True Democracy

PACIFIC CITIZEN

Letter-Box

FROM OUR READERS

Editor,

The Pacific Citizen:

     I should like to remind the California Japanese that the thousands of friends who came to wave "goodbye" in 1942 when they saw them off on the train are still their friends. Real friendship is not such a weak thing that minings by fascists in certain newspapers can break it up.

     Your neighbors in Lemon Grove, Spring Valley and other warm California valleys know that you always had a grand record as law-abiding citizens and that your sons are off fighting America's battles.

     I used to teach your children in school and I hate to think that many of you are planning on leaving this really beautiful state. No matter where you go there may be a few who understand nothing of democracy, raving around, but for every unjust person you will find a hundred good people ready to help and pull for you to reestablish yourselves.

     I can see where some of you have grown bitter—but nothing is to be gained by such an attitude.

     Just remember that war is cruel and hard. Come back and join your hands and hearts and we will eliminate war, greed and racial hates. All is not lost—true democracy has to win out as it is right.

     I live at Lemon Grove, Rt. 1, Box 400 B. If I can be of any help in any way call on me.  I, like other thousands, am ready to help good people get back to the good clean soil of California.

Sincerely,

Willis Richardson

 Source: Pacific Citizen, Saturday, March 10, 1945, page 5

Returned Evacuees Offered Farm Jobs in Fresno District

 FRESNO, Cal.—ln spite of the fact that a number of instances of terrorism against returned evacuees of Japanese ancestry have occurred in the Fresno area scores of Japanese Americans are offered employment on farms in the Fresno district and are expected to arrive soon. H. B. (Dutch) Leonard, one-time major league baseball star who operates several large ranches near Fresno, disclosed that he has hired several families of Japanese ancestry and expects more. He added that when he has completed his quota he will have about 75 persons of Japanese ancestry employed, and that other large operators in the area are making similar plans, especially for holdings in the Lac Jac and Armona districts.

   O. Leon Anderson, acting head of the WRA office in Fresno, said he had received no official notice that the evacuees were being brought in for farm work, but said that this is not strange, since no notification of his office is required.

    He stated that when the evacuees leave a relocation center “they are free to go wherever they please, even as you and I.”

     “It is possible for any farmer or anyone else to offer employment t the released evacuees and to arrange for their transportation,” he said.

Source Pacific Citizen, Saturday June 9, 1945, page 2