Citizen New Service, no. 22 (April 14, 1942)

7 oe if *

Publish hy the JARRE A caRT CAN TilTZENS LEAGUE, San Francisco

(fcent 2 z my Slee in 5

Noe 22 2031 Bush Strect--Fillmore 8676 oe April 14, 1942

b

8O THIS IS EVACUATION t

"War" has often been described as "hell." And this war is no exception. `However,

it should be pointed out that we lucky Japanese people are today living in a democra-

tic hmaorica where individual vaereee are still tantamount and the desire for a free

world is still the key-note. For with the actual evacuation facing us, we must fight

this war in our own peculiar way.

There are several factors to be considered as we take a cursory glance at the

general picture. And it is cssential that we do so, for in the attitude that we under-

take the complete uprooting of our family and economic lives from our homes and busi-

nesses, will lie the secret to the success or failure of the years of stabilization

and Americanization which our parents fostered for us, their American-born citizen

children.

4

EVACUATION: A MILITARY NisCRhSSITy

First must be mentioned the general attitude of the Federal Government and of the

Army at the problems that face the evacuecs. Their cfforts and expenses for our wel-

fare and nur benefit cannot be fully appreciated nor comprehcnded. This evacuation

was no over=night job. It was not sponsored by "private intcrests" as some might want

to suspect. It is predicated on the assumption that there are some among us who

are susceptible to fifth-column activities and for the one individual who may be

guilty, ten of us must suffer, They rcalize this fact: that fully two-thirds of us

are citizens, and that the greatcr majority of us both issei and nisei, dpve loyal.

But they also realize the close ties that have been maintained by forces beyond our

control with our parent's country, and that such tics have been the basis for sustaiu-

ing an un-American attitude which could casily be convertcd into a subversive influence.

In other words, this evacuation of the Japanese is primarily a military problem

and should be approached as such. It is thus that tho job has fallen into the hands

of the Federal Government whose domain over the whole piotere is most influcntial and

most impartial, yet humane and cconomically sound.

FATR ATTITUDE: TOLAN COMMITTEE HEARINGS

| Let us consider somo of the fedcral machinery which proves this democratic atti-

tude. Less than two months ago, our Japanese papers devoted much space to the "Polan

Committcc Hearings." It is probable that many of us do not yet realize the import

of the cxistence of this committee. This committee, officially designated as the

"Select Committoe Investigating National Dcfanse Migration" is composed of five mom-

bers ef the House of Representatives, and headed by Johr i, Toltn of Oakland. To be

heard by this committee was to be hcard by tho Congrcuse or the United States. We must

rcalize the generous nature of thesc men, and of the Nousc, and the Congress, to de-

vote so much of their talent and their time to scarch out the underlying and factual

factors behind the impendin,; cvacuation, and to place their full influchce upon such

forces, after talking with the representatives of all partics concerned, both in pub-

lic as woll as in privatc hcarings. This is the background from which thoir compre-

hensive summary and recormcndation is being made to Congross.

A reading of the committee's preliminary report gives adequatc assurance that this

was dono. We know, for instance, that it was this committec that had insisted upon

the immediate establishment of some federal agency to protect the property rights of

tho cvacuces, which resultcd eventually, and promptly, in the Evacuec Department of ths

Federal Reserve Bank. We know that it was this committce which insistod upon a civi-

lian administrator to handle the problens incident to the resettlement after::the army

evacuates uSe The result was manifold, but we have had men liko Tom C. Clark as Alicn

Co-ordinator, and lately, the War Relocation Authority with Milton Eisenhower as its

head. It is probable that by the insistence of this committce that the army adjusted

its approach to cstablish the Wartime Civil Control Administration, with its 60-cdd

offices in the principal Japancse communites.

PROTECTING OUR EQUITY: TH EVACUBE PROPERTY DEPT

Consider now the workings of the Evacuce Property Department, which has assumed _

the position of "counsellor and protector" rather than that of "custodian." We might

mention at this time that probably too many of our people wore expecting altogether

a different thing when this agency was established. For us to assign our property to

the government, expecting them to accept, operate, or hold our equities is viewing

the problem from the wrong angle. It is obvious that they do not have the machinery

set up to handle the multitudinous rcquest that might pour into their office. Much

more feasible would be our own individual disposition, with the strength of the fed-~

cral government to protewt our equity, so that no unscrupulous individuals may roar

our community with the intention of "fleecing" our people. Merely the existence of

this office has discouraged many such individuals. |

But they have gone further than merely to advise. They have recognized the fact

that we have personal property that needs storing, such as business equipment, and

sometimes merchandise, home furnishings, and miscellaneous personal property. They

have really surveyed the possibilities and have officially announced that adequate

storage facilities have been arrangede And from the meager reports of the very few

who took advantage af such storage in the government-sponsored warehouse, we under-

stand thet professional moving=-mcn, and a real moving van comes to do the job, prompt-

ly and efficiently. We must further realize that the storing of the furniture is

only one phase of the problem. It might be that when we are gencrally resettled "for

the duration," we will need essential furniture to re-establish our homes with what-

ever conveniences we own. It is to the government's intorest that such property be

dent forward to us, and though this is not yet certain, it is within the realm of rea-

son to expect such an occurrence. Thus, it has been consistently our policy to urge a

reasonable and a deliberate disposition of whatcvcr personal property we have, so that

if we woll, we sell at a reasonable return, and if we don't sell, then we keep it for

possible future use.

For those physically impaired, either tomporarily or permanently, there are ade-

quate resources upon which to seek relief, Mothers and infants have been promised by

the Federal Security Agency that special facilities have been set up for their wel-

rare, such as a special pullman train in transit, and hospital focilitics at destina-

tion. For those permanently impaired, exemption blanks are available, with a doctor's

certification of the conditions involved. These are only a few examples of the vast

network of federal machinery which is operated in our behalf, (We didn't mention the

work 0x00B04 the Farm Security Agency which is doing remarkable work in the agricultural

AYOAS e.

MOVEMENT IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION

We must next consider the actual evacuation. A talk with Dr. C. L. Dedrick, who

is the chief statistician of the WCCA, gave us ample: assurance that the fedcral govern=

ment iS approaching the eviction with scicntific devotion and regard for the numerical

factors involved. Ve were to understand that any gencral evacuation would be in an

casterly direction, and not a norsh-south movemcnt, so that the same gencral climatic

conditions would prevail, an essential factor in the maintenance of health. We were

also shown how population concentrations of the Japanese were the basis for the esta-

blishment of the many assembly centers, and subsequcntly, the roception centers. The

zoning of San Francisco, for instance, in the first evacuation was no surprise to us,

The general pattern will follow, we know,

WHAT TO BRING

Prime importance is being attached by our cvacuces to the amount of baggage which

can be brought with us, It is certain that whatever we bring should be at a minimum.

Rumors, advises, and hints to the contrary, a family should limit itsclf to the bare

necessivies, The official instruction fron the army usually stated that such baggages

include (the minimum): the personal bedding and linen (not the mattress, of course);

one's clothing, and this should be more for wesgring than dressing; cating utensils;

toilet articles. Beyond this, the maximum was limited to "what cach membcr of the

family could carry." We repeat at this stage: be reasonable in this matter, and don't

try to indulge in too many of the luxuries of life while we are in the state of evacu-

.tion. The worst that could happen for any individual is the necessity of personally

carrying your own baggage, and this possibility always remains a possibility.

oD a : ;

THIS NEW LIFE: COR FART TY TH) WAR.

Our advance group to Manzanar and to Senta Anita has sent word back, directly end

indircctly, of all kinds of conditions which were supposed to be in "existence. Once

again, we must caution oureclves not to be lend astray by these rumors, truc as they

might bee We know, definitely, that Manzanar if rising up out of nothing. And to

put in the proper water pipes and sewace system, a ditch must be dug. Ane when

ditches are dug, and vegetation is lacking, there are bound to be dust. And maybe

levatory facilities may be a bit inconvenient at first; it is foolhardy to expect

hotel scrvices.e And we do admit that beans might be served once in a while, and that

canned food might be the only fare; be patinnt, and in due timc, when the machinery (c)

and personnel is established, the frosh vezetablcs and meat will appeare Here is

where "we ficht the war." We must sacrifice our home life, our easy beds, our home=

cooked meals, and some of our libertics. Make this evacuation as easy as possible for

the army, and be willing to bear a bit ef the incoveniences. It is true that the offi-

cials in charge are putting in over-time to iron out the difficulties; and the workmen

are on the job practically ol, hours a day. Give them some credit and allow for thcir

intellizent foreesight, for surely, they are working for our benefit.

Upon our arrival at the reception centers, we should be prepared to amuse our-

selves, cither by bringing reading material or something to keep ourselves busy. Here

3s where the Nisei ingenuity comes in. We shoulc get into a comunity spirit, anc

indulge in frequent songfcsts, contests of differnt typos, entertainment of varying

degrecs, impromptu skits and musical numbers. Leadership in this field will be at a

premiun, and Jencral cooperation would make things casicre

WHAT IS TH: FUTURS?

We might now indulge in a look ot our future, if we could. Outstanding in ovr

approach toward our resettloment should be the cominent idca of maintaining an "Amori-

can community" as much as possible, as opposed to the smug Japanese town of which we

are already disgusted. An objective and a farsightod attitude or rePlection might

tend to show that possibly this evacuation will moan o bettcr Nisei society in the

future. Definitely for the San Francisco and other urban Nisci, this might be the

answer to the economic doom to which they were almost dostined. The rural Nisei were

on the road to better living, but they still had far to go.

So #fithis is truc, the first objective of our resettlement shovld be the desire

to be in some productive field. At first, such production could conecivably be in

some war cfforts, making such gadgets as misht be needed in the earned forces; or it

might betinsome line of acriculturgy ! production. The main omphasis, in any event,

4s that our efforts be actual production, rather than mere oxistence.

It is thanks cnough for us to be guaranteed adequate shclter, food and other

necessities by the government, but we should not meckly accept such gestures and live

a sheepts life, herded here and there, following the dictates of the overmmental

officials, and ending up at the cond of the war, still being wards of the sovernmont.

BCOMOMIC FaCTOR: WE SHOULD BE PREPARED

We must cope with the fact that the end of the war will find us without adequate

economic foundation, that we will be in competition with the unemployed defense work-

ers as well as with the men from the armed forces -~ for what little e ployment that

will be available in whatever depression that will follow. If there be ary inflation,

ther whatever cash equities that- we hold or control may diminish in value. Couple

this with the sure growth in anbi-Japanese sentiment in this country with the develop-

ment of the war, and these are the factors which warn us right now that our attitude

should be positive and active, instead of negative and passive. We should be a vi-

brant force, keeping in step with the war efforts, and more than that, find ourselves

so entranched in the production of some commodity, or in some industry, that the war's

ead will find us still producing, still employed, still independent, and still self-

respecting citizens.

DO WE RETURN?

Some of us may be bothered about our possibilities in returning to the same towm

or city from which we leave. let's be realistic in this matter, too. During our

absence, our so-called Japenese Toms will be taken over by a completely different

zenoup of people. The atmosphere which once permeated will vanish with our going. This

could be seen right now with the closing of the stores and the curfew hours. To the

property owners and to the builders of our bigger edifices, it seers a shame that such

buildings will not be used for its intended purposes in the interim. S5But our concern,

is and has been the "greatest good for the greatest number," and our greater number has

a Am

always lived in acknowledged substandard dwellings. clore is the opportunity for us

to strive for better standards in the future, no matter where we may resettle,

NEW FISIDS POSSIBLE: A GREATER NISET COMMUNITY

With these two main factors in mind, it might be that whatever rcsettloment that

we undertake will become permanent for some of us. Our evacuation will be longer than

some of us may suspect, And if this is true, immediately upon our arrival at our

resettlement areas, we should approach our adjustment in a democratic manner, insist-

ing upon representative zovernment, sclf-rule, and the best uses of our latent talents.

There..arc occupations that will need development by the Nisei; there will be jobs

that were never before presented to the Japanese. Such diversification in the new

lines will open up ficlds never dreamed of before, These are the things for which

we must strive.

AND SC WE GO: ON TO MANZANAR (7)

This is the general picture, and if taken in this light, the evacuation is not

se bad. This is the "glorious adventure", Though this may be new to us, it is (c)

equally new to the government. And our thoughts should be humble and grateful that

the United States government is really "leaning over backwards" to treat us as

civilized individuals. After the whole debacle is over, we want to disperse our

people, more Americanized then, than new, and live in peace and harmony with our

white-American neighbors, |

A PLUG: for the JeAceCele

We pause to pay tribute at the conclusion of thes thesis, to the sacrificial

leaders ef the Japanese American Citizens League, both the National Officers,and the

officers and leaders in the 65 chapters up and down the coast. All of them have

given of their time, prestige,and energies te represent the total Japanese community,

seeking "the greatest geod for the greatost number", Throughout the whole period,

these officers and chapters have worked without compensation and without due acknow-

ledgement,and many of the favorable treatment which we are receiving today is the

result of such JACL endeavors. It is not for us to boast of our accomplishments,

but our greatest satisfaction comes with the knowledge that we have given unselfishly

ofsour best, which may not have been enough, at times. Shall we,then, all look

ferward to a more glorious America -- for better Americans in a greater America.

#= Henry Tani "=