Manzanar after the riot: relocation sped up and loyal leaders attacked

Vol. 15, No. 28, December 10, 1942. 8 pages. View this issue

The fatal disturbance at Manzanar led this issue. One man was killed and ten injured, and soldiers stayed on guard while the leaders of the riot were held in Inyo county jails. Pages one and four carry the Army’s account, the attack on JACL leader Fred Tayama, and the stand of fourteen Nisei Boy Scouts who protected the American flag. The War Relocation Authority said it would speed relocation of loyal Japanese Americans, and the American Legion cancelled the charters of two posts made up of veterans of Japanese ancestry. Mike M. Masaoka wrote about threats and violence facing JACL members, and Bill Hosokawa and Tad Uyeno wrote columns on life in the camps.

Elsewhere, Minidoka’s farm plans were scaled back, WRA employment offices were planned for the Midwest and East, and Arkansas babies born at Jerome and Rohwer faced trouble proving their births. Tule Lake led the Pacific Citizen subscription contest, and a Gallup poll of coast opinion was announced.

What’s in this issue

National

• WRA To Speed Relocation Program After Manzanar Rioting, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The War Relocation Authority announced it would accelerate relocation of loyal Japanese Americans outside the camps following fatal riots at Manzanar. Soldiers remained on guard and leaders of the disturbance were held in county jails.
• American Legion Cancels Charters of Japanese Posts, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The American Legion cancelled the charters of two posts made up of World War veterans of Japanese ancestry. A resolution also called for using vehicles and farm equipment held by government custodians from evacuated persons.

Incarceration & Redress

• Army Rules Manzanar Riot Caused by Small Group of Evacuees, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The War Department and WRA jointly blamed the fatal Manzanar disturbance on a relatively small group of evacuees. The official account describes the crowd’s demands, the attack on Fred Tayama, and the military police firing that killed one resident.
• Fred Tayama Attacked, Other Citizen Leaders Threatened by Pro-Axis Gang at Center, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Pro-Axis residents attacked JACL leader Fred Tayama and threatened other loyal citizen leaders at Manzanar. Tayama, Tad Uyeno and others were removed from the center for their safety.
• 74 Receive Final Clearance at War Relocation Center, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Seventy-four Manzanar residents applying for permanent relocation received final FBI clearance. Some of them already have definite job offers.
• Wirin to Discuss Equality Question on L.A. Radio Station, by P.C. Staff, page 1. ACLU west coast counsel A. L. Wirin will discuss racial equality and the evacuation on KFWB radio. He will also address religious liberty affecting Jehovah’s Witnesses.
• Allied Victory Hope Told by N.Y. Japanese, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A New York committee of Japanese Americans marked the Pearl Harbor anniversary by blaming Japanese military fascists and adopting a four-point program for Allied victory. Associated Press correspondent Max Hill, recently returned from Japan, also spoke.
• Only Minimum Farm Acreage Will Be Developed in Idaho Following New WRA Policy, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Plans for extensive agricultural development at the Minidoka center were scaled back due to lack of machinery and labor. New regulations require evacuees seeking outside work to obtain indefinite leaves and FBI clearance.
• Speedy Release of Evacuees in Centers Asked, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A dozen San Francisco clergymen issued a statement urging speedy release of Japanese from relocation centers and compensation for their losses. The statement was reported in the ACLU News.
• Resettlement Ahead, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The fourth phase of the WRA program, resettlement of loyal evacuees outside the camps, is underway. Changing attitudes in western governors, aided by evacuee farm labor, have made it possible.
• Arkansas Babies May Have to Prove They’re Legally Born, by P.C. Staff, page 8. An Arkansas attorney general opinion holds that physicians not licensed in the state cannot issue birth certificates, leaving centre-born babies at Jerome and Rohwer with proof problems. The issue remained unresolved.
• WRA to Establish Midwest Offices to Spur Employment, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Topaz director Charles Ernst said WRA employment offices would open in the Midwest and East to implement permanent resettlement. Thomas Holland is leading the effort, with the first office set up in Chicago.
• 1974 Alien Japanese Now in Detention, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Justice Department reports 1,974 Japanese enemy aliens are interned for the war’s duration, about 2 percent of alien Japanese in the U.S. and Hawaii. Attorney General Biddle credits preventive work for the absence of serious sabotage.
• Manpower Shortage Increases Requests for Evacuee Labor, by P.C. Staff, page 8. WRA Director Dillon Myer reported growing requests for evacuee workers amid a national manpower shortage. He noted 1,000 indefinite leaves had been granted and community attitudes were improving.

JACL

• Mike Masaoka Will Remain in West Until Early Next Month, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL national secretary Mike Masaoka cancelled travel to Washington and will remain in the West until January. He plans to rest and get a physical check-up.
• Tule Lake Takes Lead in PC Subscription Drive, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Tule Lake has taken the lead in a three-way Pacific Citizen subscription contest among Gila River, Poston and Tule Lake. Walter Tsukamoto sent in eight subscriptions that week.

Military & Veterans

• Nisei Boy Scouts Saved American Flag from Mob, page 1. Fourteen American-born Japanese Boy Scouts at Manzanar stood off a mob attempting to seize the American flag during the riot. Center director Ralph Merritt described their stand as heroic.
• Operations Going Forward in Burma War, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The article reviews increasing Allied air attacks on Burma and Japanese-held South China ports. It argues that reopening the Burma Road is vital to supplying China and that an offensive may soon follow.

Community

• Cleveland Methodists Will Aid Relocation of Loyal Evacuees, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Two Methodist church groups pledged support for resettlement of loyal evacuees and deplored the evacuation. Their resolution praised authorities and evacuees for cooperating with courage and loyalty.
• ‘Free Zone’ Japanese Contribute to Fund for Christmas Celebrations, by Joe Kanazawa, page 5. Christmas gifts and contributions to a community Christmas fund are flowing into the relocation centers. Several centers still need help meeting their gift quotas.

Commentary

• Rioting at Manzanar, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial praises the WRA and War Department for their measured response to the Manzanar disturbances and for accelerating relocation of loyal evacuees. It credits staunch citizen leaders with defeating a small pro-Axis faction.
• The Kibei Problem, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial argues that not all Kibei are disloyal, noting many loyal Kibei serve in the Army and as Japanese-language instructors. It urges that the term Kibei not be used as a blanket label for the disloyal few.
• Masaoka: JACL Officials Faced Threats, Violence, by Mike M. Masaoka, page 4. Masaoka affirms JACL allegiance to the United States and reports that leaders and members were threatened by pro-Axis elements. He salutes members who were injured for their loyalty as heroes in the fight for freedom.
• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Hosokawa criticizes a growing self-pity and dependency mentality among evacuees who refuse to seek work outside the camps. He urges readers to quit griping and take responsibility for rebuilding their lives.
• Problems Arise from Long Confinement, by Tad Uyeno, page 5. Uyeno describes growing discontent in the centers, including ideological conflict, idleness and harmful rumors. He calls on issei and nisei to tolerate each other’s views and urges government help relocating the older generation.
• The War Week, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A roundup of war news covering New Guinea, the Solomons, North Africa and the Russian front. It also summarizes domestic developments including tariff authority and the Republican National Committee’s chairman selection.
• Gallup Group to Poll Coast Opinion on U.S. Japanese, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Gallup poll editor William Lydgate announced a public opinion survey in Oregon, Washington and California on the future treatment of Japanese Americans. Sample questions ask whether respondents would hire or trade with Japanese after the war.

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