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The Poston community is evolving so rapidly that it almost eludes characterization. This is not to say that Poston is without character or form or objective; it is frankly a city in the making, and any cross section taken during this formative period must fail in some respect to capture its full quality. The careful, painstaking study submitted by Dr. Arensberg emphasizes the point. Things have happened at Poston since August which either fortify or detract from the aptness of some of the observations. In particular, I call attention to the following: 1. The community council with which Arensberg had contact and on which he comments was designedly a temporary council. It was anticipated that time would be needed for leadership to emerge. Until there was leadership, it was thought expedient to establish a recommendatory rather than a legislative council. Poston is now conducting a constitutional convention in which permanent community government will be worked out. 2. On page 16 there is reference to the desirability of developing in the Japanese some equity in these Colorado River lands. It should be understood, with emphasis, that these lands are Indian lands and as such they are inalienable; and there is no thought or intention of in any way clouding the Indian title. 3. Reference is made to cooperative community enterprises on page 18 and following. In the early summer cooperatives were still an ephemeral idea. Since then extensive planning has taken place and the cooperative enterprise will reach into every phase of Poston life. Acceptance by Poston residents is demonstrated by the fact that more than 7,000 signatures were secured on petitions requesting the establishment of cooperatives. 4. I believe it will not be so difficult for the administrative staff to shift responsibility to the Japanese as the report anticipates. All administrative positions are examined with the thought of filling them by Japanese either now or eventually after a period of training. 5. I query also the suggestion made on page 18 that the administration will not entrust heavy machinery and equipment, expensive seed, etc., to the Japanese. I believe the practice will negate the assumption. In making these remarks I do not at all detract from the validity and worth-whileness of Dr. Arensberg's study. I have found it a most incisive and stimulating document in a field that is new to the thinking of most of us – the field of social analysis into the makings of society.
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