Evacuated Japanese Learn New Lessons in Democracy

The 115,000 Japanese evacuated from defense areas in the three Pacific Coast states and Arizona are getting a valuable lesson in democracy, R.L. Nicholson, director of the Federal Works Agency for eleven Western states, said yesterday. Under the general direction of Lieut. Gen. John L. DeWitt, Nicholson had charge of settling Japanese in 17 assembly centers.

Nicholson, a former resident of Seattle and Tacoma, was here yesterday and to visit friends, departing in the afternoon by plane for Salt Lake City.

'Quite Content' in Custody

"Under a Caucasion [Caucasian] managerial staff, the internees have complete autonomy," Nicholson said. "They maintain such services as hospitals, banks, postoffices, stores, beauty parlors, shoe-repair shops, fire protection, garbage disposal, accounting and recording. For minor offenses which do not involve the violation of laws, they have their own courts.

"It is mere conjecture, of course, but I would say that 90 to 95 per cent of the internees are quite content to remain in custody.

"Reception centers have not yet been provided for all internees. More than 8,000 Japanese are in the assembly center at Puyallup, more than 4,000 are in the stock exposition grounds at Portland, and 3,000 at Marysville, Calif. Eventually these internees will be moved inland. It is planned to have all the Japanese in Areas 1 and 2 relocated by October 15."

Residence Here Maintained

Although Nicholson has visited all the so-called public-lands states on missions connected with the W.P.A., the Public Roads Administration, the Public Buildings Administration and Public Works Administration, he has kept his legal residence in Seattle. He expects to return here after the war and to practice his profession of civil engineering.

While in Seattle, Nicholson conferred with R.L. Durkee, director of the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Recent reorganization of the F.W.A. has not changed Durkee's status.