Patriots who really work at it are the Native Sons of the Golden West, who held their 66th annual convention last week. Patriotism is their avocation, state loyalty their creed. And every community in California has goodly representation on its roster.

This year there was no lack of material to work on and they chose the Japs, passing resolutions by unanimous votes to exchange interned Japs for prisoners of the Nipponese, to keep all Japs in the relocation camps "until other arrangements can be made" and to "bar forever American-born Japanese from United States citizenship."

However much we may lean toward the general policy of forgiveness for sins committed, or how sincerely we may desire to start a new post-war world with the slate wiped clean, the truth remains that the entire Jap war strategy was long ago based on American friendship and unsuspecting generosity through the years.

The strongest possible insurance so far in sight against a repetition of the perfidy is perhaps their disbarment as U.S. citizens - though somebody has suggested the same end might be achieved by simply making it a felony for a Jap to carry camera or notebook as in "peace" years.

The Native Sons' proposals will find both support and opposition. Meanwhile, this is one year when all Californians whether born here or not, appreciate to the fullest extent the sincere and patriotic efforts of both Native Sons and their sister group, the Native Daughters."