The Oyama ruling and the fight over California’s Alien Land Law

Vol. 23, No. 17, November 2, 1946. 8 pages. View this issue

The California Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the state’s Alien Land Law in the Oyama case led this issue. Four of seven justices delivered the ruling, which rested on an earlier U.S. Supreme Court verdict. Mike Masaoka, JACL national secretary, said the case would be taken to the United States Supreme Court and that the fight concerned all Americans. Labor and liberal groups announced their opposition to Proposition 15, and The San Francisco Chronicle urged a “No” vote in an editorial on page 3.

Also inside are Lawrence E. Davies of The New York Times on social acceptance of Japanese Americans who returned to the West Coast, and Bill Rohter’s talk to a Fresno group about Nisei who volunteered from the camps. Coverage of Japanese Canadians appears on pages 2 and 8, and the front page reports that Iva Toguri was freed from Sugamo Prison. Hawaii election results, a Spokane JACL meeting and a Los Angeles restrictive covenant suit round out the issue.

What’s in this issue

National

• California Court Upholds Alien Land Act, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California Supreme Court unanimously upheld the state’s Alien Land Law in the Oyama case, with four of seven justices ruling. The decision was delivered on the basis of an earlier U.S. Supreme Court verdict and prompted JACL and ACLU opposition ahead of Proposition 15.
• Test Case to Be Taken to U.S. Court; Fight Just Begun, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mike Masaoka, JACL national secretary, said the Oyama decision would be appealed to the United States Supreme Court as the next step in challenging the Alien Land Law. He stressed that the fight concerns all Americans and not only persons of Japanese ancestry.
• Labor, Liberal Groups Oppose Proposition 15, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Labor and liberal organizations in California announced opposition to Proposition 15, which sought to validate 1943 amendments to the Alien Land Law. Opponents argued the amendments would set a dangerous precedent for discrimination.
• Tokyo Girl Freed by U.S. Army From Sugamo Prison, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Iva Toguri, the Tokyo-born woman convicted as ‘Tokyo Rose,’ was released from Sugamo Prison after a U.S. Army decision. The article notes her American citizenship and her long imprisonment since the war.
• Alien Land Law Predicted to Be Undergoing Changes in United States, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Officials predicted that the Alien Land Law and related restrictions would change as federal courts continue to review them. The article discusses how the legal landscape affecting Japanese Americans was shifting.
• Officers of 442nd Regiment Visit Hawaiian Homes of Men Who Died in Combat, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Lt. Col. Pursall led a group of 442nd Regiment officers who visited the families of men from Hawaii who died in combat. The visits covered some 300 families.
• Fifth Canadian Repatriates Group Will Sail Soon, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A fifth group of Japanese Canadian repatriates is scheduled to leave Vancouver for Japan in November under the government’s voluntary repatriation program. The departure is coordinated with the Japanese Division of the Department of Labour.
• Seek Review of Sales of Evacuee Land, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The United Church of Canada recommended that the federal government review the sale of properties confiscated from Japanese Canadian evacuees in British Columbia. The recommendation was adopted at the church’s 12th general council.
• Social Acceptance Improves For Japanese Americans Who Have Returned to West Coast, by Lawrence E. Davies (The New York Times), page 2. A New York Times correspondent reported that social acceptance of returned Japanese American evacuees in California has improved greatly. The article also notes continuing economic difficulties, including loss of farmland and trouble reestablishing businesses.

Commentary

• “No” on Proposition 15, by The San Francisco Chronicle, page 3. The San Francisco Chronicle editorial recommends a no vote on Proposition 15 because the 1943 amendments to the Alien Land Law contain technical provisions that should be decided by the courts. It argues that voters should not be asked to ratify such measures passed amid wartime hysteria.

Community

• Spokane JACL Chapter Holds Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Spokane JACL chapter held a meeting with several members present to discuss local matters including naturalization issues. Members discussed chapter business and planned future activities.
• Japanese Americans Return to Politics in Territory of Hawaii, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Three Japanese Americans were elected outright in Hawaii’s October 5 primaries, and sixteen others were nominated for the November 5 ballot. The article notes the community’s return to public office after abstaining during the war.
• Los Angeles Civil Rights Group Will Investigate Suit to Oust Japanese American from Home, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Los Angeles Civil Rights Congress agreed to investigate a restrictive covenant lawsuit filed against Roy Kobayashi of South Harvard. Two white property owners seek to enjoin his occupancy of his home under a racially restrictive covenant.
• Canada Ghost Towns Deserted as Government Carries Out Forced Relocation Program, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The ghost towns of British Columbia, repopulated during the war by Japanese Canadian evacuees, are being emptied as the Canadian government carries out its program of complete dispersal. Evacuees were pressured to leave for eastern provinces or Japan.

Military & Veterans

• Nisei Veterans to Hold Dance on Armistice Day, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Nisei veterans announced a dance to be held on Armistice Day. The event is organized for the veteran community.
• Veteran Tells Fresno Group of Nisei Volunteered from Camps, by Bill Rohter, page 8. Veteran Bill Rohter, speaking to a Fresno group, described Nisei who volunteered for service from the relocation camps. He praised their record and the sacrifices made for equal treatment.

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