The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1949-01-01

ant and secretary for sixteen years
to Mr.. Ward of the Pierce County
Juvenile Delinquency Department.;
Bertha Taylor. secretary to prosecu-
ting attorney for eight years; and
Patrick Steele, prosecuting attorney,
reveal the fact that adult and jul
venile Oriental crimes in Tacoma
have been practically nil.
DIR. Marvin r. Schafer. former
head Of the Sociology Department
of the College Of Puget Sound,
during his I9s4-19S6 research and
completion Of crosshatched maps
showing various conditions Of the
city of Tacoma found an interest
ing exception to the general city
pattern.
Although low-income area usual
ly indicates high delinquency, one
particular section in this area show
ed an exception to this rule. He
found that a portion of the explain
alton to this was the fact that this
section was heavily concentrated by
Japanese residents. It is interesting
to note that others who have I'M
dertaken similar studies in such CT
ties as Seattle, Portland. Vancouver
and others along the coast have
found similar results.
A corresponding record holds true
in the relief agency records in this
city. p. Moniot, personnel manager
at the Pierce County Welfare De-
partment, states that only q few
Japanese names have appeared in
their files. Mrs. Grace Carr, medi-
cal worker. also of the Pierce Coun-
ty Public Welfare. stated of know
ing scattered cases all the years she
has been employed in this depart
ment and also while serving with
the Welfare Commission. Thus. In
this respect. through their practice
and belief In social order and obi
CATION, the Issei In this community
have established for themselves a
praiseworthy record.
Although the years following
the Immigration Acts Of 1924. have
been referred to as the second
generation" period, 1941. marks as
the years when the Nisei In Ia
coma first began to take an i'm
pOrtant role in their community
work. World War ii has, TO q GER
tain extent. accelerated the taking
over Of family and community
responsibilities by the Nisei and
has given the Issei the secondary
role earlier than normally.
In 1941, the majority Of the sec
ond-generation were still attendni'
public schools Many of the social
ed older groups were in their earl
twenty ard those over twenty-five
years of age were only handful
and yet this relatively young ag
group undertook their evacuation
responsibilities with very little diff
fculties.
At the time of the evacuation, til
CT us,is showed thar approximate
800 Japanese were residing in tn
! coma. Today. only close to a thir'
of that number has returned. Be
sides the great population change
the other two most noticeabl
changes are the occupational ant
home ownership differences
In pre-war days. practically
all families were engaged In their
own establishments. Breadwin-
ner Of the family working for an
other was considered relatively
few. Today. with approximately
fifty-four families back. there are
as yet only two laundries, two
groceries. one watch repairing
shop. two hotels, one wholesale
cleaners, and one barber shop
making total Of nine establish
ments. Such jobs as gardening
and domestic work have become
increasingly popular here and Ia
y cOmans as a whole have beer
o rather reluctant about starting
i business establishments Of theil
Il own.
e. The other change is that of hom'
10 ownership. In comparison to II
: great majority of home-renters b.
10 fore the war, today, 50@o OF Il
~ families here are home-owners. tn
d is. indeed. an encouraging factc
: Although the Japanese are SOM
Up what still concentrated In certa
re area as in pre-war days. there h
II been a definite shifting from Il
vi business area towards the residel
4 tial area.
:" Aside from the fore-ment on
~ changes. Tacoma's Japanese con
munity has once again resumed
'o former community activities. 30
ie the Buddhist and the Method
churches are taking an importa
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