American Fair Play?

For 13 weeks the Hood River (Ore.) Post of the American Legion persisted in its shameful pre-eminence—its members had struck the names of 16 Japanese-American soldiers from a public honor roll, had steadfastly refused to restore them. The Legion’s embarrassed national commander had sent a “recommendation” which sounded like an order: put the names back. Some 500 of Hood River County’s 11,580 citizens signed a full-page newspaper advertisement headed: “So Sorry Please. Japs Are Not Wanted in Hood River.” Hood River’s Legion Post replied to the national organization: “. . . inadvisable at this time. . . .”

But last week, after digesting some strong hints that their charter might be in danger, Hood River’s legionnaires finally voted to restore 15 of trie 16 names.*

Relieved, National Commander Edward N. Scheiberling whipped out a press release: “. . . source of gratification to the American Legion everywhere . . . sound sense of American fair play. . . .” Said the New York Times, “The Hood River Post is to be congratulated on having the courage to admit its mistake.”

But racial intolerance on the West Coast had abated not a whit:

¶ Hood River, still as anti-Japanese as ever, mouthed a rumor—white servicemen would demand the removal of their names if those of the Japanese-Americans went back. At week’s end the honor roll was still bare of Nisei names.

¶ In Seattle. Tetel Takayoshi, graduate of the University of Washington and prewar teaching supervisor at King County’s Harborview Hospital, returned to her old job. “I’m glad to be back,” she reassured her friends. “I was born here—this is my home.” But after eleven days of snubs and silences she quietly packed her bags, headed back to Denver.

¶ In Portland. Ore.. R. Tsubota. a truck farmer, brought a truckload of vegetables to the Portland Farmers’ Market, found himself virtually boycotted. At nearby Gresham, citizens circulated a petition asking that all persons of Japanese blood be deported to a Pacific island.

¶ Sam Takeda, a San Jose. Calif, farmer, awakened with a start one night last week—the front of his house had been soused with gasoline, set afire. After he beat out the flames, someone fired a shot at him.

The Nisei were not friendless on the Pacific Coast—many openly welcomed them and hundreds deplored acts of violence. In Woodinville, Wash., Kametaro Funai, just out of a relocation camp, ran up against the manpower shortage. Promptly, some University of Washington students came out to help him on his farm (see cut).

But whether the nation liked it or not, the Japanese-haters’ methods were proving exceedingly effective. Of 33,000 Japanese and Nisei who had left war relocation centers, only 1,640 had returned to the West Coast. Of 60,397 still in WRA camps, only 1,938 had announced any intention of going back to their old homes. The rest, bewildered by the ways of their erstwhile neighbors and friends, made plans to go to other parts of the country, or just waited, wondering what to do.

* The 16th Nisei had been dishonorably discharged from the Army.