The Pacific Citizen
July 23, 1942
July 23, 1942
TIMELY TOPICS COLUMN by Saburo Kido
Arrival at Arizona's Latest Boom Town
To this outpost of civilization, the new boom town of Poston, Arizona, 579 of us arrived on Friday, July 16. A special train brought us from Lindsay to Parker, Arizona, where we transferred to a bus to reach this destination. When we registered, we were greeted with salt tablets and water. We appreciated the water but wondered why and wherefore the tablet. But being a newcomer, we followed instructions and took the generous offer. It was rather warm, but not exceptional compared to the central California heat.
As we began to meet friends and talk about things, we found out the mystery about the salt tablets. The Salinas people who had come during the Fourth of July week had come from a cool climate to the roasting heat of 120-130 degrees. Heat prostration was prevalent. People fainted in the mess hall. People fainted at the latrines. People had to be rushed to the hospital. Even to this day, the administration is giving these people time to recover their strength before asking them to work.
Salinas People Affected by Heat
The more we hear about the tragic arrival of the Salinas Assembly center residents, we wonder who blundered into this mistake. The conversation we had with Mrs. Richard Neustadt and others of the Federal Social Security Board and others in San Francisco comes to our mind vividly. We were 'firmly convinced that coast people, unaccustomed to heat, should not be sent to Arizona. And it was our understanding that this would be followed out.
Instead of Salinas, there was the Fresno Assembly center which had been roasting in 120 degrees and whose residents would have been conditioned to this climate. Also,there were Tulare Assembly center residents ready to meet this hot weather.
The reception committee members are having a big laugh now because they claim that the Lindsay contingent looked more spry than those who were out to greet them- Of course, it is claimed that we brought the cooler weather and that a shower of the night before had helped a great deal.
Learning to Walk Is Camp Necessity
The first thing we are learning to do is to walk. To call on friends requires considerable traveling on foot because there are no trains, buses or private cars. One may have a lift on a truck if he is fortunate. The food so far seems passable, This does not necessarily mean that it is up to the standard of most of the people. No matter how low the standard of living is. claimed to be for the Japanese, at least in food we believe we are pretty particular.
Barracks Not Suitable For Family Groups
The barracks would be all right for soldiers, but it is not the kind of home one would declare suitable for children and married people. The reason, most likely, is that army engineers planned them with the idea of men, and did not realize that women and children were also to occupy them. The latrines have flush systems, but no partitions. Of course men and women have separate buildings. It is easy to ..excuse things because of the abnormal conditions which are existing at the time being. But on the other hand, we comment on this matter to call attention to the necessity of thinking in terms of human beings composed of men, women and children.
The greatest concern unquestionably should be for the welfare of the little ones. Lack of privacy is the first step to the promotion and fostering of immorality.
Camp Leadership Sympathetic, Friendly
There may be those who are so imbued with race hatred that they would not care what happens to the Japanese, even though the people involved may be innocent. But
America today is spending millions and billions to help the outside world. If charity is to begin at home, it is only natural that consideration be given to this growing generation of American citizens who someday will once again be turned loose Into the outside world and who are today giving their share for national defense by being confined in this outpost of civilization.
We have not had the time to meet the people who are directing the destinies of this new community. But from all accounts, the residents seem to be grateful for the sympathetic and friendly attitude. The morale Is, very good, despite the pesty dust which comes blowing into the rooms and other shortcomings which time; we hope, will cure.
Poston Will Become Thriving Farm Center
Through the cooperation of the administration and the residents, it will not surprise us to find this community become a thriving center of industry and agriculture. Nisei farm experts are being given the freedom to study and plan things. When the surrounding lands are subjugated, the real work will begin.
It is up to the American people here and the government to decide the quantity of food to be produced here. There are so called "big time" farmers who used to operate hundreds of acres by themselves. If the equipment and facilities are available, Poston will become the agricultural center or Arizona. Of course the climatic conditions remain to be studied for the kind -of crops to be grown. At least the Nisei experts seem to have confidence. There seems to be little doubt as to the fertility of the soil. Arizona and the nation as a whole will find another "food basket" if they help to develop this new community and keep politicians and race mongers from meddling with the work of the War Relocation Authority.
Present Wage Level Means Exploitation
Generous America should know the truth. The relocation centers are paying men $12, $16 and $19 a month for 48 hours a week work. Can this country face the world and claim to be benevolent when it is paying wages which our parents used to receive
when they first came to America as contract laborers over 50 years ago. Can civilized
America be proud of exploiting the labor of its own citizens by paying slave wages?
Medical supplies are deficient; hospital equipment is inadequate.
But still the men are going out in the wasting sun in 100-110 degrees to do their share. To subject 100,000 persons of Japanese extraction to such a low standard of living and wage scales may satisfy the ego of the race mongers, but the record will be a blot in this nation's history.
