Anti-alien bills and a push for second generation voting

Vol. 7, No. 83, April 1935. 4 pages. View this issue

Anti-Japanese legislation in Sacramento shaped much of this four-page issue. Leaders believed the bills had stirred greater interest among the second generation in voting, and chapters from Garden Grove to San Diego met, circulated petitions and wrote to lawmakers. Santa Clara collected more than 1,000 names, and Watsonville sent its petitions to Walter Tsukamoto. A House committee also reported out the bill granting citizenship to Oriental World War veterans, a measure the JACL is credited with organizing. Editorials from the P.C. Staff backed the bill and urged citizens to vote.

The JACL’s own growth is a second thread. National secretary Saburo Kido predicted forty chapters by 1936, leaders weighed a $100,000 fund for a permanent national office, and Seattle and Fresno prepared to host conventions. Smaller items include Mrs. Nobuyo Inagami’s application to regain her citizenship and news of second generation writers.

What’s in this issue

Community

  • Second Generation Interest in Voting on Rise Reported, page 1. Leaders in Sacramento believe anti-Japanese legislation has stirred greater second generation interest in voting. The article notes that the Japanese community has won many friends and should become more active in civic affairs.
  • Fresno Chapter Holds Out-Door Meeting, page 1. The Fresno JACL chapter held an outdoor meeting that built enthusiasm for the upcoming Northern California District Council. Box-lunches auctioned by Bob Itanaga were the day’s feature.
  • Garden Grove Chapter Fights Anti-Alien Measures, page 1. The Orange County JACL met in Garden Grove to discuss anti-alien bills before the state legislature. Members joined in opposing the discriminatory measures.
  • Watsonville Prexy Says Americans Behind Move Against Bill, page 3. Watsonville JACL president Henry Suzuki said local Americans sympathize with the JACL protest against anti-alien legislation. The chapter completed the state-wide chain of protests by sending its petitions to Walter Tsukamoto in Sacramento.
  • Favoritism Absent in Honolulu Vote, page 3. In a special Honolulu election, a Republican candidate was defeated by a Democrat, showing that second generation voters did not vote as a bloc by race. Observers believed Japanese merchants had shifted their support toward the Republican candidate.
  • San Luis Obispo Head Names Committeemen, by Masatoshi Kurada, page 3. The San Luis Obispo chapter appointed committee members at a meeting early this month. The group also discussed anti-alien bills and circulated petitions.
  • Second Generation Writers’ Progress is Seen This Month, page 3. Several second generation writers and artists achieved recognition this month. Toyo Suyemoto had two poems accepted in an anthology, and Kimio Obata was reappointed art editor of the Daily Californian.
  • S.F. Chapter Plans Student Reception, page 3. The San Francisco JACL announced plans for an August reception and entertainment for a delegation of Japanese students visiting for the Japan-America student conference. Dr. Carl Hirota, chapter president, made the announcement at the monthly forum.
  • San Diego Discusses Calif. Anti-Alien Bills, page 3. The San Diego JACL discussed anti-alien land bills at a special meeting and circulated petitions against them. Letters were also sent to local assemblymen in Sacramento.
  • Commodore Perry Post Inducted into National Legion Body, page 3. The Commodore Perry Post, composed of Japanese American World War veterans, was formally admitted to the American Legion in Los Angeles. Karl K. Iwanaga was named commander and the post plans auxiliary groups.
  • Chapters to Hear Vocational Issues of Young People, page 4. The Puyallup Valley and White River Valley JACL chapters will hold a joint meeting on vocational issues facing the second generation. E.K. Saito and James Y. Sakamoto are scheduled to speak.
  • Washington Township to Aid in Fair in July, page 4. The Washington Township JACL will sponsor Japanese participation in the Washington Township Fair in July. Local officials appointed members to handle floats, demonstrations and other exhibits.
  • Kenko Nogaki Sells Program Ducats to Seattle Police Chief, page 4. Seattle police chief W.B. Kirtley bought ten tickets to a JACL entertainment event to support fundraising for the 1936 national convention. The article credits Kenko Nogaki with making the sale.
  • Alameda JACL Group Circulates Petitions, by Dazu Inouye, page 4. The Alameda JACL met to discuss anti-alien bills and circulated petitions received from national headquarters. The chapter also presented a second generation-filmed production called Nisei Parade.
  • Seattle Show Opens Drive for National Meet, page 4. A two-night Seattle JACL stage show featuring first and second generation talent launched fundraising for the 1936 national convention. Tura Nakamura directed the program, which included a yasukibushi dance and excerpts from Madame Butterfly.
  • Terada, Tatsumi to Sell for Firms in White River Valley, page 4. Minoru Terada and Walter Tatsumi, two second generation leaders in Auburn, Washington, took sales positions with automobile dealerships. Both have prior civic experience in the Valley League.
  • Puyallup Chapter Fourth Annual Banquet; Kuramoto Succeeds Yoshioka, page 4. The Puyallup Valley JACL held its fourth annual banquet in Tacoma, where Toru Kuramoto succeeded Juro Yoshioka as president. State Senator C. Nifty Garret spoke on the recent legislative session.
  • Central Costa Citizens Officially Inaugurated, page 4. The Contra Costa JACL held its inauguration ceremony at the Japanese language school in Concord. William Furuta was elected president, and the chapter was not yet an official member of the national movement.
  • Seattle Brief: Gerge Nakashima Passes Through, page 4. Architect George Nakashima passed through Seattle on his return from Japan and continued to Portland to meet his parents. Taft Beppu, a former Seattle athlete who studied in Japan, also returned home for a short visit.

JACL

  • Fresno Preparing for Northern California Convention, page 1. The American Loyalty League, Fresno’s JACL chapter, is preparing to host the first Northern California district council convention on August 31 through September 2. The convention is expected to be among the largest citizens’ league affairs held in the state.
  • Seattle Chapter Lays Plans for 1936 National Convention, page 1. Seattle launched preparations for the fourth biennial JACL national convention with a two-night stage program. Organizers expect delegates from Hawaii, New York, Chicago and other sections to attend.
  • Chapters Seen as Goal for JACL by 1936, Says Kido, page 1. National secretary Saburo Kido predicted forty JACL chapters by the 1936 national convention. Chapters have grown rapidly from eight charter chapters in 1930 to thirty-three today.
  • JACL Displaying Rapid Development, page 1. National headquarters reports the JACL is growing rapidly and becoming a truly national body. Northern California leads in number of chapters, and the article lists chapters and membership costs.
  • $100,000 Necessary to Establish Firm National JACL Office, page 1. League leaders are considering an endowment of about $100,000 to fund permanent national headquarters and a paid secretary. The article argues that a guaranteed fund is needed for the League to become a truly representative national organization.
  • Santa Clara JACL Gets 1,060 Names on Protest Blanks, page 3. The Santa Clara chapter obtained more than 1,000 signatures on petitions protesting anti-Japanese legislation. The petitions were sent to Walter Tsukamoto in Sacramento.
  • Yolo-Solano Chapter Now National Group, page 3. The Yolo-Solano chapter was officially admitted to the national JACL at a meeting in Vacaville. Allen Aoyagi was chosen as the first president.
  • Formed to Spread JACL Information, page 3. A newly organized speakers’ bureau in Los Angeles, led by Dr. M.M. Hori, aims to disseminate information about the JACL and the citizens’ movement. Deputation tours to Japanese and American audiences have been arranged.
  • Henry Ohye Planning Round-World Flight, page 3. Henry Ohye, a prominent JACL member and licensed transport pilot, announced plans for a world flight. He expects to start the flight in May or June of the following year.
  • Cal. Peninsula District to Join JACL Chapter, page 4. A committee led by Saiki Muneno will draft a constitution for a new JACL chapter in the Peninsula district on May 1. The move followed a San Francisco meeting of about 150 delegates who heard national leaders explain the citizens’ movement.
  • Welfare Program Favored at Board Meet in Northwest, page 4. The Northwest JACL district board favored a general welfare program with emphasis on studying second generation vocational problems. The board also formally inducted the Mid-Columbia chapter, bringing the Northwest total to seven.

Incarceration & Redress

  • Citizenship Bill for Oriental Veterans Reported Out of Committee, page 1. The House Immigration and Naturalization Committee unanimously reported out the bill granting citizenship to Oriental World War veterans. The JACL is credited with initiating and organizing the campaign for the measure.

Commentary

  • A Worthy Enterprise, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial supports the proposed $100,000 fund to endow JACL national headquarters. It argues the fund would serve the welfare and security of the entire second generation.
  • A Big Advance, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial celebrates the House committee’s favorable report on the veterans citizenship bill, H.R. 7170. It credits the JACL with organizing the campaign and urges continued effort until the bill passes.
  • The Great Civic Duty, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial urges second generation citizens to vote in every election as a way to secure fair play and become active members of their communities. It notes that voting has long been part of the JACL platform.

Military & Veterans

  • Mrs. Nobuyo Inagami of Spokane Applies to Regain US Citizen Rights, page 4. Mrs. Nobuyo Inagami became the first woman of Japanese ancestry in the country to apply to regain her American citizenship under the Cable Act amendment. She lost her citizenship through marriage to a Japanese-born alien and needed to re-establish it to bring her children back from Japan.

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