Crystal City, Proposition 15 and the fight over the Alien Land Law

Vol. 23, No. 14, October 12, 1946. 8 pages. View this issue

The Northern California ACLU reported that the government was still holding 131 people of Japanese ancestry at Crystal City, Texas, more than a year after the war ended. Most were renunciants from Tule Lake. Proposition 15, the Alien Land Law amendments on California’s November ballot, drew opposition from the California Council for Civic Unity, the Commonwealth Club’s immigration section and the Santa Ana Register. Akira Iwamura wrote about 442nd veterans facing land law action against a family farm, and Bill Hosokawa commented on an Arizona judge’s one-cent fines for 101 Poston draft resisters.

Larry Tajiri reviewed Ralph G. Martin’s Ben Kuroki biography, Boy from Nebraska, with a foreword excerpt by Bill Mauldin. Also inside: 500 Japanese Canadians sailing for Japan on the Marine Falcon, a testimonial dinner planned for 500 Nisei servicemen in Los Angeles, a memorial for the 100th Infantry Battalion’s dead in Honolulu, and a Nisei-built airplane tested in Buffalo.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Government Still Holding 131 Persons at Texas Camp, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Northern California ACLU charged that the Department of Justice continues to hold 131 persons of Japanese ancestry at Crystal City, Texas, more than a year after hostilities ended. Most are renunciants from Tule Lake, with others including aliens and Peruvian Japanese.

Community

• Proposition 15 Opposed by Unity Council, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California Council for Civic Unity announced opposition to Proposition 15, the Alien Land Law amendments, and urged voters to defeat it in November. The council argued the measure would entrench racial discrimination in state law.
• Fresno Area Nisei To Hold Rally on Political Issues, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Nisei Voter’s League of Central California will hold political rallies in Fresno and Reedley to discuss candidates and November ballot issues. JACL regional representative Joe Grant Masaoka will speak on Proposition 15.
• Texas Jury Fails to Return Indictment in Ando Case, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Texas grand jury declined to indict Frank S. Ando, an alien of Japanese ancestry, on charges of making disparaging remarks about the American flag. Ando had claimed the charges were filed by an employer angered by his complaints about an employment agreement.
• Nisei Bring Home Record Sardine Catch, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Seven Nisei fishermen on the twelve-man crew of the Nancy Rose helped bring in a record sardine catch on the opening day of the season at Los Angeles harbor. The photo shows crew members entering port.
• Protest Restrictive Covenants At West Los Angeles Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Civil rights groups protested efforts by West Los Angeles residents to oust the Japanese American E. K. Yamato family from their home through restrictive covenants. Speakers and picketing demonstrations supported the family’s right to occupy the property.
• Commonwealth Club Committee Opposes Proposition 15, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Section on Immigration and Naturalization of the Commonwealth Club of California voted 19 to 14 against Proposition 15. The vote followed presentations of arguments for and against the measure.
• 500 Japanese Canadians Deported to Japan Aboard United States Army Vessel, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Five hundred persons of Japanese ancestry left Vancouver on October 3 for Japan aboard the U.S. Army transport Marine Falcon under Canada’s voluntary repatriation program. Many minor children were forced to accompany their parents.
• Chicago Times Carries Sunday Feature on Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Chicago Sunday Times featured Nisei residents in a full-page story, noting Chicago now has the largest Japanese American population in North America. Many came to the city under wartime resettlement and have chosen it as their permanent home.
• Mother of California Nisei Survives Hiroshima Bombing, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Tsukasa Uyeno, a former Denver resident, learned that his mother, Mrs. Taka Uyeno, survived the Hiroshima atomic bombing. He had feared she was killed after not hearing from her for about 20 years.
• New Plane Designed, Built by Nisei Firm Given Tests at Airport in Buffalo, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Two Americans of Japanese ancestry designed and built a 175 mile-per-hour two-seat personal airplane introduced in Buffalo by Aero-Flight Aircraft Corporation. James Nagamatsu leads the company and expects production to begin by the first of the year.
• Receives First Citizenship Papers, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Dr. John M. Yamazaki, missionary of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, became the first Issei in Southern California to apply for citizenship on October 1. He has ministered to Japanese Americans in Southern California for thirty-three years.
• Nisei Gls in Tokyo Reported Homesick for Minnesota City, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Curtis L. Erickson reports that Japanese American language personnel serving in occupied Tokyo are homesick for Minneapolis, where they trained at Fort Snelling and Camp Savage. Their fondness for the city is reflected in conversations about familiar places and home-cooked meals.
• Training Course Planned to Aid Issei Cleaners, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A training course is being planned in San Francisco to help Issei dry cleaners meet new state licensing requirements passed during their wartime absence. The course is sponsored by the Civil Rights Defense Union and the International Institute of Alameda County.
• Ben Kuroki Speaks in New Hampshire, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Ben Kuroki has returned from a speaking tour in New Hampshire for the JACL, addressing high school groups, Kiwanis clubs, YMCA and Hi-Y clubs. He also appears on Margaret McBride’s radio program to discuss his book.
• Washington Citizens Committee Dissolving, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Washington Citizens Committee, Inc. after two years of activity will be dissolved at its annual meeting at the home of former Ambassador William R. Castle. The hostel it operated will close November 1.
• Orange County Citizens Asked to Vote No on Proposition 15, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Santa Ana Register urged California voters to vote no on Proposition 15, arguing it would work hardships on individuals and strengthen the Alien Land Law. The paper said the measure should be defeated overwhelmingly.
• Canadian Girl Leaves to Join Nisei Husband in Tokyo, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Seiko Inamoto Kimura, a Vancouver-born Japanese Canadian, left Seattle for Tokyo to join her Nisei husband, an American Army officer. She had been prevented from entering the United States until permission was granted.

National

• Judge to Rule Soon in Three Test Cases, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Alfred L. Paonessa is expected to soon rule in three cases challenging racial restrictions against persons of Japanese ancestry. The cases involve the Alien Land Law, a Japanese fishing restriction, and related state discrimination.
• Japanese Aliens May Obtain Reentry Permits, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Immigration officials clarified that resident aliens of Japanese ancestry may obtain reentry permits before visiting Japan. Those planning travel should secure reentry permits before leaving the United States.
• Heavy Vote Reported in Hawaii Elections, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A heavy vote was reported in Hawaii’s territorial, county and city primary elections held October 5. The elections marked the return of candidates of Japanese ancestry to Hawaiian political life.
• Canada Refuses to Permit Reentry of Japanese Dentist, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Canadian immigration officials refused reentry to Dr. Taihei Kuzuhara, a Japan-born dentist resident in Canada for 25 years, after a U.S. trip. He awaits a reply to his petition at the Blaine, Washington immigration station.
• Judge Raps Treatment of Nisei Group During War, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A federal judge in Phoenix fined 101 Americans of Japanese ancestry one cent each for refusing Army induction from the Poston relocation center, while criticizing the wartime evacuation and detention. The judge granted stays of execution for test cases.

Military & Veterans

• Language School’s Album Publication Delayed, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Military Intelligence Service Language School announced that delivery of its MISLS Album will be delayed until November due to a transfer to Monterey and printing delays. Additional orders are being taken at $3.50 per copy.
• Testimonial Dinner Will Honor Veterans, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A testimonial banquet and dance honoring 500 Japanese American servicemen will be held November 3 at Hollenbeck Young hall in Los Angeles. The event will also pay tribute to Southern California citizens who supported Nisei rights.
• Memorial Held for 300 Hawaii Dead of Famous 100th Infantry Battalion, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Memorial services were held in Honolulu for about 300 deceased Japanese American soldiers of the 100th Infantry Battalion. The event was sponsored by Club 100 and marked the third anniversary of the battalion’s first baseball game-related tribute.
• Nisei GI Returns From Occupation Duty in Germany, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Pfc. Ira Himinaka returned from occupation duty in Germany after serving with a quartermaster unit. He describes conditions in Berlin and the attitudes of Germans and Russians toward American troops.
• Bill Mauldin: The Nisei Who Fought, by Bill Mauldin, page 5. Cartoonist Bill Mauldin writes in the foreword to Ralph Martin’s biography that the Nisei soldiers of the 442nd, 100th Battalion, and Ben Kuroki earned a glorious record. He argues they fought to prove their Americanism while their families were imprisoned.

JACL

• Contributions to National JACL’s Fund Announced, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The National JACL announced a $2,000 donation from C. Shirakawa of Los Angeles, along with other contributions to its fund. Donors included a $1,000 gift from A. L. Wirin and $500 from the Rafu Shimpo.
• JACL Council May Absorb CRDU Group, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Southern California Civil Rights Defense Union may be absorbed by the Pacific Southwest JACL District Council. A five-man committee will confer on reactivation proceedings for chapters across the district.

Commentary

• Editorial: No Vacancy, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial argues that the American Legion’s national convention confirmed the continued reactionary control of the organization’s old guard. It concludes that the American Veterans Committee offers a more democratic program for minority veterans.
• Canadian Repatriate, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial reflects on Toshiko Sasaki’s forced departure for Japan under Canada’s voluntary repatriation program. It argues that the choices offered to Japanese Canadians were coercive and left many children to accompany their parents.
• Criminal or Hero?, by Akira Iwamura, page 4. Former Sgt. Akira Iwamura writes a letter to the Palo Alto Times questioning why veterans of the 442nd face Alien Land Law action against their family farm. He argues that combat service and war honors should protect Nisei families from the proposed Proposition 15.
• A Letter from a GI in Tokyo, by Larry Tajiri, page 4. An anonymous GI in Tokyo writes about his views on the occupation and the prospects for democratization in Japan. He argues that democratic revolution must come from within Japan rather than being imposed by occupation forces.
• Ikky Tagawa, 13, Edits Mimeographed Baseball Publication, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Thirteen-year-old Ikky Tagawa edits a mimeographed baseball newspaper in New York City. Her work was featured in a PM Sunday magazine profile.
• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa comments on the Arizona federal court ruling that fined 100 Nisei draft resisters one cent each. He argues the ruling vindicates the resisters while elevating the reputation of Nisei who volunteered for service.

Arts & Entertainment

• Ben Kuroki’s Story: Ralph Martin Writes an Exciting Biography of a Nisei Hero, by Larry Tajiri, page 5. Larry Tajiri reviews Ralph G. Martin’s biography Boy from Nebraska, which tells the story of Ben Kuroki, a Nisei airman who flew heavy bombing missions in Europe and the Pacific. The review praises the book as a human document about courage and the fight against racial intolerance.

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