Arizona’s restrictive law, the Dies Committee, and Masaoka’s induction

Vol. 16, No. 23, June 10, 1943. 8 pages. View this issue

Mike Masaoka, JACL executive secretary, announced that the JACL would contest the legality of Arizona House Bill No. 187, a law that made it extremely difficult for persons of Japanese descent to conduct business in the state. An editorial, “Arizona’s Squeeze Play,” condemned it, and A. L. Wirin, JACL special counsel, conferred with Arizona members on the challenge. Also on the front page, WRA Director Dillon Myer refused a Dies Committee request to halt evacuee releases, and Masaoka was inducted into the U.S. Army as a buck private.

Other pages followed volunteers arriving at Camp Shelby, with a letter from Pvt. J.Y. offering advice to new recruits. Saburo Kido wrote two columns on relocation and the work of the national staff. Lee Casey, Dyke Miyagawa and Mary Farquharson commented on resettlement and the Hirabayashi case. Several items reported local groups in California and Nevada opposing the return of evacuees.

What’s in this issue

National

• JACL Will Contest Legality of Restrictive Law in Arizona, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mike Masaoka, JACL executive secretary, announced the organization will challenge Arizona House Bill No. 187, which makes it extremely difficult for persons of Japanese descent to conduct business in the state. Examples cited include a druggist refusing to sell face powder and dentists refusing treatment.
• State Cancels Incorporation of Gila Co-op, page 2. The Arizona Corporation Commission cancelled the articles of incorporation of the Gila River Cooperative Enterprises, ruling its operations would be harmful to citizens. The commission argued the organization was not truly non-profit.

Incarceration & Redress

• Myer Refuses Dies Committee Request to Halt Resettlement; Asks Restraint on Investigation, by Warren B. Francis, page 1. WRA Director Dillon Myer declined a request from the Dies Committee to delay evacuee releases until its inquiry is complete. He also asked that committee investigator Robert Stripling be restrained over accusations against Japanese Americans.
• Residents of Centers Are Urged to Consider Rich Farming Areas, page 1. Relocation officer M. C. White encouraged evacuees to consider Middle Western farming areas for resettlement. He explained that diversified farming offers more stable rewards than truck cropping.
• Government to Handle Task on Machinery, page 1. California turned over to the federal government the job of distributing idle farm equipment stored by evacuees to farmers. State Director of Agriculture William Cecil said the State would share its inventory with federal war boards.
• Dies Committee Opens Hearings On Japanese Americans, page 1. Dies Committee hearings opened in Los Angeles with Poston officials testifying in executive session. Evacuees’ loss of wages and insubordination were discussed.
• Veterans Will Urge Retention of Gen. DeWitt, page 2. The San Francisco branch of the Disabled War Veterans planned to present a resolution calling for no relaxation of evacuee controls and retention of Gen. John DeWitt. The resolution claimed Japanese retain inseparable attachment to the Emperor.
• NYA Training For Evacuees Is Cancelled, page 2. The War Relocation Authority announced the National Youth Administration canceled its agreement to train young evacuees following unfounded Dies Committee accusations. Evacuees in NYA schools were sent back to their relocation centers.
• Former WCCA Centers Will House Workers, page 3. California’s former evacuee reception centers will be used to house farm laborers, accommodating approximately 17,500 workers. The facilities include centers at Merced, Tulare, and Stockton.
• Gila Dentists Take Army Examinations, page 3. Dentists Henry Minami and Kaname Takahashi from the Gila staff traveled to Salt Lake City for United States Army commission examinations. Two other volunteer dentists were awaiting notice of their examinations.
• Evacuees Leaving for Outside Work Are Appraised Under WMC Plan, page 3. The War Manpower Commission’s employment stabilization plan governs evacuees leaving centers for outside work. Workers must follow referral procedures and availability statements under the plan.
• Seek Million Signatures to Support Bill, page 3. The American Committee for Protection of the Foreign Born launched a campaign for one million signatures supporting H.R. 2011. The bill would extend naturalization rights to all persons regardless of race.
• Lee Casey on Resettlement: Big Thing Is American Rights Being Restored to Americans, by Lee Casey, page 5. Denver columnist Lee Casey welcomes the return of Japanese American citizens to work and calls the evacuation unconstitutional. He argues restoring American rights is the most important development.
• The Japanese Americans of Hawaii Feature in Harper’s Magazine, by Cecil Hengy Coggins, page 5. Harper’s Magazine published an account of Hawaii’s Japanese Americans since Pearl Harbor, describing how Gen. Emmons resisted pressure for harsh measures. It describes the formation of the Varsity Victory Volunteers and the nisei petition for combat units.
• Fair and Humane Treatment of Evacuees Urged by Kingman, page 6. Harry L. Kingman, general secretary of the University of California Y.M.C.A., called for fair and humane treatment of evacuees because the question creates precedents affecting American principles. He credited Stiles Hall with aiding relocation of Japanese students.
• WRA’s Side of Controversy Is Told by Carroll, by Joe Carroll, page 6. Employment chief Joe Carroll told Powell, Wyoming business leaders that the WRA is continuing evacuee releases. He argued citizens and lawful aliens cannot be denied equal rights simply because of their background.
• Tanforan Now Becomes Naval Establishment, page 6. The Navy took over the Tanforan race track at San Bruno, previously used as a WCCA assembly center, to be commissioned as a naval advance training center. Congressman Jack Anderson revealed $337,000 had been allotted for improvements.
• JACL Will Contest Legality of Restrictive Law in Arizona (Continued), by P.C. Staff, page 6. A. L. Wirin, JACL special counsel, conferred with Arizona JACL members on the challenge to House Bill No. 187. The full text of the Arizona law is reproduced, detailing notice, penalty, and exception provisions.
• Santa Monica Body Would Bar Evacuees, page 6. The Santa Monica city council adopted a resolution opposing the return of evacuees to the Pacific Coast. The resolution was offered by public works commissioner W. W. Milliken.
• Fresno Senator Charges Laxity At Tule Lake, page 6. A Fresno state senator on the California investigating committee charged lax administration at Tule Lake. He alleged a concentrated effort was made to move evacuees from relocation centers.
• Kido Points Out Californians Should Not Hinder Relocation, by Saburo Kido, page 7. Kido argues that California’s agitation against evacuees is designed to block their return and hinder resettlement. He urges Californians instead to support dispersal to the Middle West and East.
• Relocation Should Be Helped, by Saburo Kido, page 7. Kido contends that the Native Sons and similar California groups keep the evacuee issue alive to prevent return. He says the wiser course is to help disperse evacuees to the Middle West and East.
• WRA to Film Documentary On Evacuation, page 7. The WRA began filming a documentary about evacuation, relocation, and resettlement at Heart Mountain, chosen as a typical center. The film will be released to nontheatrical groups.
• Evacuee Farm Labor Opposed by Nevada Head, page 7. Nevada Governor Carville objected to proposals to use evacuees as farm laborers during the state’s manpower shortage. He said the government should not coddle a people whose devotion to the country is debatable.
• Believes Supreme Court May Ask Rehearing on Evacuation, by Mary Farquharson, page 7. Mary Farquharson, secretary-treasurer of the Hirabayashi defense committee, said the Supreme Court may order a rehearing on the evacuation cases. She argued that violation of any group’s rights threatens all groups.
• Santa Barbara Chamber Against Evacuee Return, page 8. Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce directors planned a resolution opposing evacuee return to the Pacific Coast after a membership referendum showed overwhelming opposition. The resolution was to be sent to Washington and the Army command.
• Evacuee Farm Labor Opposed by Nevada Head (Amendment), page 8. Representative Sheppard announced a proposed amendment to nationality laws to allow deportation of disloyal Japanese Americans. The amendment would be considered by the House Immigration Committee.

Military & Veterans

• Masaoka Now Buck Private, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mike Masaoka, JACL Executive Secretary, was inducted into the U.S. Army as a buck private after returning from Washington. He will report for basic training at Camp Shelby and remain on leave from the JACL for the duration.
• Ships for War Program Being Constructed in Arizona Desert, page 1. Evacuee workers at the Gila River shipyard are building exact model ships of Axis battleships for the U.S. Navy. Supervisor Oscar Julius trained 26 Japanese American workers, and over 40 models have been completed since mid-March.
• Nisei Seamen Reported Lost, Missing at Sea, page 1. A letter from Paul S. Higa, secretary of the Japanese American Maritime Workers committee, reported several nisei seamen lost or missing in line of duty. Their names could not yet be disclosed.
• Seattle Visit of Nisei Soldiers Is Without Incidents, page 2. A Seattle Daily Times article reported that six nisei soldiers visiting the city passed without incident. The paper noted their conduct was circumspect despite fears of racial demonstrations.
• Volunteers from Centers Begin Training at Camp Shelby, page 3. Newly inducted volunteers from relocation centers are arriving daily at Camp Shelby to train with the Japanese American combat team. The recruits are eager to prove their patriotism and make a good name for Japanese Americans.
• See Here, Volunteer! Don’t Expect Any Picnic, Says Letter, by Pvt. J.Y., page 3. A Topaz volunteer already at Camp Shelby writes that training is extremely tough and advises new recruits to prepare physically. He urges them to stop smoking and read the soldier’s field manual.
• Schools Started at Shelby for Soldiers Seeking Promotion, page 3. Regimental headquarters of the Japanese American combat team started schools for non-commissioned officers and Officer Candidate applicants. The courses are intended to give students advantageous military and technical training.
• Hawaii Japanese Americans in Lend-Lease Production Reference, by Peter Wood, page 5. Peter Wood’s Washington Letter details U.S. Lend-Lease aid totaling $11 billion to allies and the scale of American war production. He argues mutual aid among the United Nations is a model for future international collaboration.
• Hawaii Volunteers Letters from Heart Mountain Touch Editor’s Heart, page 8. An Oregonian editorial reprints letters from Heart Mountain nisei brothers asking to serve in the armed forces. The editorial urges readers to recognize the loyalty of these young Americans.

Community

• Hosokawa Asks Action Against Dies Committee, page 1. Bill Hosokawa, editor of the Heart Mountain Sentinel, called on the press to expose what he described as fraudulent, un-American untruths spread by certain politicians. He charged the Dies Committee with slandering a loyal American minority.
• Native Sons and Company Not Representative of All of West, by Berniece Lawrence, page 2. A letter to the Sacramento Bee disputes an editorial claiming universal West Coast opposition to Japanese return. The writer cites the Committee on American Principles and Fair Play as a substantial group that disagrees.
• Hawaii Volunteers For Broke Is Regimental Motto, page 3. More than 1700 Hawaiian residents of Japanese blood contributed $10,340 to the U.S. government to protest murders of American airmen in Japan. Lt. Gen. Robert C. Richardson accepted the donation.
• Gila Residents Entertained By Indian Chiefs, page 5. Gila residents attended a program of traditional dances and songs performed by nine members of the Choctaw and Pueblo tribes. The performances included war dances, stamp dances, and songs.
• Kiwanis Club Thanks Yatabe For Speech, by T. Laenhio, page 6. The Woodlawn South Shore Kiwanis Club thanked Dr. T. T. Yatabe for a speech on Japanese Americans. The letter praised the speaker’s remarks about patriotism and acceptance of wartime problems.
• Arizona Bishop Urges Aid for All Minorities, by Rev. Walter Mitchell, page 6. Episcopal Bishop Walter Mitchell argued that Christians must treat Japanese Americans with the same love Christ showed. He urged Americans to help discriminated minorities realize their goals.
• Sacramento Group Says Nisei Unfit For Human Race, page 7. The Sacramento Bee reported that the Home Front Commandos declared Japanese Americans unfit to associate with humans and set out fifteen objectives to deport aliens and bar evacuees from business. The group aims to act before peace arrives.

Commentary

• Good Work Done By National Staff, by Saburo Kido, page 2. Kido praises JACL eastern representatives Mike Masaoka, George Inagaki, and Tooru Kanazawa, who have all now left their posts. He notes the organization urgently needs funds and a replacement representative.
• Rights Is Termed Test of Democracy, page 3. Bishop Wilbur Hammaker urged questions about fair attitudes toward racial equality as a test of democracy. He noted that Oriental races want to know whether American devotion to democracy is real or merely lip service.
• Arizona’s Squeeze Play, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editors condemn Arizona House Bill No. 187 as a racially discriminatory law that effectively bars Japanese Americans from ordinary commerce. They pledge the JACL will fight it through the Supreme Court if necessary.
• That California Mind, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial argues that opponents of Japanese American citizenship rights, characterized as having the California mind, go to absurd lengths in opposing nisei soldiers on furlough in the West Coast. It says such prejudice threatens more than Japanese Americans.
• Good Example, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial praises Des Moines citizens for opening their homes to educated Japanese American young people seeking employment in Iowa. It criticizes the NYA for withdrawing its training arrangement and condemns racist attacks on loyal Americans.
• Newsman Writes of Evacuation And Promise of Resettlement, by Dyke Miyagawa, page 5. Miyagawa highlights Robert Hosokawa’s Christian Science Monitor feature describing the evacuee experience and resettlement challenges. Hosokawa describes both hostility and kindness encountered after leaving the Minidoka center.
• Nisei Urged to Open Counter Offensive, page 5. A federal employee resigning to enter the armed forces writes urging nisei to mount a counteroffensive against the Dies Committee and American Legion attacks. He argues the Japanese American community must speak for itself.
• Ann Nisei Says: Personal Checkup After Hard Winter, page 7. A beauty column urges women to give themselves a spring checkup covering hair, skin, figure, and rest after the harsh winter. It offers home treatments such as egg shampoo and oil treatments.

JACL

• JACL News, page 6. JACL announces a new credit union being organized by Hito Okada to promote thrift and provide reasonable loans to members. National sponsors are also being recruited from prominent American figures to support the organization.

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