Idaho-Banned U Nisei Find Refuge at WSC; Argonaut Raps Clark

By VIRGINIA TAYLOR

Six Japanese-American University students who were prevented from enrolling at the University of Idaho two weeks ago by a decree issued by Idaho’s Governor Clark are now attending Washington State college, The Daily learned yesterday through Carl Ronning, WSC student leader.
The news came as the University’s few remaining Nisei students made final preparations to check out of school for eastern colleges or evacuee camps in compliance with week-end orders issued by Lieut. Gen. John L. DeWitt ordering all Japanese to leave the city before Saturday.
Violence Threatened
The six Nisei students had made preparations to leave for Moscow when Governor Clark of Idaho declared that no out-of-state Nisei would be allowed to enroll in any of the state’s institutions of high learning. Public reaction and threats of violence on the part of a few Moscow inhabitants resulted in the temporary jailing of two of the women students for their own protection.
Following the incident the Idaho Argonaut, college student newspaper, protested the action in an editorial entitled, “Six American Citizens.”
Argonaut Protests
“Certainly we should keep this shameful action from those University of Idaho students, and citizens of Moscow, who are fighting now on all world fronts. We think it would hardly comfort those who are risking their lives to preserve and protect this ‘land of the free,’ that its principles are thus defended at home,” the editorial stated. Ronning, who disclosed the students are now at WSC, was student chairman of the eighth annual Japan-America student conference which was to have been held at the University campus last summer.

* * * What People Think

Carl Ronning

Carl Ronning, Washington State college student, expresses his views on the recent treatment of Nisei letters in an open letter to Governor Clark of Idaho:

Pine Manor
Pullman, Wash.

May 3, 1942 Governor Chase A. Clark
Boise, Idaho

My Dear Governor Clark: Recent happenings at the University of Idaho impel me to address this letter to you. In light of these happenings a more than considerable amount of criticism is being hurled at you and some of the people of Moscow. Permit me, please to again present the facts.
We have on our Pacific Coast some thousands of American-born Japanese. do you note my emphasis? — American born! They are American citizens in every respect. Because of the exigencies of war, however, our military authorities have ordered a mass evacuation of all Japanese from the coast areas. No on criticizes those authorities, for we know they are acting in the interests of our defense and well within their constitutional authority.
As you are undoubtedly aware, some hundreds of these American-born Japanese, these Americans, were attending coastal colleges and universities when the evacuation order was given. Naturally some of them expressed a desire to continue their education in some inland school. With this objective in mind, six of those students applied for entrance at the University of Idaho. University officials corresponded with them and expressed a willingness to accept them into their institution. The students arrived in Moscow, got themselves located, and prepared to register at your state university.
Then it happened. You, Mr. Governor, issued a public statement openly forbidding out-of-state American-born Japanese from enrolling in any of the state’s institutions of higher learning. The students who were arranging to continue their studies at the University of Idaho were forbidden entrance. To provide a typical Nazi-like finale some of the inevitable pool-hall loafers, and perhaps others began writing threatening letters to these already completely confused Americans. Two of the students, girls, spent 48 hours in the Moscow city jail for their own protection again possible violence. Many of Moscow’s good people, who were befriending the students, also received warnings. Finally the students were threateningly notified that they must leave the city. With this display of your warm Americanism and the impetus which it gave to the Americanism of a few city loafers, the students were compelled to leave.
I am certain, Mr. Governor, that the majority of the people of Moscow and the students of the University do not approve of your actions. I myself am soon slated for the army, but if I thought that I was going to fight to defend any of the actions such as you have committed, I would hang my head in shame.
Can you, as an American, justify your actions, Mr. Governor? I ask you again — Can you?

Respectfully yours,
CARL RONNING,
Washington State College.