About the Authors

Bonney Clark and Pat Webb started their business, Life Lines - Personal Historians, in 2000.   Their work is dedicated to preserving memories and life stories.  They are members of the Association of Personal Historians, an international organization.

Primary services of Life Lines:

• Personal, family, company histories
• Interviewing, writing, editing
• Commemorative books and albums
• Life writing workshops

Bonney Clark has over thirty years of experience as an English teacher and research specialist.  Patricia Webb has over thirty years of experience as a teacher and counselor.  Both worked in the Jenks Public School system in Oklahoma.  Today, retired from education, they live and work in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Contact  the Authors

Bonney Clark:  bonneyrae@earthlink.net   Ph. (918)299-9001
Pat Webb:       patllph@earthlink.net         Ph. (918)742-9820

FAX:    (918) 298-9094

England, a small town located in central Arkansas between Little Rock and Pine Bluff, was established in 1888 with the arrival of the Little Rock & Eastern Railway. The area was called a perfect wilderness, a land of beauty plentiful with bear, panther, deer and all kinds of wild game. England lies in the Mississippi Delta, a part of the Cotton Belt. Its black bottom land is one of the richest agricultural regions in the world--some say as rich as the fertile lands of the Nile in Egypt.

In the early days England grew quickly with businesses being established and buildings erected, making the town the wealthiest town of its population in Arkansas. It also had the reputation of being one of the toughest towns on the map, but time and civilization soon turned it into a law-abiding place with intelligent, refined citizens. In the early 1900's the town grew and prospered. Then in the late 1920's events led a group of England's farmers to the point of riot.

At that time many of the richest agricultural areas in the heartland of the United States lay in devastation. Fields lay parched and barren; crops lay in ruin; farmers were unable to provide for their families and livestock. The hopelessness of the situation led people to acts of desperation. It was in 1931 that the small town of England, Arkansas, became the focus of the nation as the plight of these people became known.

The problems began with torrential rains that flooded the Mississippi River and Valleys during the early months of 1927. Rivers in Arkansas, unable to handle raging waters, swelled to overflowing. The lives of 127 people were lost. People thought that this was the worst that could happen and slowly began to rebuild their homes, farms, and lives.

The summer of 1930 brought no rain while temperatures reached 100+ day after day. This drought affected not only Arkansas but also Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and other surrounding tates. What was once flourishing agricultural land in Lonoke County now became drought blighted. An area usually productive in cotton, corn, rice and hay could not even sustain the most meager garden. Families and livestock suffered greatly--to the point of desperation.

The people of northeastern Arkansas and millions of others throughout the drought-stricken states found themselves with cupboards bare and in need of assistance. For proud, hard-working people used to providing for themselves but now victims of circumstances beyond their control, the situation was humiliating. These people were victims also of a government some described as a vicious system that could lead to a breakdown in respect for law and order. With millions of people starving, the government of the United States, trying to increase crop values, possessed graineries and storehouses filled with millions of bushels of wheat. The middle class, those whose hard work had created the wealth of the country, those who paid the taxes that provided government support, found themselves with a government unwilling to provide relief to them.

The hypocrisy of the situation did not go unnoticed. These poor people lived in a country spending millions to provide relief to the needy in foreign lands but not to them. These poor people lived in a country that hoarded the nations bounty of food and clothing--so much that they couldn't sell it all--while its own citizens were hungry and ill-clothed. The current problems along with the conditions of the Depression caused faith in the government to wane.

It was said that President Hoover, although sympathetic to the needs of the people, feared that the demands for assistance would be unending and too great for the treasury. A bill providing $45,000,000 in drought relief was submitted to Congress. Senator Heflin of Alabama forced a resolution that instructed the agriculture department how it should handle the $45,000,000 in relief appropriation. Reluctantly, President Hoover signed it.

The Red Cross was told to provide for the people from its own resources. The nation was led to believe that the situation was under control. In reality, though, thousands of people continued to need help, and the Red Cross dole amounted to approximately $1 a month for each person or only 1 cent a meal for each hungry family member.

Families without roofs over their heads became common place. It was not unusual to find a mere shack providing shelter to four or five families. In one abandoned house eighteen people were living. Work was not to be found--no industry, no highway construction, no farming, no building. A final straw was the failure of banks, leaving families without enough money to move elsewhere.

Walter O. Williams, Mayor or England, was instrumental in heading the relief effort for the people of his vicinity. His pleas for help in newspapers and on the radio drew the attention of the nation to the dilemma faced by many in Arkansas.

The following timeline chronicles the events surrounding the England Food Riot:

Dozens of people raided stores in Conway, Fort Smith, and Pine Bluff to seize foodstuffs. In the England area a group of approximately 50 hungry men boarded the truck of H. C. Conley and headed for town. Conley was spurred to action after a mother asked him what was to become of her children who had not eaten in two days. He replied to her, Lady, you wait here. I'm going to get some food.

At the town grocery the crowd mostly of white farmers grew to nearly 500. As threats were made to loot the stores unless the food promised by the Red Cross was forthcoming, the town leaders decided to avoid an onslaught by distributing supplies directly from the stores.

* * * * * Eyewitness Account * * * * *

Jessie Smith, who has lived in and around England most of his life, witnessed the food riot in 1931 as a teenager. Today at age 86 his memories of the event are still vivid. Recently in a telephone interview he related what he saw that day.

I remember it very distinctly. It was horrible because people were going hungry and didn't have warm clothes for the winter. Several of the farmers came to town, and they were standing around the Cunning-Swim store looking like they were going to do something. That store was operated by a Mr. Cunning and a Mr. Swaim, but it was always called Cunning-Swim.

The men were standing in a group by the Cunning-Swim store. Their intentions were to get food for their families. They didn't do anything illegal. They were as harmless as anybody else. The whole situation was blown out of proportion. It wasn't really a riot. The Cunning-Swim store, Duncans, Ashcraft's Meat Market and others opened their doors and gave what was needed. After the people got their food, they went home. Nobody did anything you could consider a riot. No one knows, though, what it would have come to if they hadn't gotten help.

The store owners weren't afraid and opened their stores out of sympathy. They were people that would help anybody. One time when my dad was in the Cunning-Swim store, he was looking a little down. One of the owners quoted a scripture to him, Uncle Gus, let not your heart be troubled. Believe in me, believe also in God. As long as we are going to eat, you're going to eat. They were good people who loaned money, equipment or whatever they could. They really were sympathetic with people's needs.

The people got through that winter and the next year people were better prepared. They had better crops and they canned. The government even furnished cans and somebody to help can it if you needed help. People still had no money but did have plenty to eat.

One time one of my professors asked the class, Which is better off--a man with two pots of gold or a man with a pot of beans and a pot of water? That was a good lesson for me. You can always survive if you have food. All you can do with the gold is spend it.

* * * * *

January 7, 1931 - Dispute continues as to whether England, Arkansas, was the site of a food riot last Saturday. The nation has been led to believe that the Red Cross has provided relief and all is well. What the hungry folk around England want the nation to know is that the Red Cross dole amounts to far, far less than is needed.

Since November 28 the Red Cross has aided about 1100 people, but the hungry people in this vicinity total in the thousands. In addition, Mayor Walter O. Williams reports that it will take 3000 pairs of shoes to keep the feet of the hungry people of the neighborhood off the ground this winter.

Bryant Dodd, living eight miles from England, called his case typical. Together with my wife and two children, I ended the season with a $40 debt, he said. I sold my hogs for $11 and my 46 chickens for $11 more and that is all the money we have had since last summer. For a month we have lived on corn bread and milk. We have spent less than $3 for clothing in 18 months.

The Russels are victims of the economic strife which has caused 1000 of England's 2500 population to seek food from the Red Cross. Russell, in debt after last season's crop failed due to drought, is one of hundreds of hard-working men who had to give in.

If I just could find work, I would not ask for charity, he said. I have earned but $25 since last summer. This pittance was earned by working on the river and on the highway for $1 a day. Then he had to give up his job to other men so they could earn a similar amount for their hungry children.

January 10, 1931 Letter written on State of Arkansas letterhead

Hon. W. O. Williams
England, Arkansas
Dear Mayor Williams:

Answering your telegram of the 9th, please know that it would be necessary to keep in quarters a company of the Militia, to be in readiness, for one hours notice. The Military Department's finances will not permit this. In the event that it becomes necessary to call out troops to safeguard life and property, I will do so, but hope and believe that this will not be necessary. I cannot imagine that the people of Lonoke County would commit any form of depredations or acts of lawlessness, knowing that every effort was being made to help them.

I know you understand I have been exerting my very best energies and efforts toward drought relief and will continue to give this important matter priority over everything else. I am cooperating with every agency in attempting to secure additional funds from the Federal government and am also cooperating with the American Red Cross on every occasion.

Cordially yours,

Harvey Parnell
Governor

January 14, 1931 Letter written on U. S. Senate stationery

Honorable W. O. Williams
Mayor
England, Arkansas

Dear Sir & Friend:

I have your appreciated favor touching the situation that confronts the people at England and that vicinity. I read your letter and very greatly appreciated it.

We passed through the Senate, as you know, an Amendment to the Bill that would give $15,000,000 that would be loaned to farmers for food. It is hung up in the House. I am unable, of course, to influence the House action as much as I would like to do it. I shall do all I can to get you what relief that can be obtained.

With best wishes, I am,

Sincerely yours,

T. H. Caraway

 

January 14, 1931 Letter written on U.S. Senate stationery

January 14, 1931 Letter written on U.S. Senate stationery

England, Arkansas

Mr. W. O. Williams, Mayor

Dear Walter:

Your letter received. I am doing everything in my power to secure the passage of drought relief legislation. The message coming from the state to the effect that the Red Cross and the State were taking care of the situation adequately and will continue to do so, have hampered us in our efforts. I think the seed, feed and fertilizer bill will pass in a day or two, and I am making strenuous efforts to secure the enactment of a measure authorizing loans by the Federal government for the purchase of capital stock of Agricultural Credit Corporations. The food amendment which we inserted in the bill will likely go out for the reasons above stated.

Sincerely,

Joe T. Robinson

January 16, 1931 - Mayor Walter O. Williams asks the Red Cross to help establish a soup line in the seven schools in the England area. They offered to pay $300,which when prorated among county schools, would amount to $143 to take care of 1,622 children until March 15. The money was refused as inadequate to carry on the work.

Stopping at one large consolidated school, Rogers saw children lined up in a soup line to get their lunches. To bring some cheer he quipped, I heard you wanted to see a good-looking movie star so I came down. Although this comment brought laughs, the over all mood was somber.

Later Rogers met with Mayor W. O. Williams and Chief of Police C. W. Wayne, both actively engaged in relief work. Rogers observed that citizens of England and the Red Cross were doing remarkable work with the funds available. What you need most is more money, Rogers stated.

Although human needs have been met, Mayor Walter O. Williams declared that the livestock situation is still serious. Also the school children are not being fed adequately. Up to this time the Red Cross has had no part in feeding the children. Soup is being served daily.

Mayor Williams made an appeal for clothing, especially shoes, for the children. He said that any kind of clothing would be welcomed and better than what the children now have. Mayor Williams is making an attempt to talk over the Columbia radio network to tell of the true conditions in England.

January 26, 1931 - Mayor Walter O. Williams charged that unless the Red Cross furnishes funds adequate to feed hungry school children in this section of the drought area, local agencies will have to stop feeding more than 1,600 children during school hours. The mayor continued by saying that the burden was becoming too great for the community.

In addition, it was reported at this meeting that the Red Cross is issuing feed for milk cows but not for mules and horses. Senator Joe T. Robinson reported to the mayor that limited funds are available for feed for work stock. Although relief bills authorizing loans are in the works, there is no assurance that money will be available in time to save livestock from dying of starvation.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During this dire time Arkansas received a lot of publicity because of the food riot. It was unfortunate that one of the greatest agricultural states in the United States would have such prevalent hunger and need. It was a blow to the esteem of proud people to have to ask for help.

Recognizing the difficulty that proud people might have in asking for or accepting assistance, Mayor Walter O. Williams stated that the Red Cross is not a charity organization, but no more than an ordinary insurance policy on which you have been paying in the past year. At the present time you have seen fit to make demands for dividends due you and to which you are entitled. We do not want you to feel that you are placed on a charity list, as you are not. We realize the condition that exists, and had it not been for the drought there would have been no necessity for obtaining food for your families. Mayor Williams continued, The Red Cross is merely the representative of society. When a man has lived up to the rules of society, he has done his duty as a good citizen. Every day that he has so lived he has contributed either directly or indirectly to the purpose of the Red Cross and, when fate decrees that he can no longer help himself, he is entitled to demand the dividends due him.

With these statements Mayor Williams eased the way for the people of Lonoke County to accept help from the Red Cross and from citizens from across the nation who heard of their plight and responded compassionately. Following the radio plea by the mayor early in January, letters began to pour in with messages of understanding and contributions of money to ease the need. Considering that the nation was in the midst of the Depression, the small amounts of money that people were able to give reflect a large amount of concern for their fellow men.

The following are examples of the many messages of encouragement and donations received by Mayor Williams after his newspaper and radio pleas in which he told of the hardship and need of the people in and around England:

Winder, Georgia - Noticed from the press quite a number of farmers in your vicinity have made an appeal for help attributable to the drought and other unforeseen causes over which they, no doubt, had no control.

Am enclosing herewith check for $25.00 and you may turn it over to the Chamber of Commerce or make whatever distribution you see fit towards relieving the situation as far as this small contribution.

To paraphrase Elbert Hubbard, Slowly but surely we are tunneling toward the light. Winder Manufacturing Company

Less than three years ago we crossed your state from West Memphis to Texarkana. I am sure he who looks from Heaven will help you bear your burden bravely on through these dark hours to the dawning of better times. ($5.00) Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Myers.

Solomon, Kansas - We are enclosing two dollars. We want it used for the suffering families of that district. So we are sending direct to you. Please accept it and use it for them. Bert Ramsey

I am, therefore, enclosing you three $1.00 bills, this being all I had in my little box and hope it will bring a little help to one of the great many that are in need. Ruth Ann Hunt

St. Joseph, Missouri - I heard your appeal last night over the radio from Shreveport for the children who are only having one meal a day. I am sending you a small check to help feed them. I am sorry the check is not larger, but I hope you may get many more of the same size and larger. We have many here who are also suffering for the necessities of life. ($2.00) W. R. Millan

As the responses above show, the dilemma of United States citizens that prompted the England Food Riot touched the heart of the nation. Although most agree that the word riot may be extreme for the incident that occurred in England, Arkansas, in 1931, the seriousness of the situation and the desperation of the farmers called for strong terms and quick response. It was flood and drought that led to the plight of the people of England, but across the nation in towns large and small people faced difficulties in the 1930's that tested their mettle and required unending perseverance. The Great Depression stretched the endurance of the nation and continued to elicit the compassion of many Americans for those less fortunate than themselves.