Evening star., 1933-12-09
PROBE RACE WORK
OF JAPANESE HERE
Authorities Say Foreigner
Organized Societies for
Negroes in Middle West.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

The arrest in Detroit ON December 2
Of Japanese, Satohata Takahashi, is
creating speculation in Washington as
to the object Of his mission and ac-
tivities in the United States.
Takahashi Is said to be a former
officer in the Japanese Army, who Is
greatly interested in the uplifting of the
colored races, according to the Depart
ment Of Labor. The primary reason
for his arrest was illegal entry into this
country, although other charges may
be brought against him later.
The arrest was made on the COM
plant Of several colored leaders In
Detroit
Takahashi arrived in this country
from Canada in 1881. He declared to
be a passionate lover of equality of
races and organized the Society for
the Development of Our own" The
membership of this society, which
spreads its activities all over the Middle
West, amounts to some 10000, mostly
Negroes, with a sprinkling of East
Indians and other colored races.
The activities of the Society for the
Development of Our Own" had come
to the attention of responsible au-
thorities in Washington some three
months ago.
No Fees or Dues Club.
Naturally the first idea of the de-
tectiveS who arrested TakahaShf was
that this was just another racket. But,
after careful investigation, it was re-
vealed that the members were not re-
Quired to pay any initiation or other
fees or dues. All they had to do was
to sign document containing the fun
damental principles of the society, one
of which was God will help those who
help themselves" and pledge obedience
to the leaders who, as far as it can be
made out at the present moment. Was
Takahashi himself.
To his followers, Takahashi was
known as the Little Major" He him
self is reported to have told the men,
bers of the society that he was a for
mer officer of the Japanese army. In
his address to the colored people, he
informed them that Japan was greatly
interested in the uplifting of the Negro
race and extended cordial invitations
to his hearers to visit Japan.
The hearing Of Takahasfs case has
not been set yet, but it is believed that
1t will take place soon.
Financing Is question.
Two matters concern the. authorities
more than the technical charge of being
in the United States illegally: One Is
that since he was collecting no fees
and dues and since he himself declared
not to represent any society or asso-
citation in Japan, where did he get his
money to pay for his intense propa-
ganda? The matter of getting 10000
members together throughout the
Middle West is an expensive proposition.
especially when the society for the
development of Our Own" was by no
means Endorsed by the leaders OF the
colored races in the United States.
Quite the contrary, it was Through their
denunciation that the activities OF
Takahashi had been brought to the at
tention of the Federal authorities.
The other thing is, what is the real
name and the exact identity of Taxa
.hashi? He suavely told the immigra-
;tion inspectors who were qulZzing him
that he had entered the United States
from Vancouver in 1881 and had ne
elected to return to Japan since that
time. But he had lost his passport and
no papers of identity were found on
him.
Takahashi is not talkative when lie
is asked about his identity. He is quite
willing to discourse at length about
the ideals of his society," but when he
Is quizzed about where he got his money,
how he managed to live in this coun-
try since the time of his entry, what
he was doing in Japan previous to his
arrival on this continent, he smiles
and does not answer.