The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1947-11-18
To Secure These RIGHTS

to whites" or persons OF Afri-
can nativity or descent"
We have made eligible for natur-
alization the races OF Jhe Western
Hemisphere; we have made spe-
cial provision to permit the natur-
alization of Chinese, Filipinos and
persons indigenous to India.
In addition to the disabilities
suffered by ineligible aliens at the
hands Of private persons-in en-
ployment, housing, etc-they are
singled out for additional discri-
mination under the law, Arizona,
California, Idaho, Kansas, Louisi-
ana, Montana, New Mexico and
Oregon forbid or severely restrict
land ownership by ineligible ali
ems.
California also forbids ineligible
aliens to engage in commercial
fishing and excludes them from
equal benefits Of old-age pensions
and other state relief. Many
states admit only citizens to the
bar and to the medical, teaching
and other professions, which means
that the ineligible alien is per-
msnently barred from these fields.
The bar to land holding-the
ALLEN land law"-most seriously
impairs the aliens economic OPP
portunities. The first of the alien
land laws, enacted by California in
1918, made it illegal for aliens in
eligible for citizenship either to buy
land or to lease it for a period ex-
ceeding three years.
Other western states passed
similar laws. However, the alien
lands were not rigidly enforced,
partly because it was often sd-
vantageous to lease or sell land to
the Japanese and partly because
of lOopholes in the laws. During
the second World War the Cali
fornia laws were made much
more stringent.
California is now vigorously en-.
forcing its amended alien lane
law. This law goes much further
than to forbid ineligible aliens e
, own land. In effect, it forbid.
Americans of Japanese ancestry te
support their ineligible alien par.
ents with money derived from thu
beneficial use of land. It has put
, in jeopardy the legal title of lane
purchased for American-born child
rem by alien Japanese parents.
Two examples OF the effects O.
this law were cited before thu
committee by Japanese American
veteran. In one instance, Japanes,
American soldiers killed oversea
made battlefield wills deciding thei
land to their parents. The par
ents could not, under the law, re
ceive the land. Accordingly, 1t es
cheated to the state.
Escheat Gases
The other involved two Japa
nese American brothers who re
turned from overseas service t
find that California had attacke
the validity of the title of Ian
purchased for them as childrel
by their parents, and which the
had cultivated as their own befor
entering the service.
Those land laws and other man
ifestations Of discrimination agains
ineligible aliens have been mad
possible by the discrimination pre-
visions of our naturalization law
The moral impact of this situatio
is indicated by the words of tn
Japanese American veteran al
ready referred to:
a.. Il would like to say that
believe most Of us fought as we
did because we felt that, in spite
of the way we had been kicked
around, America was still the
land of opportunity for all of us
! 81 know my mother sent five
of her sons. Every one vOlun
teered for combat. One was kill.
ed. The rest Of us were wounded
We have over thirty individual
decorations and medals among
us. Well, my mother wants To
become a citizen. II is for peo-
pie like my mother and for a LOT
of Americans of good will
throughout the United States
who have a lot of confidence In
us and our loyalty that we did