JACL chapters choose their officers for 1939

Vol. 11, No. 28, January 1939. 4 pages. View this issue

Chapter elections ran through much of this four-page issue. Officers for 1939 had been chosen in nearly every Japanese American Citizens League chapter, and contests in Los Angeles and San Francisco showed growing interest in League affairs. Saburo Kido was re-elected in San Francisco as a write-in candidate. In Los Angeles, Eiji Tanabe’s new cabinet planned vocational guidance for young people nearing graduation. Teiko Ishida, the national historian, asked every chapter to name a local historian for a League history due at the 1940 Portland convention.

Also inside: plans for the Northwest, Southern California and Northern California district conventions, and a joint installation ball for Bay Region chapters. Monroe E. Deutsch spoke on civic duty at Oakland’s fourth anniversary, and his address is praised on the editorial page. Seattle, Tacoma, Yakima and Portland chapters report on their year.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• Officers for 1939 About All Chosen by JACL Chapters, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Election of chapter officers across the Japanese American Citizens League has nearly concluded, with contested races in Los Angeles and San Francisco signaling growing member interest. The article lists new officers for several chapters including San Francisco, Monterey, Placer County, Fresno, and others.
• Bay Region Chapters Plan to Install Newly-Chosen Officers With Ball, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Bay Region JACL chapters are planning a joint installation and inaugural ball on February 18 at the Clift Hotel in San Francisco. Officers from San Francisco, Oakland, Alameda, Eden Township, and possibly Sonoma County will be installed by national president Walter T. Tsukamoto.
• Northwest League Gathering Backed by Local Committees, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Tacoma and Puyallup Valley JACL chapters jointly launched plans to host the 1939 Northwest district convention over Labor Day. Committees were named for finance and general convention arrangements.
• Historian Asking Aid in Compiling Record of League, by Teiko Ishida, page 1. National historian Teiko Ishida asks each chapter to appoint a local historian so a comprehensive JACL history can be compiled for the 1940 Portland convention. A questionnaire will be mailed to each appointed historian.
• Southern District Plans Large Session, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Plans are underway for the 1939 Southern California District JACL convention, likely in July in Santa Maria. Growth of new chapters in the area is expected to make the gathering significant.
• Monterey Prepares to Greet Northern District Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Monterey chapter chairman James Tabata announced arrangements for the February 5 Northern California District Council meeting at Hotel San Carlos. The schedule includes registration, a luncheon, an outing, and an inaugural ball.
• North California Plans for Confab, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Extensive preparations are underway for the Northern California District convention in San Francisco over the Fourth of July, coinciding with the World’s Fair. The program includes registration, a District Council meeting, a World’s Fair visit, Pioneer Night, and a Sayonara Ball.
• Assist the Historian, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial urges every JACL chapter to appoint a historian and cooperate with national historian Teiko Ishida. It argues that small chapters are as important as large ones to the national history.
• Northwest Board Will Boost Drive for New Members, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Northwest District Council closed its year’s business in Yakima and prepared all seven chapters for a February membership drive. It also discussed the national pin sale and cooperation with the Tacoma convention.

Community

• Vocation Guidance to Be One Project of Tanabe Cabinet, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Los Angeles JACL president Eiji Tanabe’s administration will prioritize vocational guidance for young people nearing graduation. The new cabinet announced committees on employment research, legal affairs, and public relations.
• Duty of Citizens Topic at Oakland Anniversary Fete, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Oakland JACL chapter marked its fourth anniversary with a program featuring an address by University of California provost Monroe E. Deutsch. Deutsch stressed civic duty, tolerance, and that democracy must be defended by informed, unselfish citizens.
• Young at Bellingham, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Bellingham second generation held a well-attended Splash party at the Y.M.C.A. pool as the first social event of the year. The item is a brief community news report.
• Chapter Planning Fine Program for San Francisco, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Saburo Kido was re-elected San Francisco JACL president as a write-in candidate after a contested campaign. The chapter’s program for the coming year includes more democracy, a hall for members, and harmony among Issei, Nisei, and Kibei.
• Ito, Famous Dancer, Gives Fine Program for San Francisco, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Michio Ito staged a well-attended dance program at the Curran Theatre in January as part of a campaign to establish a Dance Repertory Theatre in San Francisco. Critic Alfred Frankenstein praised Ito’s artistry and originality.
• Los Angeles Sets Splendid Program for Coming Year, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Los Angeles JACL installed President Eiji Tanabe and his cabinet at a dinner dance in January, with a membership drive aiming for 1,000 names. Mayor Fletcher Bowron and speaker Byron Hanna addressed Americanism and the Japanese American community.
• San Jose Inducts Officers of Year, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The San Jose JACL held a candlelight installation ceremony for new president Masao Kanemoto and his cabinet at Alum Rock Park. The evening also included entertainment by local talent.
• Seattle Leaguers Name Committees for General Work, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The first Seattle JACL cabinet meeting set a year’s calendar of events and named committee chairmen. Two proposed membership and voting regulations were submitted for consideration at the next general meeting.
• Young Dancers Help in Staging Program, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Six second generation girls from the Mimasu School performed the Kasazukushi dance at a Seattle International Folk Arts Association program. The dancers were trained by Kameo Nakamura and Onoye Tamiyi.
• Tacoma Group Will Continue Studying Vocational Plans, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A Tacoma Methodist young people’s group heard W.B. Barger discuss vocational opportunity for second generation students. Barger urged students to balance their studies with more social involvement.
• Yakima Young Set Plans for Action, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Yakima Valley second generation youth are preparing a sectional Young People’s Christian Conference for February 18-19 at Wapato and Yakima. A rally with a potluck supper is planned for February 5 to prepare.
• Portland Chapter Made Great Gains During Past Year, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Portland JACL reviewed a year of achievements under President Mamoru Wakasugi and is preparing to host the 1940 national convention. Highlights include a 10th anniversary program, 50 new members, and an agricultural tour for farmers.
• Northwest Folks Report Elections, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Chapter officer slates for Puyallup, Yakima, Seattle, White River Valley, Portland, Tacoma, and Mid-Columbia were published. The lists show widespread interest in League leadership for 1939.

Military & Veterans

• Sunday Radio Programs Telling Contribution of Racial Groups, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The CBS radio series Americans All—Immigrants All, sponsored by the U.S. Office of Education, dramatizes the contributions of immigrant groups to American culture. The Sunday broadcasts aim to promote intercultural understanding.

Commentary

• Broad Principles, Only, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial reaffirms that the JACL is a civic rather than partisan organization focused on building young citizens’ character. It cites past successes such as the Cable Act amendment and citizenship for alien veterans as examples of acceptable broad-principle advocacy.
• Democracy Will Triumph, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial praises Dr. Monroe Deutsch’s Oakland address on civic duty and urges members to read the full text reprinted in this issue. It highlights his points on equality, tolerance, and the protection of minorities under democracy.

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