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“Tension grips the center today. . . . Before we are rushed headlong into catastrophe, let us stop to think. Two thirds of the center residents are American citizens.” Manzanar Free Press, 8/12/1942.

Series: Manzanar Publications, 4/11/1942 - 10/19/1945

Record Group 210: Records of the War Relocation Authority, 1941 - 1989

Transcription:

[newspaper masthead; anchored left margin] [stamped; blue ink] WRA Library Washington

MANZANAR FREE PRESS

VOL. 11, NO. 10 MANZANAR, CALIFORNIA WEDNESDAY, AUG. 12, 1942

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[newspaper, front page, 5 columns width]

[column 1]

NET PROJECT CLOSED

Production methods To be reorganized

[bold] Pending reorganization of the camouflage project, approximately 650 workers were sent home yesterday at noon by Ned Campbell, assistant project director. Workers will be notified when new production methods and schedules have been completed. [/bold]

Considerable confusion resulted over the rumored enforcement of the eight hour day which places this project on par with all other center projects. Until the present time workers have been allowed to return home after completing their daily quota of five nets.

Complaints have been registered by workers on the other projects over the preferential treatment accorded the camouflage workers.

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Guayule Chemist Begins research

To further speed and develop the all import guayule project, Dr. Kenzie Nozaki, research chemist, was transferred here from Santa Anita Assembly Center last Sunday. He was driven to Manzanar by Dr. Robert Emerson of Caltech who has been the guiding hand behind the local project.

A graduate of U.C.L.A., Nozaki received his Ph. D. in chemistry with graduate work at Stanford. He will also assist in teaching extension courses in chemistry.

Upon his arrival here, he was assigned co-director of the guayule project with Walter T. Watanabe. Nozaki will conduct chemical researches while Watanabe directs the nursery end.

It was announced that the guayule development has been transferred from the agricultural division and placed under the education section.

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Committee discusses Relocation problems

Various angles of individual relocation were discussed by the Relocation Committee of the Manzanar Citizens Federation Monday evening.

The committee, appointed by temporary chairman Koji Ariyoshi at the last mass meeting of the federation, was delegated to contact various national organizations to survey employment and placement possibilities for individuals outside of the Western Defense Area. Among organization to be contacted are the Y.M.C.A., Y.W.C.A., church organizations, Friends Service, Urban League, the unions, and U.S. Office of Employment.

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Senior Prom

With the date of Senior Prom just 10 days away, deadline for purchasing bids has been set for this Saturday.

Tickets are 20 cents and are on sale at 7-1-4. All couples attending will receive leis.

[column 2]

"Y" organization under way

Plans for a Manzanar YMCA were discussed at a pre-organizational meeting of interested persons, held Monday night at the residence of Thomas M. Temple, community service head.

Joe Yamamoto, 23-7-3, was elected chairman of the proposed 'Y' at this time, with Yuichi Hirata as the secretary. Attending were Dr. and Mrs. Kikuchi, Miss Esther Briesmeister, Thomas M. Temple, Mrs. Margaret D'Ille, Axiel Nielsen, Toshiro Hiraide, Tom Ichien, Yuichi Hirata, Paul Ichino, Kay Jeniye, Richard Kan- [continued in column 3, top]

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Buddhist services Unite local couple

With Rev. Izumida performing the Buddhist service, Hideo Fujimoto of 17-6-1 took Yoshiko Hanabata as his bride yesterday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the home of Mrs. Kamei at 25-9-5, with only close friends attending.

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Red Cross chapter Select officers

Fred Ogura was unanimously elected chairman of the Manzanar division of the American Red Cross at a meeting held Monday at 15-15. Cabinet members include: vice-chairman, T. Yagi; secretary, Aki Saito; treasurer, Paul Bannai.

Other members elected to the executive committee were: Ted Akahoshi, Mrs. Kikuchi, Dr. Togasaki, Mrs. Naito, Lily Yamada, Alice Asaka, Tom Fujimoto, Sho Onodera, Yone Akita, Maruko, George Nishima, Mrs. T. Nishikawa, Dick Narita, Dick Izuno, Dr. Goto and Larry Mihara.

It was decided at last Monday's meeting that the executive committee with appoint chairmen for the various activity committees.

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Diphtheria Shots

Diphtheria immunization shots will be given for children under five years of age, who have had only one or no injection, on Mondays from 1 to 4 p.m. at the hospital. Diphtheria starts often as a cold, stated Dr. Yoshiye Togasaki, in advising mothers to take this precautionary measure.

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Rentable property must be registered

[bold] Rental agents for Japanese evacuees must register under the new federal rent control act, it was announced today by Evans Haynes, regional rent director. [/bold]

If any resident has rentable property, rented or offered for rent in one of the defense-rental areas, it must be registered either by him or his agent. If he has an agent, he must make certain he has filed the property. If the Japanese personally is handling [continued in column 3]

[column 3]

[continued article ""Y" organization under way" from column 2]

azawa, George Komatsu, Moreo Masunaka, and Joe Yamamoto.

* * *

Plans and purposes of the forthcoming YWCA of Manzanar were discussed at the first "Y" meeting held last night in mess hall 36. Girls above high school age were in attendance at this meeting which was conducted by Mrs. Miya Kikuchi, temporary chairman. Joining in the folk dancing, community singing and games was Esther Breismeister, national representative of the YWCA in Denver.

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Add agents to Handle payroll

[bold] With the bonding of two more agent cashiers to handle the monthly payroll, workers of Manzanar will be paid in cash more systematically and rapidly. Joseph W. Carney and Clyde R. Berriman were bonded for $15,000 each. [/bold]

Projects yet to be paid for June are: administration, auto repairs, barrack checkers, boiler crew, canteen, census survey, children's village, chlorine crew, newspaper, community enterprise, postoffice, plumbers, dieticians, emergency, fuel, garbage, parts of linoleum crew, lodging crew, oil crew, personnel and employment, hospital, landscape, production, planning, drafting, information, social workers, stove repair, supply warehouse, recreation, janitor and maintenance, plumbing crew, freight swamper, and time keeper.

July payments will be handled in the same manner as June with payments to be made by projects. Camouflage will be first to be paid.

About 20 persons have not yet claimed their May payments.

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[black border around article]

Co-op Congress

Co-op Congress will hold its second meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Mess Hall 20. Visitors are welcome.

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[continued article "Rentable property must be registered" from column 2]

the renting of his own property, it will be necessary for him to obtain and fill out the regular registration form.

[bold] Registration forms may be obtained by applying to the legal aid office at 1-9-3. Requests should be made not later than August 15, 1942. [/bold]

The rent law covers all types of dwelling units, but not commercial structures, unless any portion is used for dwelling accommodations, nor does it in-

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[column 4]

TWO HUNDRED ATTEND FIRST CO-OP CONGRESS

[bold] Superintendent of Enterprises, Bruce Tells delegates of Co-op principles [/bold]

With approximately 200 people present, the first meeting of the Co-op Congress was held in Kitchen 20 last Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. Almost all the blocks were represented by their full quota of three delegates. The principal order of business consisted of questions and answers on cooperative organizations and cooperative methods as they will apply to Manzanar.

Following the roll call and introduction of delegates, Lee Poole, associate enterprise supervisor, informed the delegates of the work that the temporary committees had been doing towards planning for the cooperative organization at Manzanar.

Dr. Wm. J. Bruce, superintendent of community enterprises, told the delegates that:

1. All persons living in the center are eligible to membership in the organization.

2. Both citizens and non-citizens may hold office in the cooperative organizations.

3. The delegates may follow current practice in California and select a minority of non-citizen members on the board of directors. But public reaction on the outside would suggest that the board of directors be made up of citizens. Thus far there has been no legal ruling on this point.

[bold] A Co-op Congress meeting will be held again tonight in block 20 mess hall at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the proposed articles of incorporation. The latest financial report of the community enterprises will be presented to the delegates by Lee Poole at this time. [/bold]

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Ceramics project To be considered

To confer on the possibilities of setting up a ceramics project to supply chinaware for the centers, Glen Lukens, well-known ceramics expert and head of the U.S.C. art department came into the center last Friday, remaining through Saturday.

He discussed various possibilities with the administration and the members of the project research and planning division. Working on the ceramic project is George Stanicci, who has studied under Lukens in Los Angeles.

Consideration is being given to native clays and materials that may be found in the vicinity. Samples of clay have been collected by research crews and are now undergoing analysis.

Lukens is expected back this coming Thursday.

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Child breaks arm In face off porch

Seven year-old Francis Honda fell off the porch railing at the Children's Village Monday afternoon, breaking his arm.

Francis was rushed to the hospital where Dr. James Goto and Dr. Tom Watanabe set his arm back in position.

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[continued article "Rentable property must be registered" from column 3]

clude farm lands or any dwelling thereon which are customarily used in the farm operations. If, however, a structure exists on a farm and it, or any part of it, is rented solely for purposes of residence, it must be so registered.

[bold] If anyone is in doubt as to whether his property is located in one of the defense-rental areas, he is advised to b on the safe side and consult with the legal aid office. [/bold]

[column 5]

[black border around article]

Cancels Talk

Project Director Nash's scheduled address to Manzanar residents was cancelled yesterday evening as he left hurriedly for San Francisco in response to an emergency call from the regional office.

The proposed speech which was announced by the housing deputies and by posted bulletins was to have elaborated on a number of subjects which have been troubling the people.

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Labor council Drafts set-up

[bold] Revising the proposed constitution and organizational set-up, the incipient labor council held its second meeting in Mess Hall 14 last Monday night with Hiro Neeno presiding. [/bold]

The mimeographed prospectus which was sent to nisei leaders was examined point by point and fully discussed.

Upon the resignation of several of the original members of the constitutional committee, new members were added.

On the revamped committee are Neeno, George Matsumura, Dr. Y. Kikuchi, Koji Ariyoshi, Chiye Mori, and Art Hiraga.

Under the proposed set-up a departmental executive staff would be formed of all Japanese assistants to Caucasian heads, to coordinate and correlate the work of various departments. The workers would form a separate assembly, and representatives of each group would become members of the representative assembly, out of which grievance, judicial, furlough, etc., committees would be formed.

It was stressed that the workers be given full representation since they are the ones most concerned in any labor difficulty. The judicial committee composed of three junior assistants and four worker delegates will judge merits of all cases documented by the grievance committee, it was planned.

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Oil burners replace Coal-burning stoves

For economical as well as other reasons, the coil-burning stoves in the kitchen are being reconditioned with oil burners.

The workmen are installing oil burners at the rate of two to three kitchens every night. At the present time, six kitchens have been changed to oil-burning stoves. With these burners, it is no longer necessary to burn coal all night to keep the stoves heated.

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Piano arrives

Bringing a piano for center use last Friday was John Thomas of the Baptist Home Missions Council of New York and Mrs. Herbert Nicholson of the Friends Service Committee. Arriving by truck, they brought other equipment for individual Japanese and the center.

[page 2]

PAGE TWO MANZANAR FREE PRESS WEDNESDAY, AUG. 12, 1942

[newspaper, page 2, 4 columns width]

[column 1]

[newspaper masthead]

MANZANAR Free Press

Official Publication of the Manzanar Relocation Center

Administration and Newspaper of Manzanar Community Enterprises

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor ------------------------Chiye Mori

City Editor ------------------Sadae Nomura

Sports Editor ---------------Roy Hoshizaki

BUSINESS STAFF

Business Manager ----------Joe Blamey

Advertising Manager ------T. G. Nakazawa

Layout Artist ----------------Kay Odahara

Circulation Manager -------Harry Yamashita

Published Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Distributed Without Charge to Every Apartment

Subscription Rates: 5¢ for Each Additional Copy; 50¢ a Month;

and $6.00 a Year.

Editorial and Business Office: 1-1 Manzanar, California

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's watch our step . . .

Tension grips the center today. Heat lightning has charged the valley atmosphere with danger but the rumbling that is heard is not all thunder. The two opposing forces, pro-America and pro-Japan, which have been temporarily united under the pressure of physical necessity have taken their positions again and stand glaring at each other.

Before we are rushed headlong into catastrophe, let us stop to think. Two thirds of the center residents are American citizens. The majority of the citizens are loyal to this country despite evacuation and its concomitant hardships. The mature nisei realize that their future is deeply rooted in democracy's soil. Their background is American, their thinking American. They realize that with their limited knowledge of Japanese they would be a persecuted minority in Japan.

Then there are others whose natural sympathy for Japan has increased with the hardships of the last few months. This group is not limited to issei nor kibei, for the arrows of fascist propaganda have found their mark in a few embittered and gullible nisei. A great number of other nisei are to young to judge for themselves.

Lest this misguided minority repeat too loudly the subtle sales talk of fascist salesmen, let them think twice about the future of their children and their children's children who love the purple mountains of California and the free air of America.

To you who are pro-Japan, we say: Watch your step lest in your unthinking bitterness you speak for a majority you do not represent.

Watch out lest you sacrifice the future of your innocent children on the altar of selfishness.

Democracy's dearest heritage is freedom of speech. But during wartime in the interest of national unity a voluntary censorship is observed. We repeat again, speak softly and watch your step!

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This is our contribution

We are through into this camp together and only by cooperating among ourselves and our sympathetic administrators can we survive and better our conditions.

Sitting down on our jobs, raising the cry of "strike," is the quickest way to put our collective necks in the noose.

The kitchen worker is an indispensable part of our community. So, also, is the camouflage worker who, by his recognized contribution to the war effort, performs an invaluable public relations job. But one is no more important than the other fellow.

If the kitchen worker stands uncomplaining over a burning stove, the camouflage worker should gladly carry his share of the burden.

"Someone's making money out of the camouflage project," rumor-mongers whisper with a knowing look, "Why don't they pay us more? You're a sucker for working there."

Let's get it straight, once and for all. No one is making a profit out of the production of camouflage netting. The WRA, or Roy Nash, or anyone else does not receive anything for these nets. The army buys the nets and burlap, shipping it directly to the center. The nets are made and are immediately shipped back to the army which decides how they should be distributed. There is no cash involved.

The camouflage project is the Japanese-American citizen's direct contribution to the fight for democracy. Through their efforts outside opinion regarding the "subversive" Japanese will be changed.

Every paper in this vast country has carried the stirring story of the nisei's high production of nets. Congress will remember their efforts, the army will remember their efforts, and the American people will surely not forget.

[column 2]

[black border around article title]

LAWNS . . . vs. dust

So that Manzanar's dust troubles may become a thing of the past. Manzanites are industriously planting lawns between barracks.

In a block-to-block survey conducted by the Free Press, it was disclosed that there are now 149 lawns in the center with 15 in the lanting stage. Approximately 420,000 square feet of ground is devoted to lawns, including the 10,600 square feet at the Children's Village.

MOST LAWNS IN BLOCK 30 [bold]

At the time of the survey, the greatest number of lawns in any one block was found to be in block 30 which had 12 full-size lawns and a couple of half-size lawns. According to latest reports, however, Block 19 now has planted a lawn between all its barracks.

In spite of the handicap because of lack of equipment, such as hose and sprinklers, the people are helping conquer the dust by increasing the number of lawns day by day.

FISH PONDS APPEAR [bold]

Fish ponds have also been constructed in many blocks. One of the most beautiful fish ponds in the center is found at Block 15 recreation hall. The pond is kidney shaped with a miniature bridge at the narrowest points. Roy Sugawara, former gardener and Keichiro Muto, former flower grower, designed and constructed the pond. The public works division, however, discourages the building of more ponds because of cement shortage.

Six tons of seed were sown by local gardeners in planting lawns. Perennial rye grass was selected by the local landscape experts for hardiness and drought resistance.

LAWNS SURVIVE HEAT [bold]

Most lawns appear to be surviving the heat although some lawns show excessive brown spots caused by lawn moths. Many lawns are not receiving enough water. They should be watered in the morning and evenings only.

Grass mowing is a problem at present time. With only one lawn mowers, operated jointly by Sam Yoshimura and Sam Masuda, the job of cutting the lawns is not progressing fast enough to catch up with the growing grass.

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Program presented

A program and naniwbushi was held in Block 27, Monday night, with Ben Kishi as emcee. Highlight of the entertainment was the 12-piece Manzanar orchestra, composed of guitars, mandolins, clarinet and saxophone. Kuronobu Ohmo was the sponsor of the program.

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[at the bottom]

Dear Editor:

. . . We were very fortunate

to visit the internees at Camp

Livingston, Louisiana, where my

father and other good friends

are stationed. Most of them were

from Terminal Island. We talked

to them for some time discussing

friendly problems, relocation

centers and army camps.

The camp is located about 15

miles from Alexandria, La.,

around many trees, and the climate

is very pleasant.

They were all in good spirit

and in the best of health. They

wished us to send their very best

regards to all their friends and

families in Manzanar.

Yours truly,

Corp. Tech., T. Okura,

P.F.C.

Mitsuji Uyematsu

[column 3]

Judiciary hears cases

Dispositions of three minor cases were handled at the Monday meeting of the Judiciary committee.

George Suyehara, Archie Furuya, Minoru Morikawa and Koichi Amano were found guilty on charges of petty theft of lumber and reprimanded by the court. They were released on promises of future good behavior.

Sue Ohashi, Sho Nakata and

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Guayule for research

Emphasis upon scientific research through laboratory technique--and not upon nursery production--is placed by the education department in assuming jurisdiction over Manzanar's guayule rubber project.

The objectives of laboratory experiment and of agricultural production differ, it is pointed out. The primary purpose of the Manzanar experiment station is to find or develop a species of guayule plant that will produce a large quantity of rubber in the shortest time. Placing the project under the education department is more in keeping with this ob-

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FOR BULL SESSIONS

A college hall for intellectual bull sessions is proposed by Dr.

[column 4]

[continued article "Judiciary hears cases" from column 3]

Tatsumi Mizutani who pleaded guilty to charges of gambling and distrurbance of the peace, were released on condition that repetition of the offenses would call for extreme penalties.

The assault and battery hearing involving Kiyoshi Suzuki, Toyomi Wada and Tom Moriyama were under deliberation by the committee and its dispositions were not yet released.

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[continued article "Guayule for research" from column 3]

objective, according to the staff members on the project.

Concentration upon scientific study will require additional reports and regular review of latest developments in experimentation, according to Swish Ogura, statistician responsible for preparation of reports submitted to Dr. Robert Emerson of the California Institute of Technology.

"Our biggest concentration would be in the field of propagation and discovery of methods not in actual production itself; that's why it is considered more appropriate to place our department under the education program," it was announced.

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[continued article "FOR BULL SESSIONS" from column 3]

Genevieve Carter, superintendent of schools, in requesting the planning department to draw up plans.

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[Advertisements; bottom right; columns 3 & 4; approximately 1/2 page length]

[black border around advertisement]

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[black border around advertisement]

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#archivesgov #August 12 #1942 #1940s #Japanese American history #Asian American history #Japanese incarceration #World War II #WWII #Manzanar #California

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