The 1946 JACL convention in Denver and Okada’s election as president

Vol. 22, No. 10, March 9, 1946. 12 pages. View this issue

The JACL’s national convention in Denver filled much of this issue. Okada, formerly national treasurer, was elected to succeed Saburo Kido as national JACL president, and Nagaki, Satow and Yamauchi were chosen as vice-presidents. Salt Lake City won the next national convention. Ben Kuroki, Mike Masaoka, Ralph Carr and A.L. Wirin spoke, and delegates approved a national program and a resolution on dual citizenship. In a column, Larry Tajiri looked at how the JACL had come through its hardest years.

The front page carried news that Japanese American veterans no longer needed citizenship certificates to travel between Hawaii and the mainland. Other stories covered 247 more Tule Lake renunciants joining a petition to regain their citizenship, about four thousand people facing eviction from California housing projects, and a WRA survey on Nisei in schools. Kiyoshi Hosokawa wrote the column From the Frying Pan.

What’s in this issue

National

• Restrictions on Hawaii, U.S. Mainland Travel Lifted for Oriental American Veterans, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Japanese American veterans with war service records will no longer need citizenship certificates to travel between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland under new regulations. The change also extends to the wives and children of these veterans.
• Sixteen Canada Nisei Reported En Route to Japan Occupation Duty, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A group of sixteen Canadian Nisei reportedly departed for Japan to serve in occupation duty. The report indicates restrictions on Nisei serving overseas have been eased.
• Combat Team Caters Win Suit on Forced Deportation To Dominion Privy Council, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Canadian Japanese groups announced an immediate appeal to the Privy Council after the Supreme Court upheld government deportation orders affecting persons of Japanese ancestry. The committee argued the deportations were unjust to Canadian citizens.

Incarceration & Redress

• Federal Court Gives Freedom To Renunciant, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A federal court acted to free a Japanese American who had renounced his citizenship, and judicial action also halted the deportation of Mr. Tamura. The case highlights legal challenges faced by renunciants during the postwar period.
• Coast Renunciants Now Back In Japan Despondent, Former Tule Lake Youth Writes Friend, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A former Tule Lake youth who renounced his citizenship and returned to Japan writes despondently to a friend about his conditions. He fears for his life after reporting threats from fellow Japanese.
• 247 Renunciants at Tule Lake Join 1000 Others in Filing Petition to Regain U.S. Rights, by P.C. Staff, page 3. 247 renunciants at Tule Lake joined about 1,000 others in filing a petition to regain U.S. citizenship rights. The complaint alleges Army exclusion orders and detention without due process, with a hearing scheduled before a federal judge in San Francisco on March 19.
• Coast Housing Projects Face Eviction of Evacuees, by P.C. Staff, page 4. About four thousand evacuees living in public housing projects in California may be evicted as the WRA closes, unless pressure is brought to retain the projects. The article warns of a possible return to mass evacuation conditions.
• Postpone Closing of Coast Hostel, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Closing of the Sacramento evacuee hostel was postponed because many residents had not found permanent housing. The delay gives more time for evacuees to secure homes.

Military & Veterans

• Nisei Gls Give Object-Lesson In Democracy to Japan People, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Nisei soldiers serving in occupied Japan are described as setting an example of democracy for the Japanese people. Their conduct and presence are presented as a positive influence on Japanese civilians.
• Herb Caen Says Nisei Veteran Beaten by GIs, by P.C. Staff, page 1. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen reported that a Japanese American war veteran was beaten by sailors on a Greyhound bus. The incident is cited as evidence of continuing racial violence against Nisei veterans.
• GI League Crown in Italy, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was reported to have won a league championship while stationed in Italy. The article covers the team’s athletic success among soldiers overseas.
• Nisei Veterans Toast a Friend, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Nisei veterans gathered in San Francisco to honor Rael M. Finch, a Mississippi businessman-rancher who was being helped by Japanese American soldiers at Letterman General Hospital. The photo shows the veterans dining with Finch.
• AVC Unit Spokane Refutes Pegler’s Charges, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Chairman Koyama of the Spokane chapter of the American Veterans Committee refuted columnist Westbrook Pegler’s attacks on Nisei veterans. He defended the veterans group and the right of Japanese Americans to live peacefully.
• Okada Succeeds Kido as National JACL President, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Okada, formerly national treasurer, was elected to succeed Saburo Kido as national JACL president. He is a Salt Lake resident and former member of the Fort Lincoln chapter.
• Japanese American Creed, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The article presents the Japanese American Creed adopted at the JACL convention, affirming loyalty and democratic ideals. It was read and endorsed by delegates as a statement of community principles.

Community

• All-Nisei Crew Will Man Tuna Clipper, by P.C. Staff, page 2. An all-Nisei crew has chartered a purse seiner, the New Limited, to fish for tuna out of Monterey, California for the season. It marks the first such all-Nisei fishing venture since Pearl Harbor.
• Homeowners Drop Legal Suits To Evict Non-White Families, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Homeowners who had filed suits to evict non-white families have dropped their legal actions after opposition from community groups. The report describes the successful pushback against racially motivated eviction efforts.
• Minister Hails Reception Given Evacuees by Seattle Citizens, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A Seattle Rotary Club leader praised local citizens for welcoming returning evacuees with goodwill and sound American spirit. He noted that only a few opposed their return while most residents supported them.
• WRA Survey Reveals Nisei Win Acceptance in Schools, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A WRA survey found that Nisei students were accepted in schools, with relations improving when Nisei parents participated in PTA groups. The findings describe the progress of school integration after relocation.
• Aiko Yamashita Chosen Head of Group in Milwaukee, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Aiko Yamashita was chosen as president of the Milwaukee JACL chapter at its recent election meeting. The article reports the results of the local leadership vote.
• Sixty Race Relations Groups Organize on Statewide Basis, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Sixty local organizations in Northern and Southern California formed the California Council for Civic Unity to improve intercultural relations. Mrs. Ruth Kingman of Berkeley chaired the temporary organizing committee.
• Women’s Teams Take Prizes in Bridge Tourney, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Women’s teams won prizes in a bridge tournament held during the JACL convention under the supervision of Taki Dormete Jr. The article lists the winning pairs.
• Convention Personalities, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The convention brought together many local personalities from Denver and across the country. The article highlights the attendees and their roles in the proceedings.

JACL

• Coming of Age of the JACL, by Larry Tajiri, page 4. Larry Tajiri reflects on the JACL’s progress from wartime stress to a strengthened postwar organization. He credits Saburo Kido’s sacrifices for guiding the group through its hardest years.
• Kaneko Reelected President of JACL Group in Milwaukee, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Kaneko was reelected president of the Milwaukee JACL chapter at the recent election meeting. The brief reports the outcome of the chapter’s leadership vote.
• Nagaki, Satow, Yamauchi Elected Vice-Presidents at National JACL Biennial League Election, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Nagaki, Satow, and Yamauchi were elected vice-presidents of the National JACL at its biennial election. The article covers the new national leadership lineup.
• Second Class Citizenship for Minorities Rapped by Wirin, by P.C. Staff, page 9. ACLU attorney A.L. Wirin denounced second-class citizenship for minorities as un-American and undemocratic at a JACL meeting in Denver. He argued against laws that deny full rights to certain citizens.
• JACL Delegates Pass Hat for Red Cross Drive, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Delegates to the JACL convention in Denver donated a total of $400 to the American Red Cross fund drive. The contribution opened the conference.
• Salt Lake Wins Next National JACL Parley, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Salt Lake City was chosen to host the next national JACL convention. The Mount Olympus group will serve as co-host.
• Resolution Asks President Truman to Bar Dual Citizenship Status, by P.C. Staff, page 9. A JACL convention resolution asked President Truman to bar dual citizenship status and urged naturalization rights for Issei. It also called on the government to affirm responsibility to evacuees.
• Race Prejudice Hit by Leaders of Veterans, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Veterans’ leaders criticized race prejudice at the JACL convention, calling for equal treatment for Japanese Americans. Their remarks were part of the convention’s public program.
• Ben Kuroki, Mike Masaoka Call for Continued Fight to Insure Freedoms Won in War, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Ben Kuroki and Mike Masaoka urged Nisei to continue fighting to secure the freedoms won during the war. They stressed the JACL’s role in protecting Japanese American civil rights.
• Faith in Japanese Americans Vindicated by Nisei Record During War, Says Ralph Carr, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Former Colorado governor Ralph Carr said his faith in Japanese Americans was vindicated by their wartime record. He recalled his stand protecting evacuees from violence in Colorado.
• Progressive National Program Approved by JACL Delegates, by P.C. Staff, page 10. JACL delegates approved a progressive national program at the convention. The program addresses naturalization, reparations, and civil liberties for Japanese Americans.
• Feature First Public Session, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The first public session of the JACL convention featured speakers and a photo spread of attendees. Delegates and boosters were recognized during the opening program.

Commentary

• Stood on the Pacific Shore, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The writer reflects on standing alone at the Pacific shore, contemplating the wars of the age and the longing for peace among peoples. The piece expresses hope for brotherhood and shared humanity across East and West.
• From the Frying Pan, by Kiyoshi Hosokawa, page 5. Kiyoshi Hosokawa muses on why many Nisei give up good midwestern jobs to return to prewar homes in California. He examines the pull of familiar places despite the opportunities elsewhere.
• Washington News-Letter: Main Issues of FEPC Bill Sidestepped During Debate, by Kitabard, page 5. The column argues that Congressional debate on the FEPC bill avoided its central questions about discrimination based on prejudice. It criticizes Southern senators who framed the bill as a threat to social equality.

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