Relocation
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RELOCATION - .
With the primary motive of the WRA directed toward
the resettlement of the West Coast evacuees in Midwest
and Eastern localities, problems of various sorts have
come to the fore,
The idea of relocation is not and cannot be contest~
ed as being the best solytion to the postwar rehabili-
tation of the Japanese-Americans. Neither can the
efforts of the WRA be minimized in this respect. Howe
ever, improvement in the resettloment program can be
and must be made eurore the latest of government's pro-
gram is dealt a death blow,
Resettlement, heretofore, has affected only a por-
tion of the project residents and these have been
wholly in the 20-30 nisei group. Some of these people
have been able to acquire jobs which will allow them
to care for one or two dependents but the vast majority
have found that they are only able to make both ends
meet. ae
Restrictions in certain unions, prejudiced attitudes
ef employers or employees and lack of nisei skilled
men have been some of the main factors interfering with
the employment of nisei. These then indicate what
manner of approach would be necessary for the WRA to
achieve its most important objective--relocation. |
On this side of the fence, we have 85% of the cen-
ter residents who have never left the relocation cen-
ters and many who, in the present light, cannot con.
sider departure from here even though they may crnestly
desire to do so. Where previously these men have own-
ed and tilled their own farms or managed their own
businesses, they are confronted now with the problem
of starting all ovor again from the bottom up.
The hue and cry on the outside may sound the call
"Clear the relocation centers" but the cart must not
be placed before the horse. Until such time as when
families, largs and small, can find opportunities to
gO out, relocation will never reach its main goal.
One encoureging trend of late is the announcement
of Relocation Officer Shirrel of Chicago that the var~
lous offices in tho Midwest are endeavoring to find
possibilities for rolocating family: units, but the
Success or failure of resettloment will depend um
tho success and failure of the relocation officers and
the WRA as well as the project constituents.