The Colonial Theater in Gillespie, IL was often used as a community meeting hall when large numbers needed to assemble.

During the UMWA strike in the spring of 1932, UMWA District 12 President, John Walker came to Gillespie to argue for the wage reductions supported by John L. Lewis and the mine owners.

Western Illinois University Professor Emeritus, Victor Hicken attended the meeting:

“I was only about 10 and I went there with my mother.

He [John Walker] got about ten minutes into his speech and all of sudden you had these people getting up. And it seems to me that the first fellow to get up was a Scot by the name of Easton. And he tore into Walker. And when he sat down somebody else got up and tore into Walker.

And right in the middle of this, I was sitting there – a hunk of plaster from the ceiling came right down and landed on my lap – just missed my head. It scared the living daylights out of me. But that didn’t interrupt anything.

I mean from that time on Walker I don’t think ever finished his speech. He had to walk off if I remember correctly, he didn’t finish his speech.

It was a night to remember.”

This meeting was characteristic of the inability of the UMWA leadership to win rank and file support for the reduced wage. After losing two contract elections, Lewis seized power by declaring an emergency to impose the new contract. Lewis’ actions precipitated violence and bloodshed for years to come.

(photo courtesy of Jill Secoy)

Share this