By Forrest Whitman There’s a movement afoot to rename the Russell Office Building in Washington D.C. “The Ralph Carr Senate Office Building.” That would please Colorado’s Japanese-American community and many folks from the San Luis Valley. That’s because Carr stood up for the Japanese folks during World War II. He had roots in the Valley, spoke excellent Spanish, had his law office in Antonito and had deep involvements in La Jara. He was noted for taking irrigation cases from traditional Spanish heritage farmers. His son, Robert, said that involvement sowed the seeds of his later surprising progressive acts. The imposing ...
