l!!8!gg --s-tmbor 1'? ' - Swcisl lights eo%PP°"' =° ben *2 . a a ' ir 111 0 e events under inquiry It 1 e -Llf; r =1 a erstan b .
is belie-.-ed that he will make a good witness. He disclaims any criminaliNTERJIE'§ .". 92
reeord. -
His statement is as follows:
"Springfield, Illinoil
Se Isobar 17, 1943
mi
Illinois do 1T.3.k'_ the following, voluntary sta
and whgm 1 1;; b/_~ SpecialBureau olnm lga on. No throats or promises of any kind have been
made to me; I- have been told I need not make any statement and that this
Statement can be used in court. V
"I re , 1.L.L1nO1S .
and we-.s born in I first wasemployed a orkers at that 'o
time. ted Hino "orkers but
I have er I am presently employed - Jat Mine "A" as s digger. I have been employed at lline "A" since -
Prior to 1932 1 was not satisfied with the United Hino 5"ork<2r's
Organization because the officials did not truly repr-isent the miners and
they seemed to play into the hands oi the mine operators. Being dis-
satisfied with the union I was in favor oi the switch over to the Progres-
sive Mine '"'orkers.StlI felt that the Progressive Mine orkers Union was a
good OI'¢5<';1'1iZ.ilI.iO!l, represented the miners ami was conscientious in handling
grievances. There was no trouble oetsoon F.ii.¬'.'. and the operator oi b
Mine "A" up until the sale of Mine "A".
- I first read about the sale of Kine "A" by reading it in the
-...--..,_.,---- I knew i__;x,nnediatc1y that Elshoff would operate the mine with
miners from the United Pine orkers and that my job was probably gone un-
less I was able to join U H 31'. . El"i.D921'R!'lf-1 DIETS _
"I heard that '1-lshoff was going to operate lline "A" through
lino "B" and thtzt he would only opcrete Him ii with U ii Ta minors. I
heard these rumors at tho meetings the employees oi Him "A" held to do-
cide whet they were going to do. I 1'1,-gurod that these stories were true
and that I had better join the U.H.TI. if I Y-'i1.!'ll¢:d to keep my Job.
-335-.-
'92
-=._ ;
is- ns
ii
z
3'!
. F 3
_ Q
=
s-
.- S
-h- ,.~ ..3 ,
/30 -
pf
Z
6
. _>'
{n
.,::-
_-
3 Z2.92 F3;=..
.1O Q I I
In.
4
RE: JOHN L. I.E.fTS, ET--'-1
INTBRVIE-7 TTITH "I attended the meetings which the lline "Ii" miner: '
hold presided over the meetings held
con lllc at Redman s a at the Elks Hall. I also
. attended another meeting at the Prop-essive E5114-
At the first meeting ar=;Au::|cnt5 took place as to whether or not the men
should join U.1-!.I{.- At the next mes n-' I attended held at Redmors Halla C_om;;ittoe on which were and
was appointe_d*to g6 and ice Hr Eho and get His opinion.-l!c !ora.F cc reported back to the miners on the following Sunday after~
noon at the Elks Club and said that Oscar Falcetti, the super, said that
the men could either ch:-ongc; to U.M.ZI. or he would hoist the coal out
through Mine "B" shaft. Then the miners voted to Join £.'.lI.TI. After that
a committee went out and get Roy Edinmdson of U.H.'.J. and he came ever
and made a speech in which he promised the men all the rights and privi-
leges of the U.1'J.'*.'[. and p1"OZ.1iS0d the men that there would be no initiation
fee. About 150 to 200 miners Joined up there and then. Ednundson said
that he would got a contract from Elshoff or call a strike of the men at
Mine "B". He also told us to go out to the Hint the next day and we
could go to work. I did. go out the next day and we-nt right to work using
the s-:4: check nu._.ber as when I had quit 5 months before. The next morn-
ing I rend in the paper that Elsheff had signed a contract the preceding
night. There is no question in 1:15: nind that the whole procedure was pre-
arranged between the United X-line iiorkers and lshoff apd that Edr:.{undson'a
talk about calling a strike was just so much "hot air. "
' "I -voted to switch over to the U.II.T.', because the writy
had decided to go over and because I was convinced I couldn t go back to
work as ' a Progressive miner. If I had my own free choice in the matter
I vuuld still be a nenbtr of the PI"![;I0S5iVl} Mine "orkers because my
vote would then mean souethin,-p and the officers would be responsive to
the rank and file members which is not true in the United Mine "or-kers.
"I have road the within statement consisting of four and a
fraction pages and it is all true." ' - '
/°/_
$PI'il1=_{fi0ld, Illinois"
- 556 --h_____74__ _ ______ 7 _;__;,-- ~ _:_ -- f"; --I ' _dr*92-1~ ~___ 7 ?92
'1gt
3
"v..-9
vi
.92 .
, '5
v
.§
ii;?
IE:
J:
<s
ea
r
n
_-
Q
:3
in ~71
' ~
i-
"s5.
xi-A
-it_...» .* 9292
W i_ _ A _* _ k ___ _V N _ W __ _, i7__ :__,_ A_;,__,- A -_ 74-1-
0 O
W. Ls ET I. J
1
IITTERVIETI T.I'rs 111i.n=>1I.
-"_" "-""' by Special
ties or a reluctance to about uion .
activities. was friendly, but he did not furnish much important
information. not commit himself as to his willingness to testify. ,
He said he has no criminal record. The following signed statement was obtained:
gpringfield, I11. -
September 14, 19415.
:11! make the followina; voluntary statement to 'hom I know to be Special gents of the Federa
gurecu cg Investigation, 0? my own free will, with no throats or promises'
made to me, _ _I
-1 we in =the United States in F i ' " '
w s naturalized before
cld, and 'and derived my citizenship throu h father, who
was twenty-one. I am living at E
» am working at Mine A. I joined the . . .
a member of that union util 1932, when I joine e I18
ve "erkers of Americas I an e member of the U.!.H= at the M
. 4agree
esent
P H I was satisfied to go wi h t e major ty,
d hnv ions. Both uions have treated me all
ght, h eitmru _ "' fact that the union at Mine A changed from U.H..
t h 1
I don't know just when it -
4
pr time.
"In 1952, the
to . .A. made no differ
en e seen no differe
ri and I have no kic
"I don't knowC
n un
It
' no 5. now.nce to mo.
ce in the
coming wit
who owns H1
1
>if.
0 A Q _
RE: JOHN L. I_,FZ'.'iI8, ET ILL-
IITFEHVIEZ '.'ITH I didn't. I also heard, from other men Firound Spring-
thnt if I wanted to go back to work in the mine, ..L:ontinue!_ I'd have to Join U.L1.TI, It made no diiferenee to me,
If the majority of the men wanted to swing over to U-.lI.'C-,
it was nil r.*g;':1t with mo} I'd be satisfied under either union. I have no
preference . .
I have had the foregoing, consisting of approximatoiy two pages,
read to me, and state that it is true to the best of my Imowledge.
Z"
on ,/8,/ i.
, isgcnts, FBI, Springeld, I11= ' '
92
~-Z?P iv..
_ I._ _92:_ .gr -;..
we-
3
-e
. 'D'92
_i_ L
' wa5.
>.- -,-. .
F
i
E
-338-
p
v-...
C
$3Q
-u'-E.-.3.
ts;5? .
3i
. .--..
<-.1 In
t. .
ta.
t-_ '
.4
_ 1. I.4 Z._..
-e
'9'vi
.,;'»
'9.-_;'
Q
'. 1.
.-_.!<
.-=
3
;-
5|.
we .4.
1.7-"92
, , ._ ~ ~ » -45- : 4..-1, - _, _~ ;- e-~,-- 1- g-11;; , :3 _ , __ _ _:..,_l_-a __- ~_:..___ __ an
C= ' O
Re: JOIN L. LEWIS, ET AL. .
. .,-,.- .gpringfield, 111., was interviewed at s res!!n!cn September 14, 191.3 by Special gentand This man understands English fairly we an can
exp:-e * . he said he has no criminal record.
d that his rst name1.. .......-. ...t.h
statement.
""pringiield, Ill.
September 11-, 191.3ss n.ms-.. ln a lT'L.
willing to testify
but he always signs
furnished the following
the following *.rcluntary state-
ment DO nu ".lu.=i I ICTIOW trO be sP¬Cia-1.Agents of the e era Bureau 0! Low. ion, of my mm free will,
with no threats or promises mde to me.
"1 am living at Springfie1d I1l., andan workin at Panther Crsex ne_ 0. 1.. was bo in Pand came to the united States 11% wasa ura ize 1 Springfield mg I joined the . . . in Spring-
field in and was a membe o hat union until 1932, when the
local at I-one A, w -1 was working, swung over to P.!.192. I workedat Mine A mtil, when I quit and began working at
Panther Creek. I was in avor of the switch from U.l&.'iI'. to P.ll.A.,
because I felt we had better conditions with that union. I always
liked the P.1:.s. better than the UJLW.
"In September of 191.1 I saw a notice in the paper that
Elshoff had bought line H from Ryan. I was sore about it because I
liked the way Ryan ran 2. mine, and because -L didn't want to work
under a company that had had all the trouble Elshoff had had at ine B,
At a P.M.k. meeting, I heard that Elsho might operate Mine R from
Mine B, and figured that this would put me out of a job unless I
joined the U.lLW. I also heard in a P.M.h. meeting that Elsho
wouldn't open up Mine 1- unless it opened up U.ll.I. I didn't like
the idea, but had to do it, because I couldn't get a job anywhere
else at that time.
"I went to some of the regular P.H.i1. meetings, but I don 't
remember being at any meeting where a special committee was apointed,
or where such committee made any report. I attended a meeting of '
the 1.l1.A. one Sunday evening at the Ike Club. I signed up with the
U.H.I'. at that time. 5-dmundson spoke at this meeting and said that
when the mine joined the U.H.i?., the Mine A would reopen. I don't
-339-
-Av
a?
5
.'F 4
*1-1:
.:.3I -r-nu.-.. .
-.> '1
iI
E .
,___v,,. , ___,_ ,__. .~;__,,,_. ::§ _,4.A~~~+_-, _- _ --- - -- A -e -- 4 - in -I. _- _*-,~ <1; ~+~ *~ -*~-L-
.0 ' O
Re: JOIN L. LEWIS, ET AL.
INTERVIEW WITH know who led the meeting. Ho one tbrced me_ to join the UJL". The entire local went. I
'1uGLLuuvu/ '" * I had to join to keep my job.
,gndor Ryan, when the P.H.A. had the union, there weren't
any docks. ~£ter the U.M.". and Elshoff got in, there were many docks,
and no explanltion for them. I quit Nine A because I didft get_en0"8h
air down in the mine, and also because 1 was getting docked so much.
1 did't like working there under the U.H.n. with the officers they had.
sisting of about two pages, read
532+, hf yrnr 92n92r-?_!IF*|'92Db- Y U. II l92IJ92- lI92-b".
he foregoing
-1 1- §92n9292c; +r92LC? U1. Mb UH
- /5/
ngents, !.!.&.
Springfield, I11."to me, and s " * "
1,
E,
-
--»
-4..
:-
I-
r
.92 .;;-;
if
J
.-,, 3,
1. -1.L ', I.~, 's-1' '5.e-_. .- -
rg
P.-'1"
.""=
r?¥1
I
-1-4.
.."
as-IQ
5 .
'~"- -._ _ i
_ .. _:_.;.;__, .___ -- __ I WA, W - -- ;~ -_AAW~ _,*; - ~ - -- ----1---- ~ ; - V - -- ~_; ;' ~ _* 7 vo o a.'| - ,.,'.7_ - -o. 1 15 -' 92I92n
.C ' K' 0
RQIQAJOBN L.-LE'.;IS, ET Lo
| Q
INTF-RV H-i '--ITH 5P='1"811°1¢-t Illinois was jointly interviewed s. his residence onSeptember 14, 194: by Special Agentsa.nd This individual is presently employs y an r
Cree inc 1-re, Springfield, Illinois, which is a I-HA mine. E can read
English, was cooperative, and answered questions in a straight forward
manner. He was under the impression Elshoff would force liine J; employees
to join U111? stating he know Kine B would not open until Elshofi had signed
with EMT. He executed the following written statement:
"Springfield, Illinois
September 14, 1945 _
make the following i01unts.r'y statement
whom I know tH_'5e Special Agents
on, U.S.Department oi Justiee. .
"I presently reside at Springfield, _
Illinois, and I am employed at the C eolc l-line , Springfield, as
I was born in I arrived in the U.S. 1'.
the Port of New or . was Naturalized at Springeld, Illinois
in _ The first mine union I joined was the United Him orioers of
America referred to hereinafter as the Ul-T, at the Peabody Kine #6, nea.r_Sherman: Illinois in November- I worked in Hines in the Bpringfioldarea fret. to 1935. _
On 1935 I started working at Mine A as a member
of the Progressive iiine norkers of Amer refe d to hereinafter as the 1 worked at tht mine until x quit on that date as
the I-anther Creek Mine #6 was closer to my one, and I started working
there. 1 I
I was working at Peabody Mine #57 at Springfield in 1932 when
that mine went FHA. I went along with the majority and voluntarily joined
that union, to have steady work. I never had any trouble with any union.
After I joined the Hid I liked that union.
I heard that Elshofi had bought Mine L through the newspapers.
I also heard a rumor that the mine would open under the I117. I thought
I might lose my job if we did not sign up with the Uh'T|, as Hine 3 did not
open until they signed with the III-5'1. I decided to go with the majority.
The mine under the 1-LIA and Hr. Ryan was operating satisfactorily.
"I heard rumors that Elshoff might operate Hine A through Kins
B, or on the condition the men would join the Ulf-"i. I do not know the
source of the rumors or whether they were true. It loobed like Elshoff was
I
-341-
J3
k.
-1
-....
,§§
=.-3 -'_92
5*:
.f
é
5
L. 5 .I " Q _ i
_ **___.._... ___ . A _. - - <1; _ AA_ -'_- ee,~_~A ~- -- ~ ~ '~ -: -54 _: _A_ e ~*, ~_ -4---.. , r .1 - I _ .
o 0 _
92
I
RE: JOE L. LEWIS, ET AL.
}92"" P F" ' going to force the miners to join the U15? if they
vmnted to work. I decided to do what the mojority
tgqntinuedj iid &bCUt thiiq
I only ettencled two meetings of the PEA hefcre the mine!!! at
Line A joined the ULITJ. Both of these meetings were helt. in the I!-51. Hall,
n.m_l I saw ii ncticc cf the meetings on I: bulletin board at 12118 PJIL H511. '
1:1 think the President of the Local at llino 1.,
phonetic! took chm-go of the first meeting. at this nest D, tr
was decided. There were arguments for and against going; over to the ULTI.
There were no fights and es for as I know, no 'LT1.E'Fi er;nnize1's were present.
".1-.1: the second meeting I think em President of the local
was in charge. Nrthing wc.s decided at this meeting. There was 0. fight
on the stairway. I was in the hall, and did. not see it. They were both
PEA men, as far as I k:n.>w. I did not take an active part in the meeting
and I was not on any ccmriittoos. No I1!-.iTf members were there to my knowledge.
No one told me I bed to join the U53.
I did not go to the Elks Fliub when they votcni for the ii.1Ti]
but scmocno told me about it lotor. I knew that since the IILE1 wen the
vote, it would be necessary for me to jcin the IILITJ in order to go back to
work. "
"on ? I went to the mm office and signed
a membership card. I t n conditions at the mine under the Utwns aboutthe some as befcre the 1.1I.I.'|'1-ms there. I quit on and went
to the Panther Creek liine #5 and joined tho FHA, us o o nearer to my
home.
"I have read and I understand enough English so that I under-stand each of the three pages of this statement, ancl I wish to so. that
it is the truth to t-1'2 best 2-! Q lo-1c*w1orlg_;o=was present during the time this statement we
has read the three pages oi this statement.
W
Yiitnossed: .
i .n em, m. -
...If592-'92
§
5._Qs'O._,
Q. .,_
.__l
.- .....-.:_ Q;
3'.
1.. ._._
92__.,..
.. "9
£1:
155
IF ,9
'-hf
.;_. {T1I
.§£
" 1-";,~3.
._ .¥
'¢'-'5'-+92
>5:
.3 -- _,|-t__ .-.1»~-
S __.
.$- .'.-'3, '
.4v-~-I Q -.2,q'l
r - s " ' ' -- *' """A-I**'" "''~ *' "*4' ' "**< <7 ____ e_~_-1.7- ,:- _'~_-- . __,,_'..--W L
G ' Q
Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
INTERVIEW WITH 1943, Special
the time of this
th s tuat onwas ve at
em to have a very good understanding so
of e i i at Hineaa duri iod in question. He appeared to be
an honest and reliable person. advised that he has no criminal
record. It is felt that he would be a willing but poor witness should his
testimony be necessary.
_ge.ve the following signed statement:
"I ive the
& w o are own to
No threa s or promises have been made
"I have been working at Mine
a digger was born in
was about yrs. o1d_ ave eengpringfield, I!!.
Sept. 16, 194$ _
following information to?me to be Spec. Agents of the .I.
ne to get mo to give this information.
A for yrs. and am still there as
I came to the U. S. when I
c1 izen for about
"I joined the P.H.A. in 1932 I was glad to do this and was always
pleased with the Progressives. I heaFd from the other miners in 1941 that
Elshoff had bought the Mine A and that if we wanted to go back to work
we would have to go back to U.H.W. When we heard that Elshoff had bought
Mine "A" everyone was worried, when we had Bill Ryan it was nice working
there. No one came to my hone ts see
that Elshoff might close Mine "A" andme about going back to U.M.W. I heard
take coal out through Kine 'B __the
men were all talking about this. I didn't think this would be done I thought
it was to expensive. I heard that if we all went back as U.H.. Elshoff would
open Kine VA" otherwise he would not open it. I felt bad about this because
I had worked there a long time and jobs were scarce. I felt I either had
to go back to U.H.W. or be out of a job. I guess everybody felt like that.
'1 only went to one meeting around this time that was at Elks, I
heard about some others but 1 smut go. I heard rroi the other men thit
the meeting was to be held at the Elks. I think Edmundson was brought over
to the meeting after we took the vote. All I heard was that if we went back
U.M.W, the mine would open otherwise it wouldn't. I just vcted along
with the rest of them to g3 back to U.H.W. because otherwise we would be
out of work, we had already been off about 6 months. I know Edudson gave
a talk and afterwards we may have signed.cards_ I am not sure about this.
~ 343 - "
Y 1-
Q
1%.
'Q
~a
-f
- 1
..
'1.
_,. .
é
ea1-
c
53»
;.-'
fa's~ ..
/1.
..¢
1'":
|,"F
5
E_ _ __4 ____ ____ __ __ 4-~'__ -l_._¢- -__ -- - _- __;_A___ H4 _A A___- -- 1----;-7 -- ~ -- -- _:;:_____;_- i _ - A, _.-_92/. 92.
._ A
9
C*e O
Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
in.-.v-.4--I 1 I9292-wuuua H-After the meeting at the Elks Club I returned home at
The whole local went back to U.M.W. as a group and
11 h 1 izned anvthinz. ConditionsQ1336 I
I dent
at ti;FARE. Q1701 8.1 DE I '"- "' """D -9 '-' I 1-I
_mina were better under P-M.A. than they are new
under U.H.W. The dues are about the same.
. III have had Agent Read this 2 page statement to me as I can
not read english. This is a rue and correct and just as I have told it
to the Agents. I am signing this of my own free will.
Witnesses:
a we-Q1S
Special Agent, F.B.I..
St. Paul, Minn.
_<sig=e<1>
Spec. Agt. FBI Mi1w.!
Qnv-§1'92nT"i¢>'| §- T11-Hr. - U- -H--, _.---
Sept. 16, 1943" Smed-:IOIIIOIIIOI1QIIIlIUQIlOOOIIIOIIII
I siB'ned!-HIIIIIIIIIIIIII '
E'-
'92
ti
R
E
M
12
5*:
_LuF .
I
s:
:1»:
ta
14$
J viT!
in
-.-1 -:
we-_.'»T
in __ .
dot
iii:
$1
i .
~-
..r-'
72".
T, --',1--;:=,»92-
.,._ __
F;
E
Fin] smear 1;-rm F
P3
I at his residmce,92 -a V
" ' ' .." ff. 7' "- -. O i , ' O d I
re: JOHN L. mus, or AL
Illinois on september 15,- 19413.. He appeared to
have little understa.nding of the pertinent issues involved in this ease. His
a earanee is poor He would be 1'-illing to testify to the facts as set PP -- -
forth in the follor-"ing signed statement:
"Springfield, Illinois
September 15, 1943
make the follmring voluntary statement
whom I know to be Special Agents
U.S. Department of Justice.
=1 reside at -1'-'1'--as;-,.-es.-,:ie1a, 211. * =--oyed at Lline ! as a co! digger. I was born cUnited States I was Hatu ze
' O started I was in e Amy I
and have vorked there continuously
on I ever joined has the United Hine Yorkers ever since. The first mine uni .
of America, referred to hereinafter as the UM}, at the Peabody Mine, which. .. . _ . j t that . is now mine #59, at Springxield, Ill. 111* I 92'-as TOPKIDQ a
mine in 1932 as a member of the UIL, when t a nine closed on strike. The
men voted for the Progressive iiine Yorkers oi America, referred to here-
inafter as the PEA, and I voted for the PILA with the majority of the
miners. This mine did not open, so I went over to Mine A and Forked as a
member of the PLEA. It did not make any difference to me which union I _
belonged to, just so I eoold Forks, ifter I jined the Eli, I liked that
union .I __
I first heard that Elshoff had bought Mine A in 19:31 from the
newspapers and later, Ilr. Iowan sent no a letter saying he had sold this
I" t o who owned mine. than I heard this, it did not make any di..1"erenco 0 m
the mine, or nho 1'-as operating it. ,
when I vorked in Mine A under the PMA I was satisfied. No one
eontaeted me about joining the UIIJ. I Md not attend as-.n.;-; m"I.io.n. metigse
I did not hear that Eishoff might operate Kine A through In-Iine B, or that he
would it if the men Joined the U1-5 . Even if this was true, it wou..l.dopen
make no difference to me. I knew that if I domy work, I Fill get my pay.
._ :1
Iii
2;
is
i
A13 llJ
rel
"'
v.-
-.
in
.--.;.,..
é
.-..
,.__.3.g-l*e
E-1
.-..
T.
41
92> - *-¢1
___ .._ __,_,,,..<V ..____.__._-_-_-. A ~ -»- 4-- - r_;-»-:_-;=' _ * *-
Te: JGHH L. L1,-Iv-IS, ET AL
_ IT.-1"" "At the meeting at the PEA Hall, the President of
P113 local at mine A presided. I did not understand
what happened as it was hard for me to understand the
English while they were all tallcing at the meeting. There were no fights
and I did not see any U31. men there. I do not lcnaw who made talks. I was
not on an, cummttees.
"At the ms Sub meeting, = phc-netic!, presided.
There Yere no U213 men present. There was not much discussion and re all
voted to join the UH . After we decided to join the 1,115., We sent for
Edmundson of UTE, and he made a short talk. I do net lmtf vhat he said.
Yie were all given U15. cards to fill out, -111d I joined the U15. As far as
I 10101? only P113 men were present when we voted to join the Ill-.'"'1. I wanted
to join the U33-Z because it is bigger and stmnger than the PEA. No one
talked to 1.16 to get me to join the UL! . '
The conditions at Eiine A are just the same for mo n as i
they were under the Pi-IA.
"I have carefully read and fully understand the two and one
quarter pages of this statement, and it is all true to the best of my
knowledge . ,
*i@" ° i
Tftnessed:
al t ! ' "en . .I.Speci! l!en!, !!.B.I."
_-54B-
L- _- .- _ ~- _ _ Q.-=-_:';_,__e.__ _ ".-=7-Airr
Q41- 925
u
*' 3:1
*2-.-.1»..'<".
L5
.._
_.._s
-4
Id 5.a.,
-
v1- _ _ _ _____ _ __ . ._ ii _ .. -_,.__ _ }._ .. - ___ Mil .1_.__---.- __ ,_
or 0.1.
I
FE: H
Springfield, Illinois-was jointly int rvieired on"September 14 19l+3 a1 ants Vpd Spring 1 ,
r i.lI1OiS. eng s nor conditions smain
the sane under either union and itmde .1-Lhtle difference to him the
had bargaining rights. He stated he believed Hinc A would open When
Elehoff signed with UH}. He had therefore prepared to join prior to any
meetings. He executed the following written statement:
"Sprin9.;":'.e1d, Illinois
S0pte:moer3_ ll», 1943.
n1, me.ke_the follorfing statement to DQ a I know to be Special. Agents 01' the *
F0 cr Bureau U.S. Department of Justice. This
statement is being given voluntarily be mo and no threats or promises have
been made to inducc. me to mike this st'5to.1c.nt.
Illinois. I1"as
I em presently employed at
"I first joined the United Mine Tforkers of America, refer hereinafter as the IE}, about Q Illinois, at theQ I worked in con mines 111 O Springfield area rem
to 1932 un er he I11-9.. In 1932, I went to Mine I1. The FHA had the e
gaining rights, so I joined thet union. I en not referrting to the Fro-
gressive Mine Lorkers of iwlorieo, referred to hereinafter as the PEA. I
worked in Etna A until December, 1941.
"Before going to 1il;Il"l; et Leno 1, I Worked et the Jefferson nine,
Springfield, Illinois as e member of the Ulfli. I110 Jefferson mine closed
down for financial mesons, so I 92-rent out to Inna 1,. I voluntarily Joined
the nu, at Mine I-.. It did not make any difference to mo which union had
the bargaining rights. I es on engineer and tho worlctng conditions under
oither union were the same.;|_,_- WA
u
--'
a
4!
-»=.
.-
-e3, 1
:
'5
Q t
"'1;
,~..
<1.- IK I ' I
I_ . ~_. - :;i- --_::*-- - ;, -I-nu-~, W 7....» _- e s -_ -l----- sir '* ._ : ~ - - _ ...-;,:'<-11' '_';n--31 =; ~91" --' " "'
- v
Rs: JOHN L. LBVIS, ET AL
INT * "I heard a rumor, source not known, that Elshoff '
might operate Mine 1-. through liine B. I did not
continue think this was possible as iline B could not handle
' that volumn of coal as it had all it could handle
already through the {zine B T1ppIe.
"It -Was talk at the mine that Filshoff would open Kine A on the
condition that the miners would join the {III}. I thought this was
possibly true, knowing what had happened at Mine B. Elshoff opened
Liine B after the IJI-1'; got bargaining rights. Therefore, I thought I had
better join the U13. to keep my job. I made up nnr mind to do this before
any meeting. It made no difference to mo which unior. In-_d th: contract
with the operators of A.
"I 92-'<mt to t"92io union meetings during tho time of the discussions
concerning Iih: A employees joining the L-1'21. Ono was at the PW. Hell
and the other w.-as hold at the Elks Club, Springfield. Some PILA member
prosided at the meeting vhich Tfas held at the Frif. Hall. I do not recall
hon I got notice of this meeting. They discussed whether tho n:in0rB'
should join the I1!-1:. Some miners Tfantcd to and others did not. There
were no throats or fights but they argued about the matter. I was not
elected or appointed to any committee. There Were no IIHJ organizers
pr92_SO3'l1L to my 1;nU92'.'-l0dg0. I also went to the meeting hold at the Elks
Club on Sunday, in September, 1941. I do not raaembor horr I got notice
of this meeting. I do not know The pro:-aided at this meeting. Them
was practicojly no discussion, and tho vote Yas taken by o standing vote and
all I sac, voted in favor of UEIA. No one influenced aw vote. Before this
vote, I do not recall that there were any 1115'. organizers present.
":.itcr this vote, thu EL. members asked R": Edmundson of the UH?
to come over to take then in as n local of the UIIT. Edmundson came over
with one or two men I did not knot. He made n short speech saying Elshof
would open Ilino A in n short time, dnto not recalled. I do not recall
anything else that might have happened at that meeting.
"I started working at Iline ,'_ as soon as it opened but only Worked
about three months which was about 1!cceubor, 1941, and then I quit.
i.
v
>a_.-
{A:=-
1
jéA92
1-»-
I
-
1;»
n-5 V -
"kK _VIEW WITH
was Jointly in erviewe en
' A ants i andJ I ~ V
A ' ~ - W T A~;- W-_ _ -1-re:-; ~_ :7 TI; 7 I: _u_1_ _ ._ . IT; ;______ __- 92 - 1 J a
lo 0*
Re: JOE L. LEWIS, ET LL
Illihbil,
T
1943 by Special 5
He stated it made no difference to him that UiOD'H54iE§'ih,th£t working
conditions were better under RYAN, and that he did not attend any of tho
meetings of Pit because he was too old for that sort of thing. Be had
nothing of value to contribute to this inquiry, but executed the folloiing ~
statement: I
q 11111101;- Septem or 17, 1943
_ following volutary statement to
whom I know to be Srecial Agents of the
e eral Burea" o S. Department of Justice.
and sesame a naturalised
United States citizen i I am presently employed
continuously sincell
at Nine A S ringfield,i I live at Illinois.
"I started working at Mine A as a member of the Progressive Mine
I Workers of Am
…[truncated]