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92
FEDERAL: BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
JOHN L. LEWIS
PART 6 OF 13
FILE NUMBER: 44-8451b.¢ln$-4-
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SUBJECT. JOHM L /~50-1'5
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Jess L. Lsezs, ET AL
L=~'?<r-» 2:119
I1~92"IT
of this case, I thought there was just as
con inued much that the Peabody men could have been just
as guilty but they were never fired. But most
of my information came from: the newspapers-
"'During the time from 1952 to Her. 195?, I went to moat of
the PEA meetings.
In the spring oi 1937, I knew about five PM fellows were
stool pigeons, but I didn't know exactly who they were working for or
~.*-hat they were doing- , They were Andy $oh:e1evius, Dominic Pasquale,
Fr lk iustin There may have been more but I don't Pete Carter and er .r . - .
remernber "ho. I do not remember anything about these men or anyother men being expelled from the PEA. The reason we went out on
strike in Iby 1957 was because of contract trouble and some wage
trouble. I do not know anything about the company refusing to fire
some men expelled from P131».
*1 do not remember attending e. PIJA meeting on Hey ll, 1937,
the night before the strike. On Iiay 12, 19257, I went to work es usual-I wee I did not hear anyone say anything about loading
cers s 1 u Ly, but I noticed most of the cal! were loaded short.
I didn't hear anything about e strike until sometime during the day
v-= were ulled out. I did not know why we went out, but I came up 9 P
to the top and went home. A couple of days later I heard the reason
mb we were out was because oi the contract or pay. I don t reme er
' ' N Ireceiving any notice of any kind to come beck to work until ov. o1939. In the summer of 193'? I got e job so
I didn't go back to iiine "B" except e. coup e o mes with
the P11 men who were out there protecting their jobs. During the
eunr-er of 1957 I cannot remember if I signed any PEA petitions. I
may have. But I an certain I did not sign any U13? petitions.
'1 rnmm-nhnr +.hg_+. n_ jjf lgggl we; or:-eniged during the eunrnerof 1957, b§e'i ZZ§§Bt'¥e§e}e§r anything about it. 1 was not asked to
join it: -
"Luring the time from 1952 to Iiey of 1937, I never noticed
that anyone from the company ever favored U157 or FAA one over the otlrnr.
I never saw any U1-Y-' picket line at Elino '15 during this ti--1e, and I
never sow any IJIIH attempts to organize at Mine "B" during this time.
m n'*ine reason wiry I- i="5./£?.-ant to the Lino EB 'in"the £o1l.:
~J':1="to protect their jobs and keep the mine Fran being blown up,
because we had heard acne one was going to blow the mine up and blame75/-zPh41950 e m'11"§;/Zf.z _ /H
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JOHET L. LEWIS, ET AL
é» W <1» 19 '7 D
»- T 2' Y» H it on the PEA. I was not there when the Fad'l
Injunotion was obtained and the men had to
continued leave the mine in the fall of 1937.
' Just before the mine re-ogened in 1939, I heard fr-an several !' '21 first one Isources, none of which I can now remember, that I was t e
' t t because I had been active in P1-IA. $0 Ithe U1}? was going o ge _,did not go book to Mine B went it opened because I wanted no trouble
13¢» one ever openly or direotiy threatened me-
I remember voting; in a National Labor Relations Election
t we a fair election in Dec. 1937, ibt';1"eZP1*~l:'-. beat UITI. I think 1 5
cl no one threatened or forced me in any way. That is the only NIRBLII
election concerning Iline "B in which I ever voted.
Inuemuoh as I never went back near I-fine B after early
fell oi 1937 I do not know anything about anything that hap',36D6d
out at Tine "B" after the fell of 1937-
This statement of five pages has been read to me and it is
true and correct to the best of my knowledge. _
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1&1 4:1-g¬Ut| FoBoIo
Special gent F-B-1.
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RE: JOHN L. IEIS, ET JJ.
l.7c/ L/71>
INTERVIE : '..ITH SpringfieldI linois, was in er is JO a e ffice ofthe Federal Bunau of Invostiia Siringfi cl Illi is on So tombor 7,194.3, by Special .4.;;'¢l".".I=S and f-Qt-edhe did no o-»v92; a criminal record. s able to speak a stmds
" " 1 t make a 2,0 ess as he is very vague in English. IJ..1.Ld 10 3
answering questions.
__providod the following statement:
' "Springfield, 111.,
_ Septumoer 7, 1943
"T, 9"-i~l.n;;f'i¢=.1d. Ill. make thef-all ">*=.-:1; voluntory Stotorr;-int to and whom
I knot; to bl; Spocial .. ,;z;ts of tho F ;C1 :IC-l Iiuroau of Invcstigatioxi. No force,
1'..11I~.3J.1t,S or proz.-Lists have boon r:.:.uo in obtaining this -stctonzont and I know that
wi1:.t I my SL3 may bz used in a court of law.
"I was born in I an unom lo'ed and 3I am being sup":-ortod
"1 firt Startod mining coal at which time I
becamo a ::.~;mb.;r of UTE. I ronainod z. mo-rib r o until 1932. My local ULET
union changed from U35. to PZ£.'. in 1932 and I b.:ca.me a momb.-r of Phi;-. because
loos-l changed.
"I hf]-Vu novor hold an office in any union.
"I was employed by I-{inc "B" in about 1928 and r-.m.:=.inod in the employ-
ment of E-iinc "B", except during tho time oi strikes until in Jilly 191.2. I
was discharged bocausc I did not report for work three days.
"Prior to I332 the manancmcnt of Mine "B", so for as I I-mow, was on
good rolations with L"..1'..'.
"Between 1932 and Bay 12, 1937 there were no strikes at Mine "B" and
the mine was not closed down by tho management. During that period of time
the management seemed to have boon on good relations with PLL. and all
anccs 1.-:..=ro settled in favor of Phi . Lt no time prior to Hay 12, if???
:=:z1n.=;.g::.:ent of Mine "B" attempt to discredit PEI...griev-
did ma
"I' thought P'I~L; was a good union being operatod for its membership, no
unusual spc-sin}. assessments were made against mt. I took no int-:.@ro-st in
union activity.
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l>'7<:./ 5'71!
INTE.RVIi.'..' "I think the Pin members convicted in the
continued! bombing cases did not get a fair trial as I
believe [Bill had witnesses testify falsely
against the P155 members.
"B<=TM¬>6n 1932 Emil I-E11 12, 193'? UHI did not set up a picket line at
Mine "B" nor did U11? distribute any literature at Mine "B". Prior to
Lia; 12, 1937 no one attempted to get me to change from Flt to UM}.
""1 do not r<.nerr.b¢=r a vrabe scale cont:-over;,' in the 5p:-ing of 1937.
"I attended e r<.-g,uJ.ar meeting Of Phi» on the -1i¢_-,ht of Hay ll, 1937.
I do not runemb.-.r much about the ::1cetin_;, but I do r-92=mcr.1b Ar a member, the name
of when I do not knew, was expelled from P12. because he was associating
with U1-I..' members. I an unable to furnish any other details about the
IIi¬:L3tir1;-3. I do not know of any other members of P13. being expelled.
"On th-: mornin; of {ay 12, 193'? I IupJ1tC.d for work, some of the
ninors ststed the 1.-.an:;ge:1cnt of Mine "B" w:-.nted the nine to be U155. rather
than PII.'.. I thou._;ht there was going to be trouble ct the mine that day,
tncr.=iore, I did not go to work and return to my hone. No one told me why
Mine "B" went on strike Hey 12, 193?, but I thought the strike occurred booms
the r;in.a,g.:.1cnt wanted lsline "B" to change from PIE. to U21}.
"I Si.;I1ud n Pli. petition in the Sunzier of 1937 nemng Hi. as my barg-
__=._i_... ..........» .. n.-... u-nu 1' A-A ' r' -<:.1.1:.lu5 .;592;uu at n4.u8 --p ¢ J. u.4.u 110?. 31511 8. UL. ptitl.
"I did not know oi a; new U!--I. local being; formed in the
Sum.-;.*r oi" 1937.
"In Sipt. 193'? I was informed by someone that Flt. had e picket line er
Line "B". I voluntarily went to Hine "B" to act as :1 picket. No violence
occurred du:-in,_; the during the _tir~e I was a picket and onl; Mine "B" miners
were pickets, no outsiders 1551-'e brought in. In about Doc. 193'? an injunction
-as obtiined to ,1:-event picketing at Him: "B". It made no difference to
me whether the injunctim was served or not.
"I did not knOh' of an attempt to open Lfine "B" in Dec. 1937 or
Jan. 1938. -
"I voted in the N L R B election Dec., 15, 1937 for P H I... S0 far as
I knew this election was fair and I voted the way I wanted to. t
"I received notice that Mine "B" was to open in the last pirt of 1939.
I i1:n:.:diately received enplqznent. I did not notice the rz.-sults of any
lsrye fires on returning to work, but I did see many cave ins. I re+.u.:-nod
to Mine "B" as a member of PH ; ,
-154-
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RE: JOHN L. L}IT?.LS, ET IL %'1 o
n.*r=.~:m*r;".." tons}: "Almost every morning after my return to workt nued! ',and the time I became a member of
to the Lin -
office Felcetti the supt. at nine H! in the presence of the III;-' commit
' ' '" e k e at Nine "B".to join U..£...- In the summer of 1940 I was told by someone to repo
' -' "B" office before I changed no: clothes. On reporting to the
tuld no that I had to Join U1: if I 921'u1'1tE2d to k-ep wor ln con i
the summer of l9&d I was asked by
/
I si_jn;-cl the x.1er.1bershi! card to join {II-.-If that morning in order -to keep rm
joh .-.lth ;u _:h I did not went to join Those of the committee present at '
the tint I joined UH. wore Gudge Bungarncr, Charles Bohannon and some others
when I do not know. I saw fights at liine "B" between U'1A'.'I and P1-{A members
almost every morning, from th_ time I returned to work in the last part of 1935
until the H1318 election in Feb. 1941. 1.1, no time was I threatened nor did
anyone bent me.
I voted in the 1'.*.L.R.B. election Fob. 1941 for So far as I
know the election was fair and I voted the way I want-.d to.
"I did not wish to join U11 as I nranted to be r-. member of P!-Ti». I
only joined UITY because I was fOICs.;d to join UIIII7 in order to keep Working
at Mine "B".
"I have had this statement consisting of six page-s read to me and it
is true and correct to the best of my lcrmwledge."
/s/ _
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JJ'__92»n1-I _ FQBIII
p'..:CiC.l Agent, F.H.I.
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WIT I
'=~r ' 11"'1OJ.5 on Se tember *1 1943 by
qua- FaunI'92'G§ b|92Jllwl
a 92,._,. citizen. -- E never been arre
the LEE over the FLA, although he admits being .
by a man and then joineé T.:'1'92'£. He understands English fairly Well
d End 5-A-_=es:1~:e English only fair. It is felt he would not make B goo
viitnees.favors
B
The following eignec. ete_te:ner.t Ina 011:!-L...e¬d:
Springfield, I11.
Sept. é, 1943
I also known as
0 §:1"l"'fl91f3, Ill, make the following
vhcn IJ-vo!un!" r" e n ement to arr. . .
etion~-A _,
know to be Epecial Agents 01" the Peneral Bureau 0 .'V6E lg -
I ralze it Without 1es.r of threat force or promise of any kind.
I I wee born in; W I I -- - came to the 1.7.5. in
_ I got my first papers in pringfie G in but I have not yet
become e 17.5. citizen.
I first e-carted torking in Pine E in Springeld
I was :1 merrber of the United line Workers of America Union in
and stayed with U11 until 1932 when I joined the Progressive it e
ox-kere of 1'.!".6I"i¬.7 Union because I vented to keep my job at mine B .
To one forced me in any way to join P11» in 1952. I did now take an
active part in organizing I-We and I have never held an office in any
union.
I/ur ing the time fror 1952 to I-icy of 1937 I did not notice any
strikes or cloeedowne at line "E except that there were probably B.
fer tines when the mine closed down because of sleek work. But I cannot
rerse-aber when thia wee. turing this time I never noticed that any of
the Odmrvcn" officials tried to discredit the Pin or tried to allge any .
+ T aw nnw nnvthino tg I'92|:U1- n-nu rut -- --T -----.-=7 -
- J-1- --- --- -*1 ..»-. - .. .92.O1 HE j0:L.LI 5'1 I hvsuri. thus TL-
indicste tl.at-.
Luring this time I did not think that the HEB. was an honest
union. They made many assessments against us and I thong!/ii it was a
racket. I don't know for eert:.in rho got this money, but if the
' t 1: .01" rho did get ofiicerejf this local did not get the money I do no r- J
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Re: JOHN L. LLTTIS, ET AL
E I57 . we
EP_V'I1-3!? the money. I did not take an active
interest in the PIEA union.
COD 111116
ll . I remember there were some bombing
cases during this time, but I took no interest in them and cannot say
whether the trials were fair.
"During this time between 193?. and Hay 1937, I never noticed
any attempt by the Uli to organize Mine "B". I noticed no strikes and
I neiler saw any UHF literature. I do not know anything about any
members oi PLLA in Hay of 193'? and I never heard there were UMW spiesiin
"I did not attend a PMA meeting on Hay ll, 1937. On Hay
12, 1937, I not to work as usual, and when I went down into the
mine sane one said we were to load only half cars. I don't remember
who said this. But I did not load any of my cars short that day and
worked all day. When I cane un at the end of the day I heard thatw had called us out, but I didnt know why. A couple of
minu es ater some one told me that we went out because the company
would not open under PLEA. I
"I did not go to work the next day, and never received
any notice to come back to work until Nov. 1939- Sometime in Sept. oi
1937 I heard from some miners that a picket line had been set up that
day at I-iine "B", so I went out there the next day to look around. That
was the only time I went oxt to liine "B" during the picketing.
"After the strike started I think I signed one petition
for PEA. ULW asked me to aim a petition in the summer of 193'? but
I did not sign it. I did not know when the U135 local had been formed.
"I did not attend many PLLA meetings in 1937. I do not
know why the picket line was taken off in the fall of 1937.
"I voted in the National Labor Relations Board election in
Dec; 3193?, when PLEA won over UEW. I was not forced or threatened in
any way and I think it was a fair election.
"In Nov. 1939 I got a registered letter that the Him "5'
was going to open, I went back to work there inaliov. 1939. I heard
there were some cave-ins, but I never saw them. I never saw that there
bed been any fires and no one told me there had been.
"Ah.-ant +.-1:» -or three months after the nine opened
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Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
l¢'7c/ L/10*
m -_" 1, '" e-lied me to join the Ilhf but no one
ever orced or threatened me at any time to
L{1"|§ 1-1111]-P join ULWJ. I told him I would think it over and
about two or three weeks later I joined UMW.
I never sax." e.n1.'one get beet up out at the .e.ine are I never sew -anyone
else try to organize for HEW at Mine "B". _
benefits
U117. beat
election
true and
7itness"I
I was
III
P11!.-
and I
"1joined 11112; because I was disgusted with all the death
having to pay PLLA and not know where the money went.
voted in an NLRB election in about Feb. of 19-Ll when
No one forced or threatened me in any way at that
think it was a fair election.
prefer I115; over the PLIA.
"This statement of five pages has been read to me and it is
correct to the best of my knowledge. _
Specia1 Agent, F.B.I.
Special Agent - F.B.I. =1
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Re: JOE}? L. LEWIS, ET LL
1=>"1c./ la?j!
Ir-"r WITH F-1=w=e*1=1<1.I1 1. ois was interview a 18 home by Special Agents "1, h z on Seitember 4, Ln 1 -- I --~ _ 0 S -Inn»
1.U.i-On W ____ nQ_ have e ermine record peaksEnglie e a fair Witness. --£1 _ 7
provided the following signed statement:
Springfield, I11»
September 4, 1943
oiuntery etstenem towhen I know to be Special Ag
Bureau tion. No force, threats or promises have been made
in obtaining this statement and I know that whet I may say my be used
in a court of law.
{I was born t emmigratedl to the U.S-in-end became e nature ize citizen of the U.S. in
"I started mining coal in Sprinifield, I11. in et which"I
I11
and
time I became e member of UZ~¬f". In about I started mining coal
it line FB'.'-.-and remained there until Jen. 5, except during thestrikes. I will. I em newemployed by and I have been
emp loyed by
in an election
that timesIn about 1932 Iheerd UM? stole some votes cast
and for that reason I joined PTA whieh was being formed at
I took no part in the formation of PEA.
p
Prior to 1932 the management oi I-iine "E" seemed to have been
on good releti one with U153-
I have not held er. office or taken an active pert in any
uni-.0110
"Between 1932 and Hay 12, 1957 the management of Nine *3
seemed to have been on good:-ta:-ms with PJLA. there was no hostile
attitude taken by the m&n£.gen".6':1b in settling grievances. So fer as
I remember there were no strikes or close-downs at line B between
1932 and Hey 1957.
I thoug,ttPH:'s was e good union and one operated for the benefitof its membership, no unusual special assessment were made against no.
' A1'!1-59."-Tl
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Re: Jone L. Lens, er AL
}v7c./ lo TLD
.'-£""T~.~J ' WITH "I took no interest in the bombing canes.lcon!1nued! Between 1932. and Hay 12, 1957 I did not see a U13!
picket line at Iline "B", nor did I see any U13-.'
literature being distributed at Zine B. No one attempted to get me
to change from PM: to U1}-1. -
know of e wage scale controversy in the spring of ""I did not
I did not attend o PET}. meeting on the night of I-by 11, 1937
and I do not know if I had notice of the meeting.
On the morning; of Key 12, 193? I went to work as alweye and
A hat do someone told me loaded my 0021 core full. In the a.fter'r.oo!1 t y
B could not come to on agreement
' tthere was 2. Et!'J.k¬ as F-.n and 11116
about something. I was not told why the strike occurred. I did no
lled "<.rm PLA prior to hey '12, 1937 or after know of anyone being expo
tht 31160
"I do not remember signing any Fiji. petitions in the summer
957, but I know I did not sigz any T.T.1E' petitions. '
of a no-"J U11-' local being
"I did not know formed in the eunmer
Of
"Sometime in Sept. 193'? I heard that that P116. had pickets at
t to line B to picket. I acted ea e.
at 17113Zine "E" and I voluntarily wen p
picket for about tto weeks ct the end which time I went to work c
Panther Creek Cool Tine. I do not know that went on at Kine "B" from
about Oct. 1937 until about Nov. 1939 when I received notice that hine
"B" was to re-open. I did not vote in the £.L.R.B. election Dec.
15, 1937.
I went beck to wrork ct Iiine "B" in the lest part of 1939
as n merrher of FLA. I did not ace the results of any large fires
e1+hough there were many cave-ine. No one requested me to change
from Phi to UT prior to the election in Feb. 1941. I did not see any
fights at lline "B" prior to Feb. 1941 although I heard somedne was
beaten on account of union trouble.
"I voted in the NLRB election Feb. 1941 for FLA. So for an
I know the election woI: i"oii. *
"1 joined U13? o short time nfger the election in Feb. 1941
J. It does not make differ because majority of the miners were U11"
-160-SD09
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Re: JOHN 1.. mils. ET PJ-lw 0la ?D
1-1 rn-1-1* :r1'1:'9292P' 'Y]'.TT"l921'.I to me phgther I Q__!!'E_ B __
contlnued _W <-=~1s=1@d> i
1 1 v-up-, 5 -
Cial L">gB.|'.'lt "' F¢F-1-
Special Agent, F.B- I-
-151-
u, -.- .- .. _,,,.|-. ,/.-_.,.,,--92a ,4-_-11--92_- I Z.- . , ~ _-92._,-...__. _ .__member Of P133 or U13? 5
-.
A
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92" V _.-._92
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,'_,|;_'92___r__;_,~_'
"'-I1? " j; .C b
ma. com! L. was, so AL. }_!.7r/ ! Ai_. . _. 1 n.'5 /_.D
nrrsavxsw wrm _ m nois_ was interviewed yF at his heme, 9-4-1!?
o d not make 0. oold I11i~ _
witness9|92 have 1; criminal cord. pl ul 5 'n Q inability to spell or understand English very well.
9292 _ V1 e he following statement: -
.{ - I "Springfield, n1.,
92 September 4, 1943.
ld- llli-
!e.rIi
ureuu of
obtainlfvr
.1
nois make theWhcx:1 I know to be Special Agents'- .' o been mode in eves 15¢ ion, no force, threats or promises huv " ing
this statement end 1 Qew that whet I may any my be used in u court of
law. ~1M»m ml smier toin became e nature ized citizen of the U S. I have 7* x 1 n j _ _ . _ _ __ _ ___ Jbeen employed at Mine "B sinee about _nd I um ht tne present em- U
ployed at Mine "B"-
"I became e member of WEI in uboutmin Springfield, I11.
at which time I started to work in the E-eebooy u.lIi63e
"In about 1932 I beoeme c. member of P111- because nqr local Ill!
changed to PW». I took no eotive part in the formation of Bin. '
"Prior to 1932 the management of Mine "B" seemed to have been
on good relations with UMTI.
"I 11-we never been an officer of any union-
"Between 1952 and May 12, 1957 there were no strikes or close-
downs at line "B". The management seemed to have been on good terns with
P1-Ls and the management was not hostile in settling grievances-
"I thought Prle was o good union being operated for itsmembership. No unusual assessments were amide against my pay. I took
no active port in union activity. H
"I took no interest in the bombing eases-
-153-
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éPc/ £9 RE: JJHN L. LE-TIS, ET .-IL. '2 :
"Between 1952 end Hey 12, 1937 I did not see any
' - attlr1'? w ~ "" L!
UM-I pickets at Mine "B", nor did I see any UIU liter
92uOtlUGu; being distributed: Prior to Hey 12, 195? no one ottenpt
ed to get me to chenge from Bin to HUI»
- "I do not remember 0. wage scale ocmtroversy in the Spring of
1937.
on the night of lley ll, 1937»
I remember the strike Qt Mine "B" started on May 12, 1937, but
kn if I worked that day or not, I do not remember any details» I.do not ow
nor do I k:1eW the reason for the strike-"I do not remember e Han meeting
I dc not remember anyone being expelled fran Pitt before or after
May 12, 195? .
"I do not remember signing, any petitions in the Sumner of I937-
the fomzetion oi Q new iii? local Q the Summer o omonber
Of 1937 0
"In Sept. 195"! I heard PLL. we hl-wing a set down strike at Mine
"B". I went to Mine "B" several deys es e picket 'u_s-I was e member of
Filo. No one told me I he-d to not es e picket. In the lust pert of 1957
an injunction was obtained to prevent picks-ting wt Mine "B"o It mode no
difference to me whether Piin was ello-wed to picket mt Mine "B" or not-
"I did not Jmow of Mine B opening in IJec. 1937 or Jun. 193$.
"I voted in the N.L.R.B. election Dee. 15, 1937 for Ht The
eleotiorn was fair end I voted the wuy I wanted te-
"Scmetime in the lost ocxrt of 1939 I received n letter to re-
turn to work at I-iine "B". I returned to work at Mine "B" in the not
pert of 1939 es n member of Pile and paid my dues in Pile until I joined
"*-I" ""' eti1n@ in the first port of 19él= lie one nelged no to join IMF! ' Ll:-I QULJ
nor did anyone threaten me if I did not join-
II1 Febo IVOt8d TD! 111 the NOLIRIBI 61601216111 as
majority of the miners at I-line "B" were voting for 1115?. I think the
election was fair and I voted the way I wanted to-
"UHTI won the N.L.R.Z-3. eleotion,- therefore, I joined IMF! e
1
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RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET .n.L»
INT- '1' "T T-1 "I heard some of the miners were beaten because
th 1d t j in LU-J but I never saw any fights.L
-6'70 '__
ey wou no 0 ,
'!oon¥1nu<." ET-
meznber of UM? or PHA-
I!-r 1. 92_...= +1.; +n+.=.m= -r. nmtgininz four wages read to ms"It makes no differanue to me whether I am a
J. [B176 unu. uu.;B 5...» v92-run-vnnv --._- _fi U , ___
and it is true and correct to the best of my knowledge-
"'?itnessad:-
npecial .:92;;en't, F~I*3.I.". Special -=1-gent, FUBJ.
r >- ; V ,:. .., /..--.1 _--H. ~.- g-.]_6L..
-- - - 5 92 - »
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RE: JOHN 1.. Lewis, ET AL.
° '7 <-/ 1=> 10
pi-in field O15 was interviewed a. i., _r92 R . bane by Spec 9.1 onto aan K -1 ._92 = p September 3, 1943» 5 a air un era ing ofink ism e though he 18 xmeduoeted. would make B 1'0-11" Governmentwitness as he is very forceful in his oyalty to Bin. -stated he
did not have a criminal record.
- furnished the following sthtementt
' "Springfield, Ill-
Septez-iber 5, 1943.
field g vo un ery s amen o
and to be Specie]. Agents of the redo:-0.1
tion, no force, threats or prcmieoa have been mode
in obtaining this statement and I know that that I may any may no used
in :1 court of law.
"1 M em. "I ate ted -working in e coal mine when I was aboutqersold. In nbour joined the Federation of Miners in Pu. joinedW15 in about in Ill. I remuined a member of UMW until 1952 at which
time I became a member of BIA. I changed frcm U1-M to PH-A because I
heard UMU stole the votes cast in 1932 concerning the wage scale:
I have held -no office in any union since
I was employed at Mine "B" in about-lee a miner and re-
mained in the employment of Mine "13" until Hey 12, 937- I am at the
present retired. '
"Prior to 1932 the management seemed to hve been on good rela-
tions with UNYJ.I
I took no active part in the formation of Bil».
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RE: JOHN L. LE-HS, ET 1&1. in D
1=.r'rv'a:>v1=?*': "s"1"TT-T ! C'/ -
==> '7 D
continued!
"Between 1932 and May 12, 1937 there were no strikes or oloee
downs at Eiine "B". The management seemed to be on good relations with
Pth prior to May 12, 1957 and the management was not hostile in settling
grievances-
I thought PW». was a good union and one which the members _
operated. No unusual special aesemente were made against me. I took
no active pert in union affairs when I was a member of Hike
"I did not think the BAA members in the bmibing eases got e. fair
trial. I think UFITI produced else evidence in the cases.
"Between 1932 and May 12, 193? I do not remember UIJH setting up
e. picket line at Mine "B" nor did I see Ui distribute any literature
it H1116 E0
"About two weeks before may 12, 1937 CH:;I~LI..I3S BOHn.N'NON naked me
whet I would do if UIM took control of Mine "B"- I informed him I would
quit. BOHMHION said no more. No one attempted to convert me frcm Haz
to UMW prior to Hey 12, 1957.
"Prior to Hay 12, 19-'57 I did not see the management of Mine "B"
with UM? o£fioo.-ls- I heard from unlmown sources at Mine "B" that ClihRLES
B9I'].n.JHON, .riII'DRE.:' SCl{RELEVIUUS, JOE AIBIUTESE, DKMINIC Pb-SQUAIQE-', PETE
C.c92}~1TER, FR.nlIi{ AUSTIN, TONY PLUTCH, JOE? I-NhI92TI.£aS, GEKEGE J1;CAtY End
EMQRY J1aC.h'=@'nY were attempting to organize HM at mine "B". In the Spring
of 1937 I sew the above mentioned men almost every morning in the Mine
"B" offioe talking to someone in that office. _I do not lmow who they
talked to in the mine office.
So for as I know there was no wage aoel controversy in the
Spring oi 1937.
"I did not attend a Pm meeting on Hay 11, 1937 and I do not
remember if I received notice or not.
"On the morning of my 12, 195'? scmeone told me that CHECRLE
B01-KAKNON, DCMILIIG PnSQUnLE, FRANK AUSTIN and some others, the names of
whcm I do not know, were expelled from Hie. because they were trying to
organize GIG at iéine "S"- Saneone told me to load the oool oere short
on the morning of May 12th and I loaded some oars short that day. I do
not know the reason for loading oars short. Ch the morning of Hay 12,,
1957 there was no growing sentiment to strike. About 2:00 Hi Hey 12,
' 1937 I was told by e bottcm boss that the mine was on strike» I Ivestoldby 1 pit oommitteemnn that the strike ms oelled boob-use
the mng - e B would not discharge the men expelled fran
PM.£&- -
-166-
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31:: 7;: ¢ '.' " "'1' L' '
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"1 ,; 1 "'3'13-waif? 'Z:.r;- -.1 *1!~ F- I-"*5-.":$".'92
i 1.
J01-Hi L. LEW, ET AL.
INT" if 1'1 TH
1 oontinnog i
"1 Signed 0. no petition at e PH!» picket line at Mine "B"
in the summer of 193'? naming Hm as my bargaining agent» I Signed the
petition volnmturily.is->"§, Lm" ' -" =1 14.1
_ "I signed no petition in the summer of 1937- '
"1 heard a new e fofm summer
I W6-5 1101; 1 -ked CO Joiqin '
"In 5ept. 1937 I heard someway that Mine "B" was to open, -
% that morning T..Ha'!.me!'i1'.~o1's were allowed
reason Fain refused to work. No one told me
volmitwry picket at Mine "B" until an
injunction was served by the U. S. Mr-*.;»~sL'~.el, in D60» 1957. The PW1. members
did not think they ehould have been enjoined from giioketing Ht Mine "B"-
No outside pickets were brought in to picket»therefore, I reported for we:-ke
to enter the mine and for that
I could not work. I acted as I-1
"I did not know of Mine "B" opening in December 195? and Jun-
l95B¢
"I voted in the NLRB election nee. 15, 1951' for nu I think
the election was fair. '
as on open mine, but I would not go to work unless FHA got is contract-
H "1 lost ull interest in Mine "B fter 19:59 _
"I have bod this five page statement reed to me and it is
true and correct to the best of my knowledge. '
Iiitnes sed :
_ spasm »~1;en<=-F-B¢I- -
eoial Agent, F-Bel-". AIr I received notice in about Nave 1939 that iliine "B" ems to open/F
I
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Re: JOE L. IEFIS, ET AL
interviews a is residenoe,
he no longer likes UHF and that he pers IIytrio, bqoy
E
terminated after a short while as it wasyears of age and
and appeared
further-
It is
ed PMA, that
dléiiiéé Séhi LI Lewis
because Lewis deals with the operators and forgets the miners.
5 The following signed statement was obtained from
a~
"..',
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y-n
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£
,-¢-
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"=-' *1 - .-
D H It92 .@"~ < ~
<3,-'; _
='-,';92;_":;':;'4"- '_ r
i I 5;whom I know to be Special Agents of the eoera ureau
I make it without fear of throat, force or promise of
"I vas
and became a U."Springfield, Ill;
Sept. 25, 1943
"I, S ringfield I11 makethe i'0l1o'-zing vo un ary s :1 ement o and
A Q _
.
born in came to
S. citizen in
I started working in mine "B", Springfield,
a member of the
and I never got
to come beck in
"I was
or PEA.United Tine Workers Union. In Hey of
any notice to come beck to work-- and
1939. '
never forced or threatened in any wayo nvcs ig ion
any kind.
.. _ - . IIIIIIL.the 11- 5- Mi
in - and was
195? Mine "B" closed,
never was notified
by anyone from UMH
"Just before the Fine "B" closed in Hay, 1957, there were about
twenty or twenty five men in PEA who were really working for UMW. I do
not remember whether these men were expelled from FHA but the reason I
heard the mine closed was because the company did not went to do business
with FHA but wanted to work with UHE. I heard these spies were paid
935.00 a week by UMW while they were members of PEA and working in Vino '3'
All this was COmm0n talk but I cannot state where I got this information.
-163-
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Re: Jam: L. IEWTE» ET R1»
Pr "This statement of two pages has been read to me nI?T:wVI it is true ahd correct to the best of my knowledge.
i<Bw=@d>
"W I TTYESSbv
- Special Agent - Fj§1}- /@,
ial Agent, F31 .1 -Hy 3//1'I
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L. T ;-*. -. t . 1%-lg "_l-» -3;:~ ~'r.'~»1.-£11,-'.§_"§., .-_,-.- ,_ -_ar. r,92j?,_,...j-» "aft" 1--o.
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RE: Jom¢L.Lnr1s.E1AL
1="-/ L/2.0 I i
s IN'I'ERJIE' ZITH The followi- investi etio s conducted by pecial Agents.-_g and et Springfield, 111- .' nois, op em er 8, 194 z
%in his life. He I1£V¬!'
.3 about two years ego.
is more intelligent than the ordinary miner and he thor-
oughly un ere oo all questions and answered them readily. It is felt that
he would mel-ce e" good witness if his testimony were necessary. Agents obtained
the following signed sstetement from him:
K P_r1ngf1eld, 11
Sept. B, 1943.
"I, B rin ield I1 exnmaking
W e d voluntary statement to 5geoie.l Agents nd the F.3.I. No threats or promises re een me e o me
to give nls statement.
nl was oom first joined 11.:-1.-Y.about years ego at pringfield . neve ve been an officer. Iwent to work for Kine B about " so e also worked tbareobefore
once. Before 1932 ELSHOFF 6: U. .='-. seeme o get along alright but there
seemed to be difficulties between committees. I was a. blacksmith there. I
took no pert in going over to P.li.A. as all did 6: grie_o_1_'_1_e_ forced me to go
over. bet-ween 1952 & 19:? they were about some as under U.u.'-ix but there
1B_s_ no diffiouities that I lmow of. I never heard ELSBOFF or FALCETTI say
anything egeinst P'.=iA. I never attended many meetings at all J: I just paid my
dues 5: didn't pey any attention to union affairs. I newer knew if P.l ..l..
officials were taking money or doing wrong things but as fer es I know they
were 0.K. 6: looked after the mens rights. Assessments were about the some
as in any union - hid them for Eek membe-rs__ etc. I never felt they used
the money for other purposes then union affairs. Before Kine B closed there
were eome U.l£.T'!. organizers working in Mine B 6: I was asked by than to go
beck to U.l1.'&'. J: I told them I would go the way the rest of them did. I
never got any literature from them. There were 4 or 5 toot I saw around &
I believe that some of them were SALY; CHARLES BOHANIION J: ANDY SCHRELEVIOUS.
I never heard of U.H.-i92. or ELSHOFF giving parties. In spring of 193? the
men were saying we were working without 1:-. contract but just a few talked
about it 6: they never were mad -about it 6: they just kept on working. The
Pit Committee would handle such mntters 6: I didn't beer any of the above men
complain or talk about it. I never heard the ccmpeny e.=-.y enything nbut the
-170-
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,-_ 5'8. 15;
-3.5.-f:r_-'.e. .. - . _no -~-- -,_:-=-r» .§?§'f' . *1~. , .- 5, 4d'5' ' ?'.!~.'--_-3F -f.:~,..-_>_.:'e
RI-3: Jo:-1s1..Le~'1s,1=:r:u. 1 H _
, wages. I heard there was going to be a meeting theW night before it closed but I didn't go es I quit then at
' d Z PJJ. On th d th i 1 d I he d '1'-hi bout continue e ey e :1 ne c one er no ng s
the mine going to close. I did not hear anything about
somemen being expelled the night before. I know nothing of any cars being
loeded short. I was inst leaving when I aaw_ at the nine 8: other miners U " D ' ' '"' " ' ' ' t '*at the mine but I kept on going home 6: I sewo into the engine roan but
that evening I heard the men were celled out & I did not know of it when I
left. I later heard that the trouble was because the P.1l.A. didn't want to
work with some U..H.#¥. men. After Mine B closed I believe I signed a petition
for LA 6: some one ceme to my house and he didn't force me to sign it
r I $1 brot it to m3 house. I don t recill of signing ny
n' I ' .'.. 1 4; - . Q Q pe 1 ion or . - can't recall o s gning anymore petitions for PJ-..A_
I heard that UJI.--I. formed a new local it I read of it in papers 5- no one
came to me about it. uring sumzner of I93? I cant recall anything unusalhappening 6: I went to a couple of P.ld.A. meetings. I heard that some mine
B men went to Jefferson Hines. I heard ELSHGFF tool: it over as e. Receiver.
HAROLD licLONALD, now dead, was over <3= I think EIIORY JACK-92'Al was over there
too. I also heard FALCEFTI *-"me over here, too.
In fell of 193'? I mt out on picket line several nights. It did-
n't make sense to me in going out. The men were quiet 1!: I saw no trouble.
The nen claimed they night run into some UM.-5. guy. No one made me go out
to picket. Nothing bod h:.>.:~pened there. '1 never saw any outsiders doing
picket work. I was not there when the U. 3. 1£e.rshe.ll_ came out. I heard of
the Mine going to be reopened but I didn't go out 8: I heard of it thru sane-
one. I voted et first N.L..R.35. election at Armory in Springfield, Ill. It
was by secret ballot. Everything was O.K. as far as I know. I didnit see
any U.LZ.'=e. men giving out literature but I saw some standing around. Ho one
told me how to vote. I went to vote right frcxn home. I voted for P.!I.A.
Later I did not go out when they attempted to reopen it. I heard it was to
be opened under U.l&."I. so I did not go out. I dont know Why ESEOFF would
not sign a contract with P.lrI.A. but I heard he wouldn't. In fall of 1959 I
got 9. letter to come beck to work 3: I went out dw at time I was on P.W.A. I
sew FALCETTI & he told me to cane to work the next morning. The__ didn't say
e thing about wages or mien. oft-er the nine opened there were new non there
at the mine; but that was not unusual. I don't lmow if they were P.M.A. or
U.1:."-'. I went back as P.1l.A. 1!: kept on paying dues to than for some time.
I never heard ELSHOFF say he -wanted U.l&.'-2. back. There were some U.M.W.
organizers around & I he:-.rd of fights 8.: trouble but ne1e;_g-=,,;,-2' any. In summerof 1940 I never signed any cords for P.lii.A. or U.lE.1T. came
to my house once 6: said they were going back to U.H.'Y. 6: the ey a rad _
elected officers 6-. were going to have EL meeting in the U.M."¥'. Eldg. E that
I should come up 6: I told him I would be there 5= 1 did & sew only B Or 10
in there J: I left at once. I think the some bunch was there it Fl-IORY J£¬I£F¢'.'1'.
I joined up with U.l:l.i'F. after they won the second N.L.R.3. election. I never
sew eny preference for U.H.'-.7. over P.hI.A. For e while this bunch was talking
.,__ Y __, T... _. .-7--is In-" 7 "' ~.. -'*v r ,--1-_;-'7»--_--92- n -J--av -; F
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RE: JOHN L. LEXIS, ET ALL9 '7 CL. L9Z D
up with U.M.- I voted at
think -~ no, I don't think I
didn't go down. I felt that -
didn't £0 dDI'n¢to all of us about joining
second H.L.R.3- election I
did & I don't recall why I
U.HJ". was going to win soII!"1"E.HVIElW 71" ITH
!continued!
~ -t know whet the condition of Mine 3 wee when it opened ee
I worked on top & it took just e few days to get coel out again. I don't
know of a fire at Kine B when it was closed. I wee not at a meeting when
IGLASCOE telked. I had to join up with U.M;¬- otherwise I wouldn t have a
job.
1
I have reed over this seven ! page statement k it is true &
correct to the best of my knowledge k I can't recall anything else of interest
and I have signed this of my own free will.
/"/ _
WITNE3SES:
cc A F0-3:1 lllwo E gt. . " !
special Agent, F.B.I., 5t. Paul, Minn.
Sgringfield, lll=
sept- s, 1945
i tr - -112-
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C 6
Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, srn. _
' L9'?c:./ BUQ
, , mm L. , , S ri field inois was inter-viewe a his P Hg .1 s9292 i heewscal Ia- ; Q Q Se tember L, 1943. stated e l no ave a crimil9292 recor . would not make a good witness as it is difficult{*' for him to spe : and understand English.
;1rovided the following statement:
' "Springfield, Ill.
- September 1», 1915-
"I, ' field, I1
whom I know to be Special Agents ~a eau oinvestigation. No force, threats or promises have been made in '
obtaining this statement and I know: that what I may say may be used in
a court of law.
emigrated to the U.S.
I am employed by the
employed by that company"I was born inabout
l C I
' "I was employed by Mine "B" in about -ind remained in
the employment of Mine "B" until Hay 12, 193'? at which time Kine "B"
closed.
I became a member of U.}{.I. in aboutqwhen I startedmining coal in Ill. I remained a member of IIIIFI unti 1932, when I
became a member of UN.-I until 1932, when I became a member of PEA. I
became a member oi HLA because the local U1.{EI of nhich I was a member
changed from UB2; to FHA. I was not active in the formation of PEA.
"I have never held an office in any union.
"Prior to 1932 the management of Mine "B" seemed to have been
on good relations with 186?? .
"Between 1932 and Hay 12, 1937 there were no strikes atHim "B", nor did Mine "B" close down, During that period of timethe management oi Mine "B" was on good relations Irizth PLEA and didnot try to discredit P!-it to mo. Although about six months prior toHay 12, 193'? I heard Oscar Falcetti telling some of the minors that
Kine "B" was to be IIMW withizrtwo years from that time. I do not
-173-
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92. ,
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Re: JOHHL. Lsvrxs, ET AL
' "7 WITH..f Know the reason re: Falcettis remark. From 1932
to Hay 12, 193? the management of Hie "B" was not
hostile in its attitude settling grievances-
"I think PEA is an honest union; being operated for its
members, no unusual special assessments have been made against E§e
I have never taken an interest in union activities . I am at
present a member of FHA an I think it is a good union.
"I took no interest in the bombing cases and I do not know
whether the PEA members convicted, got a fair trial or not-
"Between 1932 and May 12, 1937, so far as I know, UHH did
not set up a picket line at Mine "B" nor did UW distribute any
literature at Mine "B". About six months piror to Hay 12, 1937
Charles Bohannon and Tony Plotch told me that UN? was better than PEA
and wanted to know if I wanted to join UHW. I did
Bohannon or Plotch and they said no more to me. I
talked to anyone else. No one other than Bohannon
efforts to convert me from PISA to U.1£.YT.
I never saw an official of UK? with the
"B" prior to Hay 12, 1937.not answer
do not know if they
and Plotch made
management of Hine
"I did not know of a wage scale controversy in the spring
of 1937.
"On the night of Hay 11, 1937 I attended a regular meeting
of FHA. Dominic Pasquale, Pete Carter, Frank Austin, Tony Plotch,
George Jacaway and Charles Bohannon were to have been expelled that
night. I did not stay until the meeting ended and do not remember
the details. The members at the meeting were talking about
striking the following day as they did not think those expelled would
be discharged from Eine "B". I do not know if the above mentioned
men defended themselves, but they were charged with attempting to
~ organize Mine PB" for HEW.
"I did not go to work Hay 12, 1937 as I thought thus would
be a strike if those expelled from PNA were not discharged, therefore
I can furnish no information as to what went on that 163?» I heard
later ea strike was called.
"I do not remember signing any petition in the summer of 1937
I know I did not sign an UEW'petition.
"I heard a new UN local was formed in the smmer of 1937,-
I » e -1.-4.
9. 92_'§|>'_ U A-,.-,- -1 1.9, -LT -._. -e-H-._ as-.'-,, -r--_-,_-_.;¢ _ -_ »,_-s ~_--_-;,.-,.:.m1-_- m-92
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A t_ J
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Re! JOHN L. LEWIS, so AL
1 l=!<;»' £='74§!
INTE V Y but I was not asked to join. 'L:ontinue!l "Sometime in Sept. 1937 I heard FHA had a
picket line at Mine "B". I went to mine "B" two
or three times to talk with the pickets, but I dld not stay. No
one threatened me if AI did not act as a picket. I received no
notice Mine "B" was to have opened in Sept. 193'?-
Sherman, I11 uI received a job z- .
= "B" can furnish no in Oct. 193'? and lost all intere ..1ne .
infonnation as to what occurred at Liine "B" after Oct. 1937. I
did vote in the N.L.R.B. election Dec. 15, 1937 for FHA. As far as
I know the election was fair.
"I met 2 the street just before Mine "B"
reopened in the la o 1939 at which time he told me Hine "B"
was to open as a DYTJ mine and I should go back to work at Mine "B".
I informed him I had a job and did not want to work at Mine "B".
"I have had this statement consisting of five ages
knowledge. d to me and it is true and correct to the best of my rea
iis i N Mark
ial Agent, F.B.I.
--FIBIIIHWitnessed : - '
-175-
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92" A
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..Rei JGHR L
1yTg3vTmw'wTrn
_ by See
was born in
Q
Federe Bareau 0 nves 15 n.
or promise of any kind. I
ll, but would give no i
1 pned st atemerrt i!.;/2<~...
1075
also known as
lu. He furnished the nf va
"Springfield, Ill.
I 7,HE. 5 d
Englnsn we
following s
rin field Ill. n . g voiun e a emen oH.;=.nd -rhom I know to be Special Agents of e
. - ~ I make it without fear of threat, force
"1 was hm Q
I first started working in mines when I ient to work in
Mine "B" in Springfield, Ill. inabout 1934. I joined the Progressive
Kine Eorkers of America Union at that time because that was the union at
H If H H Mini 11 at thattime. 1 worked at liine B from 1934 to 193?-
"I do not remember anything about any union activities gt
Mine "B". -I do not remember any'trouble between the United Kine brkera
of tmerica. PEA. or the company. I know Kine "B" closed down in about
Hay of 1935, but I still do not know why. I do not know anything about
what caused the strike, or if it was a strike or a close down. ,
I d not know anything about any labor trouble, any axiom
union trouble, or about anyone being expelled from FEA in the spring of
1937.
"After the Mine "B" closed down, I got a job at the Jefferson
ine in Springfield. But I had to join USE to get the job. Ho one forced
or threatened me in any way.
"I do not remember
to work at Mine B"iin 1939, but
the paper, so I went to Mine "B"getting any kind of notice to come back
1 saw it was going to open by reeding
in Nov. of 1939 and went to work. I
.-1" av? .1-p 1- _, 92...__
3--!'.92.§' '
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r. ' . ' 4 » '-Q. - .:' 3.; _.'-.-3 ~.1.--7 - -'-...'.';..92.>..92.=- .....-..4_»-L-"--I -'
f n
6
Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL
L? ¢/
lo! O
NTERVET'FTTH until about Nov. 26, 1941. I remained a memberg or ww-
continued
"I do not know anything about any union activity
or oreenizin~ et hine "B" es long as I was out there. I was working es
and was a company man, and I never heard of or saw anyo ,__
!rouo1e anon the men. E
"I remember the National Labor Relations Board held an
election but I cannot remember when. I did not vote in this or any other
election. I do not remember ever signing at any time any union petitions
either for UM? or PIA.
"Fhen I went back to work in Eine "B" in 1939, I never
went back in the nine and I never saw whether or not there had been any
fires or caveins while the mine had been closed.
"I have no feelings either for or against either the
Pin or UHF. I have belonged to both, and I have no herd feelings toiard
either. I believe both are honest and I do not know anything wrong
ehout either of them.
"I never noticed that any of the company officials favored
either UM? or PEA one over the other.
"I do not know of any fights or trouble of any kind between
UT and Pun in connection with Mine "B". I took no interest in any
union activities. I have never held an office in any union and I have
never helped to organize any union.
"I have read this statement of three pages and it is true
and correct to the best of my knowledge. -
Fitness . Signed!
cial Agent, F.B.I. '
Special Lgent , F.B.I."
-177-
:
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é ._92 -...-. o-I -4 -
I1 u
Der JOHN L. IE--IS, ET AL.
/472.,b 1 0
" Springfield, Illinois,
6 1943 by "*5and
was
if necessary. H6 wider-wn 92 ' 92
1 !n!ervi| on ' 11 but has difficulty in expressing himself. Hestands English fairly we ,
cleirned to have no criminal record. .
The following signed. statement was obtained from
Springfield, I1 l .
' 5 1943September ,
Q-" make the Iellmnng volmtary statement towhen I Jazor: to be Special Agents of the Federal-
' aes1 ed
Bureau of my one free will, with no threats or prom.
made me .
" I live at not
andworking at the pros wos
came to the United States in
n1 joined the U1-5|? in '____ lissouri, and was a
member of that union until 1952, w en was wor ing at Peabody Ho. 59 when
I joined the P1-Iii. Bhen I began working at Mine B, and joined the Pro-
gressive Kine '.-orkers of mnerica, I was satisfied with the Ptla, because the
ders seemed square, and the union seemed pretty good. They didn't have lee
many assessments, merely the regular dues.I was
"Just before the strike in 193?, I heard that there were some
men agitating for the UL'='e= Lie one asked no to join, and I don't
whether the agitators worked at the mine. I don't remember going to s. PEA
1I=1:1.
1
R
9
1.
.__ _
T2
..__.
|
1.
i.»--
~ ,.92 -_.1;_ .
~..-_.'_-
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r"- ,_~¢.
' ":;.xI_
-wt,
I.92
ii-2--,-
U" 1.-Q
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J:4.1- A
ii.
. A.-fo....,r,_1}-v'-.*,=.2-*.
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...---. '_-:e-n; _.f: -:§: '3-.3,.», __92,._,_ . .
.-,==a
.."!;1-'-~!.»._._
es
:N- .
* R2: JOHN L. LEXIS, ET-£L
r"
continuod! I wasn't forced to vote
as I pleased, and think
"I remember, that in the fall of
to the picket line. Ho one made me go outU
76/o MD
December of 1937 I voted for P.M.A. because I liked eon-
.1:-4--1 .-..-... ...-..-1.-,- 4-1...-.+ ..-.-:,-.-.. 92....a--A-.-.-. 4-92..-..-. -.._A.-.- +1-..= T1 1! IELLUJUZLD U-L£LlE4l P11-GI-J Hliiull UUUUWL UJJILIJ. HI-Llkl-Ui UJIU 92JQ§ '.
a certain way, but could vote
the election was fair-
1937, I went out to the mine
there, but, as a member of P.H.A-,
I went out to protect my tools and property, and to keep the U.H.Y- non
from going down into tho mine. I think Elshoff got the injunction so the
U.E.L; men could get into tho mine, rather than to protect his property.
I saw only Kine B men on the picket line.
"In the fall of 1959, I wont be»k to Mine B when it opened, to
s and clear u the work I bed 1uPt in 1937. I only stayed about
and couldn't work in the
;s no con eo ea y unyoro to join the U.M.». in the
was at the mine. After I loft. the mine, I hoard men, among them
say that they had to join the U.L.h. or they would lose their
"I have had the foregoing, consisting of approximately two and one
half pages, road to me, and state that it is true to the best of my
knowledge.
Litnesses:o i
Agents, FBI, Springfield, Ill. "
E
-179-
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L If1*. _~..- 1. .1
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:. at"'9292,__
'_92
_- .
92_."L1.W-e a
T '-TPFTRVTFTTT VITTH » L
l0'92c-/w/lb '
ringfie , was in erviewe
home on e tenber 5, 1943 by Special Agents
and This man has a fair under-
standing of the En- lsi anguage an can express himself sufficiently
to be understood. He said that he was put in jail one night for some
trouble in his neighborhood, but denied any other arrest record. '
He stated that he is willing to testify if necessary.
t. #1-=
|-.em;-_ "I think that Sam Joe Albarn me! came to my house a couple I
._| _ ~
z_::.--.-
-.92Re: JOHN L. mus, er AL
Ed.J-7¢-.,. 1/ !
. T " _ .< with Mine e conditions would be no better and
CO¢2.I'm.¬d the miners would not get anything
"I remember that Schrelevious came to my house a couple of
times after the mine reopened, and tried to get me to join U.l£.Yi. He
said that I better join the U.M.W., and that if I did not join U-M.W}
' I would not have a job at mine B. I told him that I would stay in
.~ P.lvI.A., and then Schrelevious said that soon there would not be any
'_ ?lEaA-I J.f" of times. I can't remember his name very well. He tried to get me
to join U.l-Z.?.'., and said that if I did not join U.l5.'-""., I would get a;
beating. ;==.}l
iv.
fkz;
1}: 3
<1-~
$5;
I--.i
I
.15. A5 long as I was working at Liine B, I did not he-er much
.- about the miners being beaten up. I heard that the rough stuff started
' after I puit working at Mine B.
"When the strike started in 1937, I think that the reason for
. it was that there were some U.li.T.. men working in Mine B, and the
l PJLA. union threw those men out of their union. then the company
"7 at Mine B refused to fire these men;,, the miners who were in PJLA.
struck.92-
J
In September 193'? the management would not let P.L'£.A.
e go into the mine, and ranted the U.M.I.. men to go into the mine. When
the company tried to reopen the mine in the fall of 1937, the first
day the U.1£.'92'.. men went into the mine. On the second day the P.H.A.
would not let the U.M..'.. men go into the mine. I think that Elshofi
' " got the federal injunction to keep the P.1£.A. men off his premises
so that the U.l¬.T. men could go into Mine B and work»
.- A In the election in 1937 I voted at the State Armory for the
PJLA. because I liked that union, and I wanted to keep it at Mine Bo
I did not like U.h1.¥='. I don't remember signing any petitions in 1937.
. ,30
3
/.._,.E s " k'--1. "After the mine reopened in 1939 the UJLW. men got better
d't'ons than the P M A mien A man knounr_-,i4 9!- cl."75¢ .».
'14-trouble, but he never told me that I would get beat up. However, I
he inferred that I would be beat up if I did not join the UJ.-I.T='. He
talked to_ me about three or four times.
-131-
._ , .. ._ .-.,. - ; J - _._,g»--- -ox: .1=---=- -'.;-;-; 1- 1=,;:-_----"A-'..f""- *5-92;'1|.' -."»;',"1.'- "H " F "~. r '~ ,=.. ~»rooms and better working con 1 1 . . . .o-~ as was an air checker, but he never did any work Hemerely we .e around trying to organize the men for U.li.E.
'§"""*"t told me that if I did not join the U.L£.1.%'. there would be a lo o if
.,~
e"
.,. If'~..
1'
J;.3
-
H
"1
A u
!COD!1DuE!|Q... _, __... _
C M
Re= JOHNL. 1.sm:s,1=:1"nx. I011,
£070
"Other men also talked to me about
U.H.H., but I can't remember their
the fall of 1940 I quit working at
92 because I did not want to join the
I knew I would get beat up if I did not join the U.M.W.
started Schrelevious used
Mine B. I don't rememberjoining the
names. In
Min B
U.H.W. andIETEH?IEW TITH
"I remember that before the strike
to say that there was going to be trouble at
him saying anything about the U.M.E. He was just trying to make
trouble among the miners. I don't know of any other trouble makers.
"i never heard Falcetti or Ilshoff say enthing about their
liking U.K.T. better than P.H.A. I dii hear that 12 U.K.3 men had '
been on social parties with Falcetti anu Elshoff, but I never saw 5
any of these parties.
"This statement consisting of this and two other typewritten
pages has been read to me, and I state that it is true to the best of
my knowledge and recollection.
Witnesses: Signed!
Special Agents, F.B.I.
Springfield, Ill.
- ~
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' =44-:1- -P-is-Hr-Y-1-'=Y=-=--=~-==--1---_~-=-kiss-.3----____ -:=,__ _ _ _.. _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ __ _ - _ - - . " "'-"' "' -es--Q --- _ __ _:_ i _ _ __ _
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ns=. JOHN L. mus, ET AL ? e./
if?!!92 92 .
. Springfield, I 92 92__" ~ Ili , was in 8I"Vl.BW s ome on Se tember 492 1943 by Special Agents and hunderstands English fair ' we , and can expre s
~ ghinseif inteliigently, but with difficulty. He claimed to have no criminal
~record. If necessary, he is willing to testify in court.
furnished the following signed statement:
Springfield, I11.
. September 4, 1943
. e lowi statement freely
and voiuntariiy to and who have identified
themselves to me as peoia n;erts o e eoerc ureau of Investigation.
No threats J1 promises have been made to me to obtain this statement. .
5pringfield, Ill. I am "I oresently live a1
employed at Kine A.
"I was bo n o I came to the
United States in a as na uFdil28 1 at ,Tingfield, I11.
"I first joined a union, the United Mine "orl:ers, in- In
1936 I joined the rrogressive Mine "orkers of America when I was working
at Kine B. In 1942 I rejoined the U.M.I. when they took over the contract
at Mine K.
"I began to work at Mine B in 1936. I had nothing to do with the
organization of P.M.A. After I became a member of P.M.A. I was satisfied
with that union. However, one union is just about the same as any other
untion to me. I was entirely satisfied with P.M.A.
"Ho one contacted me before the strike in 1937 about joining U.H{W.
"Before the strike I heard that some U.M., men were trying to get
men to join the U.M.T. I know of two men who did this, but I can't remember
their names.
"I know nothing about the wage scale dispute. I attended a fen
T.M.A. uniongmeetings, but I dont remember whether I went to the meeting
on the night before the strike started or not. I do remember that at a
few meetings there was some discussion about kicking some men out of the
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7:.» an-z= JOHN L. IE.1IS, ET AL L
4971!
III -I=' I 'TITH- "I can't remomb ar how the strike started, or why
it started. The miners started to load their
92cont1noeao cars with short weights. I remember that re were
' . . called out of the mine just before quitting
1 d I their cars with short tine. I don't know why the miners were oa lnb .
t i ve been over some trouble with the U.H;U. organizers weights, but it migh he
"I remember that I
remember what-it was for.
I know that I did not sign a petition for U.H;U.
"Nobody came to my
the U.ILYL
"In S tombzr 1937 I think that I receisigned a P.H.A. petition in 1937, but I cant
I don't remember signing any other petition.
house after the strike began to get me to join
rad a notice from the»Pmana;onent of the nine that the mine would reopen. As I recall the P.M.A.
' - - ~ ' ' s to reopen, and it washad a nesting tho dag buforc the day the nine wedecided at this meeting that the F.E.A. men would
U.H[f. men were allowed to go down into the mine.
tried to push the P.H.A. men away from the cage to
into the cage to 10 into the mine. The P.M.A. men
that the U.H.1
Of thi; P.-ILA.
" ' n the picket line in 1937 for a long time. I canpicket the mine if any
Felcetti, the super,
let the U.!{.1'= men get
pickcted the mine sob. men could not go into the mine to take away the jobs
men. The P.M.A. men only wanted to protect their jobs.
I. 1'0I was 1
member inst how long it was- There were only Mine B men on the picket line
" had a meeting,No one
and voted to pieke 1e
into the mine.
"Thile tht pickoting was going, I obtained a job at MineIorced me to go on the picket line. lhe P.M.k. -
t ti mine if the managcmenu tried to put U.H.T. men
A. I i
hove been working at Mine A over since. I don't know what wont on at
- I want to tellNine B
what I know personally.after I left. I heard a lot of rumors, but only
"I joined the U.M.T} when that union obtained a majority of the
of ta.T92ZFm." 4.a::.I'5strike that had happened at Hino B, and I did not s _
at Mine A. I don't care which union I belong to; one ishappen
good as another.~* inc A I ens not forced to join U=E-U- T was tired
went the same thing to
just as
"This statement consisting of two typewritten pages has been road
to mled"e "o and I state it is true an correct to the best of my know D .
/o i
Witnesses:
, Special Agent, F.B.I. Springfield, Ill.
pocial Agent, F.B.I. Springfield, Ill.
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Re: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL 197' C./
L97.D
Springfield, 1., was ix
Se ember 3, 1943, by Special Agents
== 101 pea s no ,.& y well, and is able to understand nitho .-col a . --..
an" t Ppe of questioning". He advised that he is willing to testify in court.clsrlned to have no criminal record.
The following is the signed statement of
Springfield, Ill.
. September 3, 19113.
"I, make the following statement freely
and voluntari who have identified
thenselves to me as s i- .. - of Investigation.
No threets or promises have been made to me to obtain this statement.
Springfield, Ill. I was
At present I working for
"I first joined a mine union, the United Hine Workers, about
I stayed in this union until I joined the Progressive Ine Workers of
' ' ' ' d the U.If.'..'. sometime early in 191.1. I don'tA!'26I"1Cf1 in 1932. I regoinerecall whether it was biiire or after the February election in 191.1.
I began to work at Mine B about? Khan the P.l.!.A. was organised
1 32 I had no part in its formation. merely went along with the majority in 9 . .. _ P X I w that the majority of the miners wanted the P.iI.A. when I joined . A. so .
union so I went along with then. I always like to go along with the majority.
d t all what It seems to me that there was some wrangling at Mine B, but I on rec
it was about because I always tried to tend to 33 own business. I don't
recall any big trouble at I-line B prior to the strike in 1937.born on
"After I joined P.LI.A. I W15 always satisfied with that union. The
officers were a good bunch of men, and treated the miners squarely. I did not
we to many of the union meetings because I was not interested in union affairs.
I always considered the P.}.&.a. a good clean union.
"I don't remember any agitating on the port of any men to tum the
miners over to U.M.'='.'. before the strike started in 1937.
"As I recall the men in the spring of 103'? knew that they were work-
ing without a permanent contract. All the men, so far as I knon, thought
-185-
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Re: Join L. LEITIS, or AL
that
wage
that
want to have anything to do withb7
the P.M.n. officials could get as good a '
scale as
happened
it.*' b7_.¢£>
the U.M.W. I don't remember much
in this matter because I did'not
"I don't recall going to the P.H.A. meeting the night before the
strike started, and I don't remeober seeing any notice of the meeting.
On the day tho strike started in 1937, someone told me that the men were
quitting. I heard that some of the miners were sending out cars loaded with
short neights, but I don't know if there was any organized plan for the miners
to load their cars short. I dont know what the trouble nos, and I don't .
knov the reasons for tie strike. I later heard that some miners had been
ooitnting for U.M.7}, and that the ngitotors had loaded their cars with
short weights. I don't know anything more'ahout the strike.
"I don't remember signing e petition for P.M.A. in 1937, but I know
that I did not sign d petition for U.M{F.
After the strike beyan Cotton Ananias came to my hone andasked me 9292
to join the U.H.7. I remember that he said something about Mine B reopening}
if the U.H.T. had the miners. I sen Ansnias several tines, but he only came}
to my home on one occasion. I sin him a couple of times in town. I think
that Cotton Ananias told me that the Idne B officials would reopen the
nine when U.E.T. had n majority of the miners, but would not open Kine B as
long as P.H.n. had a majority of the miners. However, I an not certain that
Ananias did say this. I do know thzt he did not threaten me; Epr did anyone
else threaten me.
"I heard that Mine B was going to reopen in September 1939. I wont
to the P.H.A. union hall and found out that the mine was going to reopen. I
also heard that the U.M.T. was goinr to come in and take some jobs away
from P.K.A. men. As I recall there were about 8 or 10 U.M.T. men that were
goinf into the mine. The F.i.A. decided to picket the mine to keep out the
U.T.T. men. I don't know when the P.M.A. decided to picket the mine. I wont
out to the picket lino because I wanted to. I stayed with the rest of the
men. I saw only Mine B men there.
"It is my opinion that Elshoff got the Federal injunction to keep
the P.M.a. men away from the nine so that the mine could get U.H{T. men into
the mine.
"I voted in the election in Decneber 1937 at the State Armory, and
voted for the P.H.n. I was satisfied with that union, and wanted to keepit. I doni} know anything about the details of the election.
If1i.
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3"I recall that was an air checker at Nine B. There was ;'
no such position at the mine before the strike started in 1937.
spent ?m_Qg__Qf hi_s*ti:n1e_t21i<in_r_;,j;_Q_tj1£i;1i_n;";.:-5-r
2. _ wu . I.'..'. ' ' 7 7 I
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Be: JOHN L. IEFTIS, ET AL _
"I don't remember getting a notice of reogening
nine in 193%. I don't recall ha r learzsd I:_1T' ip-IE.-I "EU _t' JL.-.UL UILU!c-anti.n11-ed! that the mine was to reopen. L
- After I went back to work at Mine B after the reopening in November '/
x
adg-1 Baumgardner spoke to me about joining U.i£.I?. He said that the ,
would win the next election, and I inferred from what he said that I
would lose my job if I did not sign up. Cotton Ananias also spoke to me "
several times about joining U.1-1.". Bohannon, who was my driver did notinsist too strongly that I join the 0.1.1."-::. I remember that
told me that I had better come to the IJ.H.'.'.'» meeting because the fnh'e_was
going U.I.I..'., and there would be no job for me if I did not sign up with
U.1I."J. Frank Austin also talked to me about joining U.L5.1'.92 Tony Plotch
told me that 1-iine B was goino U.M.T'!., but I don't remember that Plotch D-_- . . . .. _-|- ____.__ 1__]_ _ _____'_ __ A_u__ __ever asked me to Join the U.!-.I..92. Jl!.'L.'T1__U H11: L->'1u]~92~_: to 11:: several tiresabout joining U.LI.".'J. a couple of tine. also talked to me several
times about joining U.!i.'1i. He did not have much to say. None of these
men ever threatened me or abused me.
SE PUEOTS I h ard a lot of rumors obout U 3 activities 1--oing on in Hine B,
but I can't remember exactly were nornino in the, I saw b h ' w-.sh house at mine B
mese
did the1
d not so - ny =. L .
opinion at these no were beat up because they would not join the U.:i.'.':'.As I rec.==ll- -and bath told me this. But, even if they did not
tell me, I am sure in my own mind that that is the reason why these menwere beaten up. I also recall that a fellow named in-zs beaten up.
The sheriff was at the mine when these beatings were going on, but he did
not do anything.
In my opinion the management seemed to do everything they could do
for the U.L£.".. men, and everything they could do to harm the P.Li.A. men.
The U.l{.'.'.'. men were very friendly with the management, and seemed to be
running the show themselves, not Elshoff."About a week afterqwas beaten up, I signed up with x
U.!I..I. I heard that there were only men left in the P.?i.A. when I left
then to sign up with U.I-1.3. I heard that everyone was signing, no with
~ '.'.'. soon, someoneJI Iat-on 1l-i>92'-i-r- /*.'e fellows who /T ".¢
and the son of -'"""" _Idi 1 beat: o tisw
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Re: JOHI-I 1.. u:."r1s, ET AL L 7 L
1:70
"I ==»1*~i"*@ T= in we B after he had
been beaten up. Everyene thought that Bohannen
. i - did it but B ha uld t , d it be cant nued , 0 nnon co no ve One I
cause I was with Bohannon when was broug tout. Bohannzm could not have beaten in the short time 2 he was '
:=.=.*:n}' frets that day. .'as very E3.C~1.VE.' in 'P.L.A., and I think BB '. IIIIIIIII ' ' *gqrdner beet him. - I _
"I W15 dissatisfied with the mine and the union fights. I became
fed up with the mine as a whole and decided to quit.
"I have read this statement co-".:i :-tin; of this and four other type-
1-written pages, and I state that it is tru-2 to the best of my knowledge and
recollection.
/5/
Titnesses:
Springfield , Ill. " V
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~ "RE: J03!? L. LEWIS, ET Jun ' I __ 9292 92 _ .1 7c . 19 '71!
N *3 ""' WITH The 1 ollo-win investigation was conducted by Special 'i em at =P=wes-5 ii I 8 6 | I_-'._ f .IV!_ ._ M ..___ ' K
92 1 f At his re icience Springfield, Illinois,
Agents intertimied and he advise- ._-e never been in anytrouble nor has he ever en arrested. Ugo appeared to be fairly coopera-F '
tive and it is believed that he would/Rake a very good witness unless his
testimony was necessary. He appeared to understand questions and gave an-
swers to them, but cannot read the Binglieh language very well. He indicated
he did not knot much about the trouble and this may be true, because he was
working nights and never attended union m.-atings. The foiloning signed
statement was obtained from him. _ -
Springfield, I5.
Sept. 5. 19/+3 '
give the following statement to and
f t e F are known to re to be Spec. Agts. o . . .
have been made tote procure this statement and I
give it of no own free will. I started at_mine 'B' in Feb. 193'? as a '
over smco working from 9: ' 1'-IE to 4:30 AH.timbcrme.n__- I came to the 11.3. in and _
tngficld. I first joined _e mine union in
I have never been a union officer. II was born
ame a citizenhis was a U.Ii. sroppcd U.1E...'. and became P.}!.A._IIhen I went to work at Dine '3' . I
joined PJHA. because at that time I had to_to work at nine 'B'. During
the-: few months I was at mine '8' the PJIJ1. and Elshoff got along alright
so far as I know. I was working nights and knew nothing of what happened
in th; day time. So for as _I I-:no~.: the P.}I.A. men got on alright with their
officials. I did not attend meetings as I worked nights. I just did my
job and paid my dues. Beforc'~the urine closed the P.I.I.A. seemed to
be taking more dues than they should__ I dont know what this tas for but
they would take from $1.50 to $3.00 when they were only supposed to take
$1.50. The only special assessments were death benefits. I never saw
the U.H.Ti. picket mine 'B' prior to the strike. I no nothing of any
efforts of any kind to switch the men from P.il.i.. t'<5_'U.H.'?-'.
.
' I never'hoa.rd anything about any parties being given by
Elhff 1'0 Us -T4. " _ _ ' - A - _A
"ffhen the union contract ran out in 1937 I saw in the papers
that there was to be a temporary egroement until final settlement could '
be reached. Iio felt settlement could be reached. Ue felt that any
contract. gotten by either U.H.~i. or PJL1. would be the same. There were
no disputes at the nine on paydays just prior to the strike nor were 1
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JOHN L. LETIS, er AL ls
I1? HY W; WITH
Lontinued!7:1, £70
there any slowdowns or stoppages. I never heard anything
about the management saying anything about the Iago
question. I dont know or bother tbout such thinge_
I just attend to my own business.
I did not go to work the night of May 12, 1937. I went to the
mine but someone from the union called out to the mine and told us not togo down that they were on strike. the engineer told me
W the strike We were on strike he did not tell me 1." 3. Sol dont by
started. I dent remember signing any petition for either U.IJ.-T. or
P.3i..¢.. the summer of 1957. I heard that summer that U.L.=-'3. had formed a
local in Springfield but no one asked no to join. I remezzber nothing oi
interest happening; during the summer of 3.:»IS'7. Tihen the Co. attempted to
open the mine in Sept. 1937, I reed it W8: to open. Several of us went Int
but did not go on the mine propertg. The sit-down started either that
sore dag-' or the next one. I used to go out once in a while during the
sit down strike I stayed out there 5 or 6 days in ell. I went out of
re; own free wili when I did go. The P.!f.A. men were there to protect the
mine. There were no outsiders there and everything was peaceful. I
was not there when the rnershell came.
I heard th:-ough the nepers that they were going to open the
mine on Dec. 13, 1957. I did not go out.
"I voted in the first I~I.L.Ii.B. election, _-this was by secret
ballot and I still do not care to tell which weyf voted. I know P.il.A.
won and feel this issthhe troy most of the men felt.
I was not at the ine when they tried to open it in 1938 in
Jen.
As far as I know the reason the mine was closed so long; was
because Elehoff Y-0u1dn't open it with e Progressive union and the men
said that if he wouldn't open it es Progressive they rouldnt Open it
at all.
I heard that Felsetti wee operating the Jefferson mine while
Iiine B was olosed__ this was just talk so for es I know.
Then the mine opened in 1959, I got o latter telling me to
oome beck within a certain no. of days. I went 6: saw Foleetti and he
told me to come to work that night. Nothing was said st this time as to
the wage scale. After the mine opened I continued to pay rev dues to
I~.3~..z'-1. I did not join U.H.92'f. till after the 2nd election when I turned
over in order to keep my job.
-190-
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Bi: JOHIE L. LEVIS, ET AL
E5@ L75 -
I1?'1;.'-VT ~' "I'IH Prom the time the mine opened till after the 2nd
K.L.?..B. election nobody ever dame to me at home
. or Iii the mine to join the U.L1.Y-'. After U.!'i.V=. won the
, election I heard you had to join U.L£.F?. to keep your jib
so I joined up. I never heard any statement by the management as to which
union they 1" avld prefer. I knew nothing of any acts of favortiem. I
dent know whether there were e lot of new men in the mine as I-Ylhever
seer the men.
' "1 voted in the 2nd N.L.I»..B. election 311; was an honest
election as fer as I know. No one told me how to vote and I never new
a:1jf:~od§.r with leaflets or ergthing. This was by secret ballot end I
still dent care to state how I voted. I paid P.!.-LA. dues to the month
before the lection. -
h i owned lots of cave-ine The :.-tine was in be-.ci shape w en "3 1. ,
' inand lots of slate. I dent know how much it cost to put it onok
shape but it was 5 weel:E"1':_eiore it could open.
I know nothing of any fire at the mine in I939.
I know" nothing of any meeting where {ask Eleseov: wee kicked
I have had Agent read to me the foregoing etatement
consisting of '7 pages and to the est of my knowledge it is all tnue.
I an therefore signing it of nnr own free will.
Signed: _
itnosscdout.
<<;. I-eel 2"
'} *""; !pec1.|a! .1-.g;ent, !.B.I. l.i1w.!
Sm-ingfield, I11
sépe. 5, 1943'
-191-
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1 ns= JOHN 1.. 15.15, or ;.L
L-'*7Q___,
' Q .'ZLI»WTF." JITH _ The following inve * - ' was conducted by' Special sgonts and Q7T ' 9 -2t 511- in ield, Illinois on Se JUIB or ,
~ 1943.
J ,
_ st the residence of ring-
A" field, Illinois, which is the address of awed
and ELd92'iSa.d that he has l'1£3VuI been arrested.A ' . , 5 _
It was noted thz:tappeared to bc more intelligtnt than the
orciin::.ry minor and no re..ciily understood the questions asked hixna He was
' very coopcretivt and he will m.:.k~.: it Qorl witness if he is csllsd upon to- _'_ _ tostify. He furnished .'.g<:nts with the fell owing signed ststsmenti
K-. »
i '_ Springfield, 111.
"=' Sept. '7, 1943
hr-rob;-' give the followin ; st;.tenent to
who are kr1o1'.'n to mu to be Spec. .1_jts. of the
s or promises have been mode me to procure this statement.
--~" I was born I came to the U. S. in
' Y I am now waiting for my inal papers. I first Sb=.Ll"bUd at nine " " in.-+~; ; I aim a coal-diggers I first joined a urine union about -in this
i was U.lf..'. I have never held a union office.
-4 -
' "From the time I wont to mine "B" till 1932 I know nothing of the
relation b¢;t'-neon Elshoff and the U.!!.T'. I j0ii'1Od U10 P.I...J». in 11-932 be
f . cause everyone else at mine "B" join-id.
- "There was no trouble b tween Elshoff and the P.I{.... from 1932 to;_.' ' 1937. I 5:2 I1Othin;,' about Elshoff or Falsetti making arw statement opposed
_' to P.l1.... or favoring U_I.f.'=..., during tis 12$-. I believe they got along
I alri gilt. '
* "From 1932 to 1- ? the P.}£.A. "men got along alright with B11011 mi-OI!
, officials. In this period the non were given their say in union affairs_, _' when they wanted. I attended union meetings at this period when I felt. ,~.I,l like it. I never felt the union officers were spending union money wrong. Thev !..dO regular rcports to the union members on the money. dc had no
E. unusual assessments durinl; this tine, there was n 10% assessment to help
is-;,.-if:-* , =7 sir; otlur miners.
3192-
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WmQf* . 6
RE: JOHN L. LEUIS, ET AL
1oP<'_/ 5'71;
Far» Dwi-Y -;;I-TH 1 "Before the strike in 1937, I never saw the H.113}.
picket mine B and never got any literature or|contined! pamphlets from them. There were five men in
' P.H.s. who wanted to get the P.M.n. men to join
U.H.I. Some of those I remember are "Sammie" Joe Albanese, nndreu Schrela-
vioos, Dominic Pasquale, Pete Garter, Frank Austin, Tony Plotch, John
nnanies, & Chas. ohanon. Most of them never bothered no before the mine
closed. But I heard that they were around contacting others. I know
not*inu about any "Parties" being given by Elshoff for U.H;§. officials or _L
U.K.Y. for him.
"Uhcn.the union contract rep out in 1937, we were told by F.H.£.
officials that there nos e temporary a;roomcnt under which we were to get
beck pay for any increase we might get. is all felt .at this time that the
P.K.n. would get the sane contract as U.h{J. The men seemed satisfied with
the nay the contract was being hondlod and there was no fussing about pay
on peg day. I don't know any thing about what the so-called U.H.T. spies
had to soy at this tine. The management said nothing about the wage
question. I did not go to any netting the day before the strike and did
not know anything noout it. The mirning of the strike I heard that the
Company would not fire fiv: men who where for the U.H.T., there was nothing
said shout wages thet morning. The miners felt those men should have been
fired. I knew nothing about any oars being loaded short on the def of thegi in stri ". I knew nothing abzut any strike until quitting tine. I was
box Uhen no came on top I heard a strike nos called because the Co.
woul ot fire the 5 U.H; . agitators. For a couple of nooks after this
we had a picket line at Mine "B" this was on the road away from the mine
and was entirely peaceful and voluntary. Ie were just thor» to protect
our jobs.
"I remember signinn n oetition on the reed while out on the road
picketing. I signed this oi my own free will. This was to show thet the
most of the men were P.M.n., they wanted to see hon many were P.H.n. & how
many U.M.I.
"I dont remember anyone saying any
U.H.U. petition.
"I don't remember signiné any other petition for P.H.;. I would
has uh willing to however.
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RE: JOHN L. LEIIS, ET AL
£9 i>Co/ é97{!
opened in 1937, I reed i 0
t was to open in the paper. ,,;[T§-{- "I went to the nine the first day that the mine
I went to the Eine to nor
U.M.W. officials were in
me if I would join I could go to work. I refused
of the men previously mentioned go down into the continued!k. hen I got there the
the mine office and told
to do this. I sun some
mine. I remember
"Sammie" wont down with clean clothing on. I went home and heard that night
the P H.n. was going to picket so I went to help. He went to protect our
goo. Ye were there of own will, to protect our job and eaurd the property.
There was no trouole during this, all of the men there were from our own
local. He were allowed to go and cone as we pl8&3¬d. s few U.H.T. men
Cone out but they said nothing they were just there to look. I was at th;
Din; the evening tho nnrshnll cane out, he read something to us & told us
we had to leavn. He were heartbroken over this feeling we had lost our
job.
"I did not go out when they tried to open the nine n few days later.
I did hear about it.
"I voted at the first N.L.R.B. election. I wcnt right from home
to the nrnory. I voted for P.H.;. because that was the nay I wanted to
vote. This was an honest and good election, by secret ballot. I did not
see any U..'} men or anyone elso giving out literature at that tine.
"I heard on the radio that Mine B was open
mn had gone to work, but I did not go out.
"I know nothing about how Elshoff was able
so long. I heard that Tony Fletch was working at
uncle "Tony" told me. I knew nothing of Falsetti
"I got a registered letter telling no whenin Jen. 1938 and that some
to keep the mine closed
the JOffePS0n mine, his
going to work there.
the nine was to open in
1939. I went out on Nov. 10, 1939 at that tine I sew Felsetti who asked
me my cheek number and put no back to work at one
was said about wages or unions at the tine. I ii
Ill. union wages.e in my own room . Nothing
gured we would get the
"Le knew Elshoff would not deal with the P.M.n. but had no idea thy.
e"I paid P.H.n. dues after we went back and up unil 2nd N.L.R.B.
election when I joined U.H.921 otch, John "Co ton" nnannis,
' ' -> ~"» nd saw and self at hone, to and a third non c._1__-_ a my Jget us tn sign up for U.K.S. I c icvc this was in nugus ; . I told than
I would not join until the P.H.n. local did, they did not threaten no but they
told no I would have no job if I did not join.
' ~194-t _ .,_ - -_. 1.. ~ -,-1:-.. . . ._. ._,..{_-, .- g_92_,_¢,,¢-A-1»;--:y__-.,V - .1 .f-..s- T ,, .3; ;.:.-,4.:,,A short time later
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. L. L'E-715, ET ALbva, 4.9,;
IIFY HIT; "Sammie" Joe nlbanese came to get us to Join the& t U.1E.Y.*. two other men were with him him vistayed
continued! in the car. He wanted to know whBn_ we were
going to join up with U.M.T£. but he made nothreats. old "Sammie" that if her husband joined up with Jtho scabs she. was }_;Oi1'1g to divorce him. Still later -"-ltalkod no in tho min-_: asking me to join U.I~i." F. I again refuse! !o join and he
told no I b--ttor join biioro tho time was up or I would have no job. The ;
P.!£.i.. never did any thing to kcep their non or get new ones. I saw plenty
of new faces at the mine a couple or so months after the nino opened. Eany
of those men loft aftcr the 2nd N.L.R.B. election. The mine management
did nothing at this time to show that they favored the U.H.T. over the
F.I?.i.. I got lots oi docks aftor I wont be-cl: but I can't say whose fault
it I don't. rononbl r Signing any cards for either U.1{...-'. or P.I-1.1..
in the summer of 1940.
I never srzw anyone got heat up at the riinc. I saw lots of them g0
away with bl;.ck eyes, but I no-var saw the fights though I hoard about
plenty.
"'-hon rm wont buck to work the mine was in bad condition. I do
not know any thing about any fire in'l939 or while the mine was closed.
"I votrzd at tho 2nd N.L.R.B. election. I voted for P.}§.;.. I
had already joined the U.I-I.".'., bccause I felt I had to. I think the
election was honest, it was by socrot ballot just like the first one. I
w. s not forced to vote.
"I joined about a month bcforc the eloction. I was iniated "
into it with the last group.
"I don't roncmbx any riot.-tin,_; whore Jack Glascon was kicked out.
"1 haw had Spec. .._;t.'Q1-end this 10 page statement to me as
I 11£1.'U difficulty reading & to t e st of nor knowlc.~d;;a and belief the
irifornation tho-rein is all truo and co:-mot. I am therefor signing it of
Ln; own free will."
/s/
"'.'.'itnesscs
Special .o_,~"en!, F.B.I.
Q ;Cl Jlédn FnBuIu !"
"Springfield, Ill. " 195 "
Sent. '7, l9¢3"
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mm 1.. LEIIS, k! Q/e 5 /U!
INTERVII 1. I'I inte 3pecial and
J _ _92 _ _ _' ¢92_. 1 ta.-ST.&t¬C1 'CH£2L in V181! O1 12-HG féct. is iléal. u¬:a..L ul U--'..l-A-.I.Ul-LA. J
l ' " -- » h had never paid much attention to Union A -. in spea'xF.ng the I-nélish ianrua .e, e activities at the mine. stated also that his memory is vegue as
' -'» * ents that took place in 1937. to the cnronologicel ord-r o cv-
It is mlieved thet~-ould only make a fair witness.
' b low the signed St='_.tem -31'.t executed by There is being set lortn e
at the time of this intervie.-1:
I!
I11.
_ z92_-9292__ ___ -._ ___..- .-+.-.4_ -..-,_+ 4.,-.-Dbc5U92¢.JL-AJ|.; Ui
' ....,.:'"= Lei th-L2 .LuJ..J.u92'i.'1.u;; vul1.i.uT.»ug '= uth of "hem have identified themselves es Specie!
4&1!. of Investigation. No threats or promises
t 'ndnce. me to znale e statement. hove been mode o 1 = ~ - .
I was born and case to the U. S.;1. .n n prcsezmtly reside en-"111,!
"I started work as a Liner ina.nd joined the U 1! I at that
time. I 11.-we never held any office in any union. I go t "bout half theunion xncetinbs. I stsrted worming at Mine D in March of Then I
started wort: at Mine I5 I was already a member of the P 1- .. union.
"I remember that our contrect with the Mine expired on March 31,
a new contract with b~.ttGI wags. 1 K our union was trying to gettold us to go ahead and wori: and when the contract was signed
__e would see to it the-t no would get back pay. worked about e month
and still we didn't get en," beck p'.;_;- enl we didn't know -shat the terms of
the new contract were to be. '
"st about this some time I he.-rrd that some of the Progressive men
were tryinb to organize for the U.EZ.'..'. These men were telling us thatFrog:-essive wouldn't be able to get us :1 good contract. I remember
was one oi the men who was t..lking about the contr.-act. I never hes
that aw of these men were ever expelled from the union. I did not attend
meeting when the men were kicked out of the union.
I~~_
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I I0
RE: JOHN L. LB§I5, ET AL
Zé7:7Cl,/ i974§
I1iZIIRVIEo.' ".'J'IE! "I remember that I went to work as usual
continued! on. the day of the strike. I was adigger in boxnd our uni n nan,told us not to load the cars full until the com kicked the men cu!
who were supposed to be members of united. I loaded cars short just like
the TC-at were doing and I think it was about 2 o'clock in the afternoon
when we were told to leave the pit. I came on top and washed up and then
Came home. I didn't talk to anybody, and didn't. realize the mine was
on strike when I came home; I can't rnmmoer whether 1' Went back to
work the next day or not.
"I don't romemb-r ever signing a petition for Progressive in the
sprini; or summer of 1937. I Yient out to the mine in Sept. oi 193'? be-
cause l heard the nine was going toiropen a§,:".in. I-hen we heard that the
Company was going to let the U. 1!. men work with us we decided we
wouldn't worn: and that all of us would sit down at the mine. I stayed on
the p cket line for about '7 we-el-:s. Our union officers told us we had to
stay on picket duty if we wanted to hold our job. I came home duringthe time I was on picket duty to look over my house innd cleanup. lhe men didn't want no to cone he-no, but I came home ... _ ay. Nobody
over thi--zatenc»-.1 me or hit me for leaving the picket lino. I wash t on
picket duty when the picket line was stopaed by the injunction in Dec.
of 1937.
"I voted in the N L R B election of Dec. l?3'? and as far as I was
concerned. everything went along fine. There wash t any fighting and the
men voted the nay they zvantod to. H s
In November of 1939 I got a letter from the company telling, me to
come back to work. I went to the mine on Saturda and was told to come
back to work on Horzday. I 1..-ent beck to work the next Monday and started
in at nnr old section-
"I kept up my dues in P H A for some time after I started back at
the mine. I kept telling ohannon and others who wanted ne to join
United , that I wouldn't join until tho majority Joined. Nobody ever
threatened me to join any union. I joined the United because there
wasn't any difference in either union as far as I could see. They both
make you pay dues and I'll go whichever may the rest go. Nobody has over
bothered me at the mdne and as far as I'm concerned I can't say much as
to what th- union has done; I am still employed at Mine B.
M -191-
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W..._?Ir'J;921r~;= JOHN 1.. mans, 2': AL
Im"2av1£*.: 1';1?1"s: t This entire statement of 1. pages has been continued! read to me vywand it is true to
the best of my m mory."
'.Tit.ne=sse.;..-. ."- - -
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! Special :s'j':.'1'1tS, FBI! U. S. Dept. of Justice"lo 7Q/
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9292.'_-kt-~ "'r ~am JOHN L. LEWIS, or AL-
IN'l'EiVIE.1 WITH , Springfield Illinoi , Bm as at re
e b See iel ents nd » he e Isl!!!peeka English with dif but 18 e le to un erefair y we - Throughout the mwwi %d tint he has slimy;
oonsidez-ed the U.M.I- to be e better union ti-an the P-J!-A. He elnimed to
eve no eriminel record Following is e. signed statement obtained frun in '
"I - msd Whcm 1 lmow to be Specie}. Agents of
the edere. ureeu o * of my own free will, with no
threats or premises made to me» Springfield, I11 .
September 5, 1943.
eke the following voluntary statement to
"I live at om, 111., and work
at Mine B. I we orn i, B-nd er»-me to theUnited States in was nil gfild in 1
joined the United Mine Workers in t Auburn, I11, and remained a
member until 1952, when I joined ogresei-we Mine Workers of America.-
In 1941 I rejoined the U.l£-.TI- I begun work at Mine B around 1928» I
have never been an officer in any union. In 1932, I become a member of
the BIA, when the miners split up with UJLW. I took no pert in re-
organizing the P.M.A., and don*t know the reeaon it started. I always
have liked the U.}l.W. better than the P-Lida, because I feel we had bet-
ter conditions zmder that union. I went to acme of the PJI.-in meetings,
mostly because we were fined 50¢ if we didn't go. -
I dent remember any PM A. meeting on the night before the
strike, On the day of the strike, sane of the men were loading their
oars short, however, I landed mine full-
"hround quitting time o1d me the mine we shut-
tine down, I don't know why the strike was enlled, and don't even remem-
15-rdhetl-ring any reasons for the strike. I don't remember igning any
oetitions in 195'!»
In September of 1957 e picket line was thrown around the
nine I didn't want to go out to pieket the mine, beo-use I me sick,
but the P.L!.J92. officials made me go. I 1-me _<m the picket line for two
days. We were pieketing to keep the U.ll-We men from working in the
mine-.. All the men in the picket line were from Mine B. When the ecmpe-nygot the injunction to get the men off the pranieee, -vole the men
to get off the property; -
-IQQII
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RE: JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL-
$1 .
10"! D
TITH "In the eleotirm of December 19-57, I votedSQ for P.M.A. at the In-sennl. I "nus e member of the
I-".Li.A¢ at that time, and was working at Pani-,har Cmqk
Number 5. I favored the UJ-13?. but voted for P.MJL¢
beoouee they had the majority-Continued!
"F1-an 3336 to 1940, I was -'-orking at Panther Creek H'..a1-A:-er 5,
and donlt remember getting any notices that line B was going to open
up. I don't remember getting any notices before the mine opened in
1959. I don't remember that anyone oume to me during that time to get
me to join the U.1£JJ-
"I got I» notice that Mine 5 would reopen, and their I could
have my old job back. I didnt go book to work until December 1940,
beolmse there was no room for me before that time. In the election of
h U.1'&=W because I thought it II!-a I1 better Februc-ry_,_ 1941, I voted for t e 0
i and liked it better. Ho one made me vote thnt way. I joined the un on th election. I never heard the murmgenent of Mine BU.L.W. just after e
anything that would show they liked U.1£.'.. better than P.1J.A., or
' erss I have alwcvs thought that the U.L!-J7. we 0. better unionvice v - _ ,
than the P.I£..A., and would 1-other be e. member of U.1!J'l'-I
"I have hud the foregoing, consisting of approximately two and
a half pages, rend to me, and state that it is the truth to the beet of
knowledge -
' 92'itne sees:
peel Agents, F.B.I.,
Springfield, 111-"
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ss= JOHN L. LEu1S. ET AL 1 ,1 _
H <~ 5; '..ITH H we ' tcrviewed by Bpccial Agentsh in He notun ors an English well, an * interview was con-'
ducted with difficulty. Ho appears friendly and cooperative, but due tohis .200; understanding of English, together withit is not felt that he would make e ss..is.ec.ory .._.-Hess. The-5!e.!::n;:|n|! wl hich was secured from him is set forth as follows:
-111-
9-6-45
make the fOll0W'ing -voluntary statement
of whom have identified themselves as
being rel Bureau of Investigation. Ho threats
or promises have been made to induce me to melee a statement. '
5. 0618 to the U080
anxfirrre been a 31.8."
1 started mining I was born in
I presently res
cit er. e. long time-. I am prosein E .Y em?' md joined the U ILTI. in that year. I have never held any office
in any uni0A.
I was working at Feather Creek #1 1932 when I joined the
Progressives. I started working at Nine B in about 1935 and was working
there at the time of the strike in 193?. In the Springd. 1937 I recall that
the union contract with the company had expired Er. the union was trying to
get a new contract. I also recall that at about this same time some men
were tryingito organize for United. I know that everyone seemed to be
satisfied with Progressive except for about 14 men who were trying to org-
anize for United. no far as I knowesrcryone was satisfied at the mine ex-
cept Chose men. Bone oi the non who were trying to organize were Tony
P101-ch, Bohennon, Albanese, Pasquale, Andy and others. I remember that
thcse men were trying to tell _the other men to join up with United. I 0.1-
ways told these men that I would sign up with United when the rest did. I
said if everybody joined I would. I believe Tony Plotch asked me to join
United before the strike. _
"I went to work as usual in box on the day of the strike and
I remember that there was some argument as o whether the Progressive
men were going to let those United men work. There were some men in the
company office and they said they didn't want the men to work. Gs all
started on our jobs 6: lot of the men loaded short cars, but I loaded sq
cars es usual.
'A.B I remember it we worked until about 2 O'clock in the a1tc!'--
noon when we were told to come out of the mine. Lt about that time I saw
some of the cars that were loaded short. Tihen I came on top I was told
- 201-
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RE: JOHN L. LE7-IS,E'ILL
INTER. 5" ne that there was a etfike on. 1 think =
men that a strike hed been called.
con inued
"I don't remember signing any petitions in the summer
of 195'? - either Progressive or_Unit-e-L 9.5 I remember it,-, the companytried to open the mine in Sept. of 1937. I went out there and stayed onthe picket line off and on until the Marshal came with an injunction in
Dec, of 1937. I came home once in a while to clean up and nobody ever
told me I coulc'int go home. The men all said we had to go on the picket
line or we would be called scabs and maybe we would lose our job.
"I voted in the NLRB election in Dec. of 193? at the Armory inSpringfield. '
ing or trouble.
I went back to work at the mine in -November of 1939 when themine rcooe-Egg. I worked at the mine for about 5 or B months-
I think I wont back -to my same place in vex 'n L-iine B in 19259. I was u rk for about
5 or 6 months I went back
to I-iino B and as e em or a Jo . everybody said the company had a eon-
tract with Hnited and amen had to be a member of United before they mould
hire you. This might have been in the early part of 1941. ihen they
told me they wouldn't have a. job for me right away, I want and got a job
with Hine A and still work for Mine A.
"This entire statement of four pages has read to me by-_ and it ie true to the best of my memory.
Signed
iiitnesaedz
ia1 Agents, FBI, 17.3. 3691:. of Justice.I heard a few of the men arguing, but I didn't see any fight-| F
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JUHNL.1ETIS,EI'AL
1mmv1g'; 'qI'1'1-1 The followin investi etion we ' ted b
________ atIllino s on - - . t hi; :65 enoe on
a V159 e e never been arrested in s . s no he had l
greet difficulty in understanding the questions and he speaks Englishvery poorly and is of extremely low mentality. It is believed that he
would make e. very poor witness unless his testimony were absolutely
necessary», Agents obtained the following signed statement frcm him!
this statement. I was
081716 tQ tha Ups: 9-bO11JC"Seat. 3, 1945
111.IIIIIII '
give the following statement to
who are known to me to be epee.
eio at Snrini-field, Ill. have not been w ing; for theI first joined e union overizreors ego. I huve never
been e union officer. 'l-Then I first went toT5ine "B" there was e U.M.W.
union there I dent remember how lon u o that was. I worked there upuntil Christmas time about
had"When I first went to work at Mine "B" the 11.11.17. union they
there was alright so far as I know. I dent know anything about the re-
lation between this union and Mr. EL$HOFF or FAISETTI.
the
- . - - .. -. . . . .._ ___92._._ .LL___ _.92._.-. -. an I joined tne k'.ri..R. tlnicm wnen. tmy uumo ill. beoeeee ...
union there and you had to belong to keep your job. I took
in forming; this union.
RBI!"uring most of the time we had e Progressive Union at Mine
everything was alright as I remember. I heard something about Mr.
ELSHOFF wanting to change frun P.Il.J92. buck to U.1l.Yl'. but I knew nothing
of this myself. So for as I know Mr. F1tL5ETTI or Er. EISHOFF neversi er.ythir.g to dieeredit the P.I-La. leaders. While we had the Pro-
gre
any
we e
the
but
any
d i -3ssive Union everything was alright. I did not know anything about
trouble between the P.M.A. members and their leaders. The P.H.A.-.
u good union and fed lots of poor miners. I know nothing about
fimlnoee of the Progressives, I went down to meetings lots of times
didnt attend regular beoeuse it was too fur 1:-cm here. Then there was
question c-a to what the union should do it was voted on our leaders
not rell us whet to do.,.-'
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RE: JOHN L-_ Lens, Er M. A 7 A L/ 7 'D
HI TEE-W1.E'~.'f WITH -Before the strike in 1937 the 11.11.17. never
bothered us at Mine "B" in any may that 1 know. Nobody
on inue ever tried to get me to join U.M N. then.
"I never heard of Hr. ELSERFF giving any parties for U.ll.FT,. menor officials. ' '
"I n heard anything about the temporary wage agreementbub92'v'¬.¬Ii -Ild Mr. ELSHOFF. I always thojaght the P.M.A. was
-'-1 better union and could do ae much for the men as any ether. I dent
remember may fuss over pay at the mine prior to the strike as I
recall everything was elrightl
I dent remember whether or not there was u meeting of the
Progressives the night before the mine closed if there was such
n meeting I did not go to it.
"I dent remember anything about the men being expelled frcxn
the Progressives just before the strike. I dent know the reason this
strike was celled.
"I heard that sane of the curs were londed short on the day of
the strike I didn't see any of this however end did not do it myself. I
think it was JOHIJ SCHNIEDHQ who told the nen to load the oars short.
I heard no talk in the territo where I was about going on strike. Whenwe eoumo up on top I think toldvus we were not going book into themine any more, I dent remember e reason for this or whether he gave us
any reason or not.
"I dent remember signing uny petitions after the strike started
for either the Progressives or the United Mine Workers. I dent remember
any body trying to get me to sign anything ufter the strike started.
"I dent remember any thing about the U.M.'92I. forming 11 local
the summer of 193?. _
"There may have been U.1l.1I_. spies in the P.1.iJ». but I dent
knew any of them or who they were. I dent resell anything ebout Ilhr-tthese men might have dcme nt the time of the strike or from then until
the mine reopened.
I dent remember any thing about the attempt to open the mine inSept. 1931-. I do remember the picketing there wad I took port in it.
I was there most of the time except to cone home and ohknge clothes moi
in o while. The men who took port in the pioketing were just the local
P.1l.n. men. I dent recoil any union meeting where the P.M_.:.. decided whet
to do when the mine tried to open under U.}1.Tf_. I just heard that the
- -204-
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J I @_
ruin JOHN 1.. Leas, er L.
A '> ¢_. JPQD
t t the mine aomybuddy and . IN"3PV " P.M.A. was ioketin ou a
Ph-5 went over to help.
loontinuedT*w _
"Nobody threatened me if I didn't go to help with
about the ticketing. I went of my own will. The first day there were
10 U-MM. men over by the Co. office the sheriff sent these men heme,
because if he hadn't maybe there wouid have been some fights. after
this the U.M. l. men did not come beak. The pioketing was peaceful and
nobody was hurt or bothered. We were just at the mine to protect our
jobs-
"I-remember when we left
11some-body oeme over and read something
there woe too it no fights no fuss nor am we all came away, that was e
but sane were ndu Us all anything. Some of the men
knew that the man who read
we came on heme.wero glad to leave
the nape: was met tenclinv .. Ll __Oto his business so
to open the mine "I dont remember anything about the attempt
'1;on Dee, l5, I957; I think
remember the details now-
I dent rememberI heard about it but I did not go beck and don
anything, about the H.L.R.B. election of Deo-
Arm r in Springfield to 15, 193?. I dont remember ever going to the o y
vote for which union I wanted-
b t the nttomot to open the mine "I dont remember anything a ou _
in Jan. 1938 under the U.i1.1I-é I oan not recall anything outstanding
I I I 1939.A happening betweenJan 1938 and Nov-
oin to open in "I dont 1-ember how I found out the mine was g g
Nov. 1939, I dent resell getting
paper. I dent think I went back
went back and he told me when myany letter I guess I reed it in the
the mine at o-nee I think my buddyto
room was ready. m-{En I wont book to work
at mo to join the U.M.T- I did not nobody bothered me or tried to g .
See anybody get beat up over at the mine but I heard that some fellows
4- Aid Q-. l92'92n92': tho}: n-u'n1-eddid. I dent Reno-w of anything the mar:.genen.. .. -.~10 . .--- ---- -----.--_
U.M.T. Maybe they did but I dent know.
I "After we went buck to
M "1'm"+ Eel! end halfe I got eonredU.M.W. men oome in un-
maybo there would bework I saw more
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RE: Jozm 1.. mus, ET AL JG? 0
INT =-, ix have had spew hat--1"° d *1 f°"5°i 5 tin ~=" B low W1 : ;:;;:::::- d the En liah langu&gB- 8 YOontlnued! iii true ans correct. I a therefore slsnin th°
Gama n
Yitnesaa7
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SP6cia1 ngen!,!¢B-1- Mi1 ': Wis!
, '1 U-'92'nn- __ ._
Sept» 5, 1946»Cl-L Dc Ob. _;_92.92uJ-, Iii-QLIIT
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~ ée'7£>
II{f[fR'VIE.T $115 The fQ on was conducted by Special . r.,m~...= and in Spring- -I-¢'----' _ ifield, Hlinois, on gptember g, I515. H
' nt his residence, Springeld,
Illinois, agents interviewed and he advised he has never
hi lifv I been arrested in ,
It was noted that is a very intelligent individual and
he seemed to recall the dates of different occurrences very quickly. He _
appeared. to know what was going on during the period under investigation.
It is felt that he would make a very good witness if his testimony is
desired in Court. '
The following signed statement was obtained ircrm_
!prir.gf'ie-ld, I11.
Sept. s, lees. ' -
ive the following statement to g L
are known to be Special Agents of the
or promises have been made me to procure this state-
ment.
came to the U.S.
I first joined a"I was "born in
in-and became a oi
mine-u'g.on in Ill. when I first been working at
Kine A as a coal digger since Feb. 1938. I have never hold any union
office. I started work at Mine "B" in l936_|.__ I was then a member of the
P.l.i.£z.. I am now a member of U.H.'I;., as when Elshoff took over Mine ".£.'
he was going to bring in adifferent crew and in order to keep our job we
all went over. _ i _
"During the year I was at Mine "B" under the Progressives every-
tlng was getting along fine. Thirigs wont along sell right an to the
time of the strike. I never heard Elshoff or Falsetti _§_§_v_f_ that they dis-
liked the P.H.A. and wanted to get u.m.t; base?
The P.ld..1.. men seemed to get along alright right up until the
strike. The business of the local was fair and square and the miners
could say what they wanted. I attended most of the P.l&.£. union meetings.
The officials issued reports regular as to where the money was going.
There were some special assessments but these were always leszitimentunion expenses. I never felt the money was being mishandled. I remember
when some of the P.l5.A. men were sent to prison for bombings and as far
O
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..
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P. o-_ _ -I.:'.-'_?;92: -, '31?b7c../ b'>_r>
I kn those men were all steady workers. I knew - EETERVIEiTITH as ownothing about any of the bombings or other violenoe=
1936 to 1937 I never saw the U.H.. men set up From
" " I er any U H T. literature or leaflets any-picket line at Nine B . nev . .~
distributed at Mine "B", not there we?E_suoh pamphlets distributed all
over the business district one Sunday morning. I knew that there were
some U.M.I. men at the mine trying to get the men to leave P.H.A. some
that I recognize are "Sammy" Joe hlbenese!, Andy Schrelevious, Donnie
Ton Plotch "Cotton" Anenias, and Charles Pasquale, Frank Austin, y ,
f these men some to my home before the Bohanon [Bowling Green!. None o
t ther mens homes however. I mine closed. -I had heard that they went o o
heard they were getting $55.00 per week as organizers-this is all I knowabout it however. _' _
"I heard thot Elshoff was giving some parties. I never went to
any however. I had an invitation to attend one party_Ehis was supposed to
be given by the Republican Party but we heard before the party that U.H.K.
organizers were going to be there and anybody who went would have to join
U.M.¬. This was hold at the home of LOUIE CASPER, now dead, the address
was on the 1700 B1. of Peoria Rd. Andy Schrelevious invited mo to this
Party! .
Qhen the contract ran out in the spring of 193?, we heard that
there was going to be a 10¢ reise which would be retroactive. This was
told us by the P.M.A. officials. The U.H.. organizers who were in P.H.A.
' t over a period of time. There had been suspended at different moo ings
was no feeling that the P.M.£. would not get as good s contract as U.H..
- es no dissatisfaction among the miners During April and early Hey there w
over the wage matter. .
On the night of May ll, 1937, a 3pociel Booting was hold. l
saw a notice on the bulletin board at the mine. I believe there was
pretty good attendance at the meeting. _These men had been considered by
the trial board and found guilty1_they then called for e rising vote and
the men voted 90 to 4 to confine the decision of the trial board. Es were
ilty and that we should vote told the board had already found they were gu
not Joe Albonese sat next to me and neither whether to support that or .
defense of the alleged spies. h or anyone else had anything to say in
e * n of +he triel hoard susoend- Alosnese himself voted to support the Q9515-9 -- en- - . ,
ing himself. I believe the next day the company was esked to discharge -
t re who worked there and let than go these men and they said they didn ca
s ension of these men. down. This meeting was held only to consider the so p
t to work I did not know we were going to _ The next morning when We Wen
oral did not know of the suspension strike. 80 far as I know the men in gen
of the alleged spies. Cars were loaded short that day, the word being
92
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RE: JOHN L. LEXIS, ET AL.
L: '7 cs1 JE>'7_[! '
passed alongIICTERVii TZITH
continue the only daythat the cars should oe loaded short as a
protest against the Co. not firing these men. This was
this was ever done. The men were called
out that afternoon, we were just told to suite. when
I gotEon top the engineer said we were going on strike as the Co. refused
to fire these men. The next day the men started to picket the mine and
continued till about the last of May when the officials said the mine was
closed. The picketing was entirely peaceful, they only picketed in the
morning and no one went to work. I signed a P.ll..b.. on the road by the mine
while we were on picket, no one
was forced. It was to show theforced me to sign and I don't think anyone
Company how many men the P,li.A. had. I
heard of a petition gotten up by the U.L.1. but nohody asked me to sign
such petition. I signed a petition in the fall of 1937 for the P.M.A. to
send to the I¬.L..R.B. I signed this of my own free will and no one else was
forced to sign as far as I know.
"I heard of the forming of a 'U.l£.T;. local in Springfield in the
summer of 193?. I dont recall
sit-down strike. Lhen the mine
papers. It was stated the mine
mostly showed up for this. The
to see F-lshoff, they later toldanything else of interest prior to the
opened in Sept. 1937, I reed of it in the
would be opened under U.l£.'Z. All the P.H.A.
P,l£..!.. officials were at the mine and went
us they had talked to Fnlsetti and he had
said the U.1.5.7". had a charter there and P.1i.1.. men could not go down.
FALSETTI to 12 U.l.i.T.. men over to the shaft & let them down. There was
no violence. That afternoon we held a meeting and decided to not let any-
one go down in the mine this was held at 5th 5: Kiashington.
"I was out at the mine most of the time of the sit-down strike.
The other men and I were there oi our free will. The men who pioketed
were all local 54 men. Everything was very peaceful and no UJLTJ. men came
to the mine during this time. I was at the mine the evening the arshaNI ll
came out about 8 o'clock. Host of the men could not understand why this
was done when P.l£.£.. was majority union and were ready to go to work.
Timon the Co. tried to open the mine in Doc. 1937, I knew it was
to open but don't know how. '-o just wont to the mine and drove by.
"I voted at the first H.L.R.B. election, this was by seoreotballot. he met at the Hell and tnlked to us for a short time-
Ee explained about how the voting would work. I voted "Progressive" and
believe this was an honest election. I-ihen we went to the Armory to vote
there were some men there with pamphlets for U.H.TI. but I did not get any,
Those men were on the streets near the Armory. _
I heard something about an attempt to reopen the mine in Jan.
1938 but I did not go near there then. I heard that the reason the mine
was not opened as a P.l.£.A. mine was because Elshoff had an agreement with
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anything to do with P.lI.k. I heard.
iiinervwnwvrwi TTTHi_ U..Z. not to have
something about Elshoff taking over the Jefferson
con inue outknow no more about this»
' ' d in 1959 I got a r ered telling me to
Hine A so I ..nen the mno opens egiest
come beck within a certain time. I -was airenoy working at' Falsotti I was just going down and get my tools and the loose coal up.Nobody said any hing to me about Union
1 'ustsaw. ' -
I did this working about 2 days.' . hhere I was working in Box the mine was n 3
be A P an fire st Aline '8" induring those 2 daysthe Same shape as when I left it. I never near ... .._, -1959. I did not vote in tho 2nd N.L~R.B. election. I remember one meetingwho;-;*.-:a.s drunk and they threw him out for creating a. disturb-
ance not ting was said about money at that meeting.
'tt n statement and to the best I have road this 10 page hand-wri e- I am therefore signing it of my own free willbelief it is all true.
<*=>
Special Agent, FBI, St.. Paul, Minn.
Springfield, Ill.
Sept. 6, 1945.of my
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§,;:-*i.:;g '-'-""'
in .-s5
Re: JOHN L. I.£-SIS, ET AL
92 E '7CL
II"I-i, .- 3.- -. 1
92was noted that a ques ions asked him and that he IE8pO!'lG"¢_ very well with and it appeared that he knew whet was going on
" at I-Iine B during the period in question while he was there. 1'1-, is £811; that would make a good witne ' testimony is needed. The 1'o11o:.-
Y ,_ ing signed statement was executed b
_ Springiuieg, !!._'* H 5313130 6;
~ gm we fellows Biases to I5 0 are known to me to be Special Agents oi
e r. . . to . as s or promises have been made me to procure this.8tate-
' ment.
I have been 2. coal-digger at Panther Creek Mine #2 since Nine "B"closed in 1937. I worked at mine I5 for aboutqyears prior to t!Bstrike_- I was born in o U. S; iJ1Q_§_cbee-me a U S "Liter a ma. QA r in Springfie I was 92. Q I - A 2 ' Q . OV s Union ne;nherh% I first joined e U=1i,ZI= Union in Springfield inz_ _ I have never e e union office. .
La "From the time I started st gins "B" until 1932, I knew nothing of
the relation between the U.H.¥='. and the mine management. I felt the miners._,_ did right in 1932 to leave the U.?£."5. and form the Progressives. I took noactive pert in this__ however. From 1932 to 193'? Elshoff got along just fine
with the P.LI.A. I heard that there were 2 or 3 men around who wanted to Vf swing the men from P.1'-$A. to U.Iȣ.S. _Fe1sett_i_ told a group of us a short
time before the strike that if we wanted tovzbe Progressives we should go
over to Peabody Mine and go to work. This was when the U.M.T-. was trying
to first get back into the mine. The P.hI.A. miners alwaz got along well
with our officials. There was no feeling that the union was run as a
racket. The miners themselves ran the union and not a picked group. Frcm1932 to 1937 I attended most of the Union meetinfs. There was no feeling_ that the money oi the F.H.A. was being mishandled, reports were made on
this at each meeting._/ '
¬:,;!,'_.:_.;_ bombing were guilty or not but talk at the time was that they had been framed
-ii-7-T -§' "From 1932 to 1937 there was no trouble at mine "B" between U.ll.1i'.' §5 P.M.A. that I know of. I never saw any U.H.T!.- literature at the mine.
-211-'
_ _ ' ,; -. .1.--. 92.. W -,v, __~ 7 b V M ___, 4 _ 921' lb
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1 8I'V1.¬;"92'<: pecia n s
on Serltember 6, .
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m=.»= JOHN L. 12'-1'15, er AL 37¢, bi
A few days before the mine closed I heard of about 10
P.M.A. men who were for the U.H.W. I §_gr_1_t recall any
zconginuedl of these men being expelled at any meetings I attended.
~ "I heard that Sammy Joe Albanese!, Andrew Schrelevious,
Dominic Pasquale, Pete Garter, Frank Austin, Tony Plotch,
John Cootor ananias; John Sirtout, Geo. _f_¢ Emory Jacawey, Chas. _Bohanon
and James Hale were the ones trying to get the miners to go beck to U.l£.H.
None oi these men ever bothered me. I _<_i_o_n_g know who did it but someone
was paying these men as they had a lot of money £1 some even bought new cars
at this period. I
"I krzen nothing about any par-ties gi'."¬n by Elshoff for U.!I..Y. -
Officials or U.?.!.Y.. officials for Elohofi.
"When the contract expired in 1937, it was understood from the P.H.A.
officials that Elshoff had agreed that if we would go ahead and work we would
get back pay when a contract n;s signed. The Progressive officials told
us all about this and the men were 57tl5fl@Q- The feeling was that the
P¢.1.£.A. men could get just as good a contz". ct as U.L¬.h'. In April of 193'? and
early Hay there was no commotion on paydays, everybody seemed satisfied. I
heard nothing regarding how the mam gement felt in regards to the wage
nus: ration.
"On the night before the mine "B" closed__ I dont recall for sure
whether the meeting held was regular or special. I attended this me-sting
and know there was discussion concerning the expelled miners and the fact
that the Co. would not fire them. '
"On the moriing of the last day we worked, I was not sure whether there
would be a strike or not. I believe that: the men were mad about the Co.
not firing the expelled miners and not over the wage question. I remember
we were called oat of the mine that afternoon, I came out gwent home. I saw
a fen cars loaded short, I did none of this and _d_gg_t_ know why it was. It
is my understanding that the strike was called because of the expelled
miners and not because of money. I dont think there was any picketing
that spring. I d_g:_1_t recalling signing any petitions the suzmner the mine
closed for either U.H.F.. or P.H.A. About July of 1937 I left here and went
to Florida, for about B weeks. '
"I heard of the forming of the U.1l.Ta'. local in Springfield in the
summer of 193? and that men went from house to house getting people to signup for the U.LI.1?. They did not approach me. I am still a P.l!.A. member.
I was beck in Springfield, when they started the Mine "B" in Sept.
193?. I was working at Panther creek when this started. I took no part
- 212-
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Re: JOHN L. IETIS, ET AL l
4°? c/ 57-o
in the strike ° Pi¢keti g'
* I 1 1: }J.L.R.B. 1 ti th 2 cor inue " was allowed to vote in the s e ec on oug
I was working at Panther Creek. I went down and voted
all by myself. Nobody bothered me or tried to make me vote one way or
another. I sew some U.E.E. men around but they did not bother me. This
election was by secret ballot and I believe it was honest.
"I heard of some Mne "B" men going to work at the Jefferson Hine_
I understood Falsstti was the boss and that the mine was never run by Elshoff;
this was in 1938.
"I heard that Elshoff was paid either by John Lewis or the U.K.K.
to keep Mine B closed. I heard this back when the strike was on.
"When the mine reopened in 1939 I received a registered letter to
come back. I saw Falsqtti and he told me that there was no place for me at
that time and ther5 i¬s1§_list waiting for places to be opened up to go to
work. I told him I was working at Panther Crook and I would go book thereand cone back later; he agreed to this and the next summer when PantherCreek shut down I went end asked for the job and he said he had no job formez_this was about April or May of 19AO. I heard at that same time that
Hine "%*-was hiring U.E.?. men. Nothinb res said about wages or as to whichunion I was a member of. I have not begn shack to Mine "B" since.
nl have had Agent read this seven page statementto me and to the best of my on e gs i is all true and correct. I an_
therefore_ signing it of my own free will.
Signed- -
Agt. rs; Gilw.!Special Agent, F.s.I. st. Paul, Minn.
P _- 1--Springiield, lLi_
Sept. 6, 1943"
- 215 r
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92i?~ii1?RVIE'.1 TI THRe: JQHE L. LEWIS, ET ALI
Q
L70=71:
19-£3- ass born
at Yine "B . Re is aIllinois, was
cial Agents
on September 3,
y is employed
and speaks English
well and ho cls-timed no knowledge whi would be of aid to nccessfulprcseoutizig. Es would not be a good government witness. stated he
has no criminal record. _
The following signed statement was obtained from-
Springfiold, Ill.
SOpt. 5, 1945
voluntary statement
be special agents of the
fear of throat, force or promise of any kind.the following
whom I know to
make it without
"1 ~_,-3,5 born in I started working
in the Tine "B" in S'fX'ing-lC -, .1 ., in 1924, an was a mozrber oi the
United Irina 1?orkors oi America Union in 1924. In 1932, most of our ULSII
local wont over to the Progressive Mine Iiorkors of America Tlnion, and so
in 1932 I joined the PLZA to keep my _'joo..
"During the time from 1932 until about Hey, 193?, I was satisfied
with the P3511 union. I thought it was an honest union and I did not think
any of the officials were crooked. I noticed no unusual assessments during
this time excepting when I first joined our local had e ten percent
assessment for helping other minors out of work; and I thought that-was
1-n+.'hnsv Mich t1 1» vAA92.m92 liAbL! 0
"I was not active in the organization of the PLEA local, and I have
not-or hold on office in any union. -
"During the period from 1932 to Yay of 1937, I do not recall thatIthere were any strikes, except that at one time, itmay hD.ve"bcen in about
1934, our first contract expired with the company, that is the Pllycontn. ct,
and I believe we woro out on strike just a very short while until the
contract was signed. But during this time I do not
were any close downs because of labor trouble and I
of the company men or officials in any way tried to
influence zne to join L157. The company did not seem
to either the Uli or the PLEA.remember that thorn
do not rec-all that aznr
discredit Pi'A or .
to show any partiality
I remember that thorc. were some bombing cases back at that time;
1
' -214-
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. -. V _ 92-_.! 5ck little interest in them and I did not and I do not know anythingI
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Re: Jon: L. LESTIS, er AL lg 7 L
4/ G,
IVT*?Vi¬ *iir H "During this time from 1932 to 1937, I did not noticethat UH? ever set up a picket line at mine B and
loonglhwcdl I do not remember ever seeing any literature for
one at mine "B". Yo one at any time during this
period tvzr tried to get me to join UEW. But I did notice that there was
some kind of movement out there on the pert of UHF and I could tell there
was some contention on the part of the men out at Mine B , but I can
not toll just what it was. During this time I did not notice that there
were any UHF spies in PEA, and I did not notice the UMW activities of
some PEA men who were expelled from PEA for working for UMW, excepting that
these men who were expelled vere the some men who I noticed were in those
little groups of non who were in that movoreet I mentioned and who were
having some sort of contention. By conten:ion, I moan that there was some
sort of dissatisfaction, and that everything was not satisfactory-
The men who scomed dissatisfied were: Charlie Bohannon, Jimmie
Hale, Frank Austin, and e few more. I would see them talking together
all the time, but none of them ever tried to talk me into joining UNW.
I never notice eny of these men with any of the company men or officials,
and I never saw them together socially.
"I think the reason there was a strike at the Kine B on May 12,
1937, was because the P21 union had expelled some of the men I have mentioned
above and the company refused to fire them, I do not remember anything about
e wage scale controversy in the Spring of 1937 except when the PMA contract
expired about that time. But I never thought that was the reason for the
strike.
"I did not attend e PEA meeting on May ll, 1937, the night before
the strike. On Edy 12, 1957, I went to work as usual and went down into
the mine. There was no indication to me of any strike pending. I did not
notice any cars being loaded short during the day and no one told me to load
my ears short. l worked the entire day and no one told me to stop. I came
to the top of the nine after work and altho I hoard some of the men say
we were going to strike and I noticed srs had been loaded short, still EOIDG O
I did not know we were on strike until the next deg;
"On lay 13, 195?, I went to work, but everyone said no work and
we were on strike, so I some right back homo, and in the afternoon I started
working on e fsrm= -
During the time after the strike, I do not remember signing any
petitions, either for FHA or for UHE. But 1 may have signed one for PEA
and have forgotten. I an certain I did not sign one for UMW.
i ~ 215
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»'_.._-.Re; JOHN L. LEWIS, ET AL .I £9? coi I It
ém W
INTERV] W T§TH "I believe I heard in the sumer of 1937 that a new
UMW local was organized, but I do not known anything
con inue about that. I do not remember attending any meetings
_ of any kind during the snmer of 1937, and I was
busy working on the farm and didn't have much time for meetings.
"1 co not remember being called by the company to come to work
any time after Kay 12, 1957, until fov. of 1939. I never did go back to
work during that time. I do remember a picket 1ine_$ns set up at Mine "B"
by the FHA in about Sept. of 195?, but I do not believe I was at tho mine
the first day the picket line was set up. I do not believe I was told by any
P316. men in sap-t'., 19:5? that wine "2" mes gcic; to open. But after the picket
line was set up for abort two months, I bamieve I went out to mine "B" to
picket just on one Sunday. I was busy at the farm. I was not there when
the picket line broke up and I do not know why the picket line broke up.
"I remember tke Fetionnl Labor Relations Board held an election in
about Dec. of 1957 at which time the FHA best the UMW. I voted in this
election and I think it was o f;ir election and no one forced or threatened
me in any any.
"I C10 I101; know
:.....-92 I1 11 .-. »....,,Riliu B bUfU1U 330?. Of3 attempts
"In Eov. of 1939, I might haveon the part of the company to open
got a letter from the company to
come beck to work, or mnybe Bugsrnor told me, and I reported for work. But
the pert of Hine "B" whore I had been working in 1937 was shut down from
cave ins, and so the company put my name on the waiting list and I did not
go back to work until Jan. of 1940. When I went back to work I was still
a member of Pd.
From the time I went beck to work in Jon. of 1940 until I joined
the UK? in the fell of 1940, no one at any time tried to talk me into
joining the UZI and no one at any time threatened me or tried to force me
to join ct-1'.-r. I joined U!LT¬, I believe about the first of August, 1940,TRIITbecause it looked like ii 1 wenteo to KEEP my job I would have to Join pun
and it looked like most of the men were
attempts on the port of UHF to organize
the some time I noticed there was a lot
and I sew e lot of strangers working in
was some organising going on, so when I
on the pert of UH? to organize Kine "B"joining UHF. I do not know of any
mine B during this time. But at
of talking going on around the nine
+1-to m-inn. and An A +3-1n11o-'hh 'l'.h:-wrn VA! nun. -I ..- 92.- -v ..- -,v..-b--- -.---w-
sey I do not know of any attempts
I mean that I did not see anspecific attempts by them like forcing Q man to sign or fighting or the
like.
- 216 ~
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, .R2: JOHN L IEWTS, ET AL
1/?<- ooh
ITTI?VIE?*T1TH "I remember voting in a NLRB election in about Peb- of 1941. I thought it was a fair election and no
continuogj one forced or throatone mo in any way. -
' "This statement of three pages has boon road to me and it is true
and correct to the best of my knowledge-
si%n@¢>
*?itness:
Ioccial Agent, F.B.I. /a/ I Special Agent, F.1;1. /f/
217 -
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Re: JOIN L. LEGS, ET AL.
1=»'P<-/ mo
mTenvm:*..1m was jointly interviewed "Y * °a gen S dd
at hie reside-;~nce. Springfield, linois, onSeptember '7, 1.9-L3. .e wil ingly answere tne questions propounded to him.
His lmowiedge of pertinent facts in the case are limited. He would mice
a favorable witness. "He executed the following signed statement.
"Springfield, Illinois
. September '7 , 1943
* following volmtary state-
ment to whom I know to be
Sp¬Cial iO!T92, U0 SI
Department of Justi ce.
"I reside at i Illinois
"The first union I joined was the United Mine '--lorkers of
America, referred to hereinafter as the UH", in at 5 ulding,
Illinois and worked at the Spaulding ltinee, From
worked in mine in the Spaulding and Springfield I 111018 area
as a member of-the U151. -
-11 w at Mine a durir: he following periods Q from until it closed on May 2,
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Q -~, .92 -92 .4- L ,1. '3;1.. , ax c1 rom November 19 9 o re ruary 6, 191,1
"I voluntarily joined the Progressive Mine Workers of America, '
referred to hereinafter as the PEA, in September, 1932 when Mine B
went over to PLEA. I remained a member of the the whole time I
Worked at Mine B. I helped the PI-ht to picket for a few weeks in
1937 but I never went back to get a job there the three times it
tried to open.
"Elshoff got along alright with the UIJH prior to 1932 and 8150
with the PM from 1932 to Pay 1937. I felt that he favored the
Mi, but I have no facts to base it on.
"I attended most of the union meetings when I was a miner. I
never held an office. I attended the PEA meeting of Hay ll, 193'!
which I learned of by word of mouth at the mine. Several UM?
n
~218-
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'51. QK .Re: Jom L. LEWIS, ET AL.
Q 7 0 L '!_D
1Tf.RV1.'Iu MITH organizers were expelled for their organizing,
but I do not recall their names. I do not
lcnow what evidence was presented at this meet- ontinue
ing, against these Um organizers.
C1 Iiay 12, 193'/, Elshoff would not discharge these mar organizers
that had been expelled from Local 51., Pile, so the PLEA miners loaded some
of the coal cars short to get Elshoff to discharge these men.
"1 was not familiar with the wage scale controversy in 1937. I
voluntarily signed the P}-in petition of Hay 2:3, 193'? to show I was a
P152. member.
"I felt the NLRB election held on If'i:¬:'I*T1bF=f' 15, 193'? was fair in
every respect. Sometime in IQAO the following 131.2! organizers approached
me and asked me to join the U15"-; Cotton Ananias, Andrew Schrelevious and
Charles Bohannon. T1".e;; c~;'.;1 not threaten me, but told me I'd have to join
the UM? if I wanted to vrork there, because the mine was going U153.
"From November, 1939 so Eebrnary, i9Ll the UM; organizers in
Kine B signed the men up with UH». I heard they contacted the men in the
mine and at their homes. Therefore I do not believe the second NLRB
election was fair in expressing the true feelings of the men as they had
alreadv signed with U15; to hold their jobs.
"I felt that Elshoff favored ULU and that he was on friendly
terms with the UB1; organizers, but I have no specific fact to establish
that point. -
"I have carefully road and fully understand the two pages of
"tenent and it is true to the best of ".15? knowledge.1 5-In -
".fitnessed:
F3 F0 B.I- L
/SQ
Speci gen , .B.I."
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Re: JOHN 1.. .L.E.=|lo, ._"l07C/ br!_D .
1'.I Illinois, ...jointly interviewed at 's residence on Sentember 6we by as eenvmm Q
Illinois, which is under a Pi-IA contract, and he executed the following
written statement:
. q IllinoisSepten. -1" 6, l94'.3.
~=_, 1- _1-1 __..:..... -....1....+.. 1I .o L=J.I..J,.¢..1n.1ug VU.L.L5.[.92ut:1":f' S";-Bl|%'-I-.-°'!'l't
Whom I know to be Special Agents
, U. S. Department of Justice.
lllinois. I was born
present]. emnloyed at the
ieid, Illinois ."I'he first
mine union I joined was the United Iiine Worker :.. , e erred to here»
inafter as the nan, at_ Illinois in At this time, I went to
work at Riverton Mine I worked in local '; near Spaulding, Illinoisfromgas a member of UTIW. In I started working
at iiine an wor ed there continuously until May , 3'7, the day that mine
closed down. I again worked at this mine when it re-opened in November,
1939 on open shop tnsis. I worked there until the first part of February,
1941 and never did work at that mine after that date. As I mentionedbefore, I joined the UMT.-' in pend remained a member of that union until
September, 1932. I voluntari y joined the Progressive Mine Workers of America
referred to hereinafter as the FHA, in 1932 when the miners at liine B
joined that union. I did not take an active part in the formation of the
PEA.
"1 felt that the rank and file of the Hill and the officials of
that union got along fine, and there ms no trouble in the PMA. I believe
that union was free fraud on the part of its leaders. I never held anoffice in a mine union with the exception
"As far as I know, the relations between Elshoff and UMW prior to
1932 were satisfactory and he seemed to got along a1r;_g_h_t with the PEA
from 1932 to the latter part of 1935. However, from the latter part of
1936" to Hay 12, 1937, Elshoff seemed to be dissatisfied. I never heard the
Company officials make any statements but felt the relations were strained.-
"The following men held PHA cards and worked at Mine B in the Spring
- 220 -
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s mentally alert, he makes a goo appe nce, a
s~_c:::5 s1nc-reo e was an eye, witness to beatings inflicted by UMW organizerel/V
on P23. mem".1eIS ax themine and quit working at I-line "B from fear of being A? ,4-beaten. He is presently employed at Panther Creek Iiine #2, Springfield, [t'=f_'~
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Re: JOHN L.
L"!¢:./ 19/15
THT=?VTFT SITE of l93?= These men were UMW organizers and were
trying to get the miners to join the Joe Albanesa,
continued John Ananias, John Sirtout, George Jacaway, Emory
- _ Jacanay, James Hale, Charles Bohannon, Cudge Eumgarnsr,
Andrew Schrelevious, Dominic Pasquale, Pete Carter, Frank Austin, Tony
flotch. _ 7
The UII passed out Uh? literature at the mine prior to the strike
on May 12, 1937. This was found_in automobiles
to the mine. These hi? organizers were talking
or Falcetti did anything to discourage this. I
Hay 1937, the PMA and the Company 0prr=t:*3 iid
friendly terms. As to the wage scale agreement
ion, gained from the FHA officials, that we, as
on s retroactiveand alson the road leading
up the UH7. neither Elshoff
observed that from 1932 to
not appear to be on especial13
in 1937, I was of the impress-
DFIA I.m miners were working
contract dating back to April 1, 1937. However, this
point was disputed by E7shoff and we never got our money. I only went to
about one fourth of the mine meetings. I knew that some of the UM? aggitators
were expelled from the Pie for disloyalty and organizing for UHI. I recall
I attended the Pa meeting on H:y ll; 1937, the day before the mine closed.
I got a notice of this special meeting by a notice on the bulletin board at
the mine. On the night the followir; men WET: expelled from the FHA as
best as I can recalli Joe Albanesc, Cotton Ananiis, Andrew Schrelevious,
Pete Carter, and Dominic Pasquale, and Charles Bohsnnon.
anNo.e of those expelled men were present. I do not recall what
evidence waspresented. On Hey 12, 1937, the other miners learned of the
expulsion by word of mouth. Elshoff would not prevent these expelled men
from working and the PEA members did not want to work under these circumstanc-
"I did not know that coal cars were being loaded short on May 12,
1937 and later when I found out about it ¢ did not determine the reason for
it. The FHA miners did not want to go back to work as long as these expelled
miners worked there.
"I signed the PEA petition of Nay 26, 1937 to show I was a member
of that union. I do not recall signing any other petition that summer.
"After the mine closed in Hey, 1937, I worked in the FHA picket
line for n week or so. I do not recall going to the nine to get s job at
any time the Operators attempted to reopen the mine before November, 1939.
Th: NLRB election of Iecembcr 15,_l937 held at Sprinefield,
Illinois, was one of the most honest elections I have ever taken part in.
As far as I know, no fraud attended this election, and as far as I know it
was entirely voluntary. No strong arm tactics were used by either union.
sP
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Re; E715, ET AL in
10/ we
I?-E"TERVIE" ITH "I went back to Hine B in November 1939 when it opened
on an open shop basis. I went back as a FHA member.
con inuo At this time, the UM}? brought in a lot of strangers
in Mine B. I do not know where they were from. to work
I92.'I-3mbcT5 of the UM? were given
I knew this was true, beeinse
get work the;-e and later U:-Ii;
work there iznmediately. I re
.ove r, 1939, and Falcetti told him that e
such time as he left the Pile and joined the U1.-.preference in getting a job over a PEA mm.
men wot out to the nine end co'.:..."d not
members came out to the mine n were ven
cell that a miner named of H Illinois, :~. Pile men went out to the mine when , . in _" ~72 ' ' h could not work at riino B unti.-.
"The U15? or:-aniezrs tuliazd "ac the F.;_'. members, the ones they though;
"" ld th they could persuede,wboth at the min; am in their homes. they to em
thit the mine would work: better under the IL. an-*1 also threatened them to
m-eke them sign up with the U377.
"In the e-'@ri",i Hr-1 ,1 =¢.2nu~:"jr_. 1
OT J1-T uzrs cave in'
1:-no1:e-ticj,
e organizers P131. at that time
were ressing at this time,
mentioned above took these men one at a time and
whole thing. There were more UISI men in the wash
one attempted to help these men.
"On this same I!10I"!'Li!'Ig, H miner
a PEA member, was also beaten up gr GJ o -..:F crgs.__ _ .w. . _ ." I ms in the wash house at 3.ne
The or gani ze rs
boat them up. I saw the
house at that time and no
' we ;:123I5 in a
the entrance to the w-ssh house. I c2;d not .-ee this berating. This heating
was due to the fact that this man would not sip up with the Uh-=. When I
saw that the PMA men were getting this kind of treatment I left and went
to the office. As fer as I knew, I might have been next on the list of
victims. I quit work that day. I went back to get my tools, but I was
ȣfI""iid oi being beaten so I left the tools in the mine and never went back
after them. .
"Elshoff knew what ms going; on end did
I knew Elshoff favored the UB7. I think Elshoff
but I have no evidence to establish it. I heardnot do e thing
was being paid
a rumor at the
organizers had-about it.
off by UHF,
urine that
said-that Hrs. r, the wife of one of the U1-flcoming from that Ewes bringing she did not know whore all the money was
home.
-222.-
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