Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-04
HUNGRY FARMERS
/. STORM ARKANSAS
|. TOWN TO GET FOOD
500 Threaten Force Unless
Their Families Are Supplied
With Provisions.
RED CROSS GIVES AID
TO 265 FOR NECESSITIES
Situation Growing Out of Last
Summers Drought Conditions
Regarded as Serious.

BY the Associated Press.
ENGLAND, Ark, January 3.-Five
hundred farmers, shouting "Give lis
food for our starving families" stormed
the business section here today and a
short time later 265 of them were given
$2.75 each in provisions by the Red
Cross.
The farmers came from what was a
rich agricultural region around here
until ravaged by last Summers drought.
Most of them have hitherto been pros
porous.
George Morris, an attorney, addressed
the farmers as they congregated in the
business section with threats to take
food by force from the merchants. His
speech, however, was interrupted by
the refrain, "Give us food for our starv-
ing families"
Shout Demands for Food.
"Our children are crying for food and
we are going to get It," one man
shouted.
1--WE are not going to let our children
starve," said another. I'VE want food
and we want it now"
1--WE are not beggars," another pushed
forward to explain. I'VE are willing to
work for so cents a day, but we're not
going to starve and we are not going to
let our families Starve. Give us work
and Wen not come back"
Business men made hurried call to
the Red Cross and obtained authorize
ton from the Little Rock headquarters
to give a $275 food allowance.
Mr. Morris said he considered the sit
uation very serious" adding that the
men would storm the town again as
soon as their present food supplies were
exhausted. He also said practically all
merchants were broke" as a reflection
Of the drought situation in the country
side.
Reduced to Poverty.
Financial difficulties were further in
creased a short time ago by the closing
of the Citizens Bank & Trust Co. here.
The local Red Gross, Mr.. Morris ex-
planned, has been taking care Of local
residents.
Mr.. Morris criticized the authorities
for turning away several in today's
crowd because they were warmly clothed.
These men may have been as hungry
as the rest" he said. II know many
men who until last year were fairly
prosperous farmers, but they have been
reduced to poverty in these last few
months"
Practically all in the throng were
white.
Mr.. Morris, asked if he thought the
situation would be repeated, said:
1.-The merchants of England must
either move their goods or mount ma
chine guns on their stores"
Depend ON Cotton Crop.
1--WE depend here on cotton for our
money crop, and as is well known, the
price is low and besides, the drought
cut production. Then came a bank
failure and any one who knows cot
ton country knows the fix we are in.
These men and women who came
here today just simply got hungry,
that's all. why, one man told me
they were imposters, but when saw
those women standing before me, cry
ing openly and begging for food for
their children, they can't tell me they
are imposters,
Perhaps few are imposters. AL
bert Walls (Lonoke County Red Cross
chairman) told me he recognized some
of them as imposters, and don't
doubt some WERE"
Mr.. Morris said the farmers, many Of
whom had been in town most OF the
morning, gradually assembled in large
groups in the early afternoon, they
talked for a time and then in large
groups entered the stores.
Hundreds of residents in this town
Of 1000 were attracted into the bust
ness section and soon the situation as
sumed a serious aspect, he said.
Morris assembled most Of the men
and women in the street, but, he said,
They were too hungry to listen to a
speech"
las soon as started out by telling
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