The House passes the Judd bill on equality in naturalization

Vol. 28, No. 9, March 5, 1949. 8 pages. View this issue

The House of Representatives passed the Judd bill on March 1, 1949, and the news ran through this eight-page issue. The bill removes racial restrictions in immigration and naturalization. Mike Masaoka of JACL ADC thanked Nisei and the public and urged continued support as the bill moves to the Senate. Speakers on the House floor, including Walter, Yates, Johnson, Celler and Farrington, argued for it. I. H. Gordon described watching the debate from the gallery, and two editorials weighed in on equality in naturalization.

Other stories reported that Takeshi Yoshihara of Renton, Washington, became the first Nisei appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy. Nine stranded Nisei sought restoration of citizenship, and the Tule Lake renunciant cases continued in federal court. Bill Hosokawa wrote about the Mardi Gras and a newspaper photograph. Edward J. Ennis answered questions on evacuee claims, and the 3rd annual JACL bowling tournament opened in Salt Lake City.

What’s in this issue

Military & Veterans

  • First Japanese American Appointed to U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Takeshi Yoshihara, a Renton, Washington high school senior, became the first Nisei appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy after winning a competitive civil service exam. He was born in Selleck, Washington, and his family was evacuated to Pinedale and Minidoka camps during the war.
  • Nisei Democrats Meet Barkley at Dinner on Coast, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Eight members of the newly organized Santa Clara County Nisei Democratic Club attended the Jefferson-Jackson victory dinner in San Francisco. They were introduced to Vice President Alben Barkley.
  • American Legion Commends All-Nisei San Francisco Post, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Townsend Harris Post No. 438, an all-Nisei American Legion post in San Francisco, received a gold star citation and a special certificate for its service. It was commended for its role in the repatriation of Nisei war dead.

National

  • Masaoka Voices Nisei Gratitude for House Action on Judd Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mike Masaoka of JACL ADC thanked Nisei and the American public after the House passed the Judd bill for equality in immigration and naturalization. He said the JACL’s work depended on chapters, volunteers, and the Issei community, and urged continued support as the bill moves to the Senate.
  • Texas Nisei Asks Court to Approve Change in Name, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Alfredo Nakahara filed a petition in San Jose Superior Court to change his name to Fred Grijalva Caballero, the name he had used since infancy. He was represented by attorney Wayne M. Kanemoto.
  • Measure to Open Citizenship to Issei Gains Overwhelming Approval of Representatives, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House passed the Judd bill (HR 199) by overwhelming voice vote on March 1, eliminating racial restrictions in immigration and naturalization for the first time. Opposition focused only on the West Indies colonial provision, and the bill now goes to the Senate.
  • Immigration Service Official Speaks to Washington JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Edward J. Shaughnessy, special assistant to the Immigration Commissioner, addressed the Washington D.C. JACL on the history of American immigration and naturalization law. He expressed hope that the Judd bill would pass and remove the last racial prohibitions in those laws.
  • Oregon Legislature Repeals Wartime Anti-Issei Amendment to State Alien Land Statute, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Oregon legislature repealed the restrictive wartime amendment to the Alien Land law that had virtually barred Japanese and other ineligible aliens from farm property occupancy. Senate Bill 45 to repeal the 1923 law remains pending, with the Namba case testing the statute’s constitutionality.
  • Speeches on House Floor Urge Passage of Naturalization Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Several House members including Walter, Yates, Johnson, Celler, and Farrington spoke in support of the Judd bill during floor debate. Their remarks stressed good will in Asia, Nisei war service, and the end of racial exclusion.
  • Chicago JACL Supports State Fair Employment Legislation, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Chicago JACL passed a resolution urging passage of Illinois fair employment practices legislation, which would create a state commission to prohibit employment discrimination. The bill had the backing of Governor Adlai Stevenson.

Incarceration & Redress

  • Nine Stranded Nisei Seek Restoration of Citizenship, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Nine Nisei stranded in Japan will seek restoration of American citizenship lost during the war when their cases go to trial in Los Angeles on May 17. The cases involve renunciation at Tule Lake, forced military service in Japan, and other circumstances, and they are represented by A. L. Wirin.
  • Government Asks Individual Trials in Bid of Renunciants to Regain Citizenship Rights, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Federal Judge Louis E. Goodman ordered the government to show cause why over 4,200 Tule Lake renunciants should be forced to appear individually to regain citizenship. Attorney Wayne M. Collins challenged the government’s list as violating the court’s earlier order.
  • House Judiciary Committee Opposes Brides Law Extension, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The House Judiciary Committee reported that existing circumstances do not warrant extending the War Brides Act or GI Fiancees Act. JACL ADC said it was considering an entirely new approach to the problem.
  • Mrs. d’Aquino Asks U.S. Court to Call Gen. MacArthur as Witness in Treason Trial, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Counsel for Iva Toguri d’Aquino requested that Gen. Douglas MacArthur and 42 others be subpoenaed as defense witnesses for her treason trial. Counsel also asked that the trial be held in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Sydney.
  • House Group Favors Senate Contraband Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The House Judiciary Committee unanimously reported out S. 29, which authorizes payment for contraband articles deposited with peace officers at the outbreak of war. The bill will be placed on the Consent Calendar.

Arts & Entertainment

  • Tomi Kanazawa Given Kimono for Butterfly Role, by P.C. Staff, page 1. California-born soprano Tomi Kanazawa received a kimono made by the Japan Silk Association for her role as Cho-Cho-San in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly with the Pacific Opera Company. The gown was presented at the Whitcomb Hotel in San Francisco.
  • Ellen Ochi Realizes Dream, Wins Scholarship for Paris Study, by Tak Yamagata, page 2. Cleveland artist Ellen Ochi left for Paris on Washington’s Birthday to study art for a year on the $1000 Page scholarship. Her free impressionistic watercolors and wash paintings had been widely acclaimed in Cleveland.

Community

  • Yuki Toya Named Queen Candidate, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Yuki Toya, 28, was chosen to represent the Southern District Young Buddhist League in the queen contest at the Western Young Buddhists’ convention in Fresno on April 30 and May 1. The announcement was brief.
  • Twin Cities JACL Cited for Civic Activity, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Minneapolis and St. Paul community was singled out by the National Conference of Christians and Jews for its improvement of human relations. The Twin Cities JACL was among several organizations honored during National Brotherhood Week.
  • Case Histories of Maladjusted Nisei Studied at New York Meet, by Tooru Kanazawa, page 2. The New York JACL Educational Committee held a discussion meeting where psychoanalytical social worker Kenny Murase presented case histories of Nisei with personality problems. The discussion also addressed Ruth Benedict’s book The Chrysanthemum and the Sword.
  • Boston Group Hears Talk on Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Dr. Edwin O. Reischauer, state department advisor and Harvard professor, spoke to the New England JACL about democratization in Japan. He said Japanese attitudes toward the occupation had shifted from acceptance to criticism and cynicism.
  • Seabrook to Host 1949 Bussei Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Seabrook, New Jersey will host the 4th annual Eastern Young Buddhist League conference April 1 to 3. Committee assignments for housing, programs, and finance were announced.
  • More Strandees Return Home on President Cleveland, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Thirty-six passengers of Japanese ancestry arrived in San Francisco aboard the President Cleveland from Yokohama. Twenty-eight of them were war-stranded Japanese Americans returning from Japan.
  • Appoint Ikeda to Head New JACL Office, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Joe G. Masaoka announced the appointment of Toru Ikeda as director of the newly opened Fresno Area JACL office. Ikeda had been active in the YBA, JACL, and the Seabrook Farm community.
  • Three Nisei Students Win Kauai Air Trips, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Three McKinley High School students won an essay contest on social security sponsored by Hawaiian Air Transport Service. The winners will visit Kauai and be guests at a student assembly.
  • Buddhist Conference Expected to Draw 1,000 Delegates, by P.C. Staff, page 3. More than 1,000 young Nisei Buddhists are expected at the Western Young Buddhists League conference in Fresno April 30 and May 1. The theme is Assurance Through Buddhism and the program includes services, talent shows, and a queen’s ball.
  • Watsonville Ends Membership Drive, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Watsonville JACL concluded a two-week membership drive with 107 members signed up. Committee assignments by district were announced.
  • Chicago JACL Sends Speakers to City Brotherhood Meetings, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Ten members of the Chicago JACL speakers bureau addressed groups during Brotherhood Month, including B’nai B’rith youth groups and church councils. The bureau’s members spoke on Japanese American cultural contributions.
  • Prexy Hop Starts 1949 Membership Drive for New York Chapter, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The New York JACL chapter opened its 1949 social program with a crowded Prexy Hop dance at the McBurney YMCA. The event launched a membership drive.
  • Indio Chapter Fetes New Cabinet Members, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Indio JACL held an installation dinner for its new officers, with Tom Sakai installed as president. Regional director Sam Ishikawa served as the officiating officer and Frank Mizusawa spoke on evacuation claims.
  • Nisei Attend YWCA Conference, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Fifty delegates from Los Angeles, including Magnolia Residence committee members, will attend the 18th national YWCA convention in San Francisco. Topics include civil liberties, minority group problems, and equality in naturalization.
  • Expect Few Japanese Canadian Evacuees to Return to Coast, by Daly, page 7. A Vancouver Sun report found that Japanese Canadians are unlikely to return to the Pacific coast after restrictions end, due to depleted capital, long absence, and fear of prejudice. Seiji Homma of the BC Japanese Canadian Citizens Association said the community was satisfied in the interior.
  • Rio Grande Chapter Installs Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The newly organized Rio Grande Valley JACL installed its first cabinet at the home of Jack Tanamachi, with Henry Kawahata sworn in as president. National director Satow officiated.
  • Minvada Nisei Manufactures New Building Material from Perlite, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Namyu Tomiyasu, a Nevada Nisei, operates Basic Materials Company in Riverside, producing Strongtex from perlite for insulation and soil moisture retention. He moved his business from Las Vegas to California due to freight rate pressures.
  • Watsonville Group Seeks Support for Naturalization Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Watsonville JACL endorsed the Judd naturalization equality bill and planned to contact local organizations for support. The chapter also reported progress on reclaiming its former school building.

Commentary

  • Health in Jeopardy, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial urges state approval of federal funds for the interracial West View Hospital in Los Angeles and cites discrimination against minority patients and doctors in California hospitals. It argues that interracial and nonsectarian hospitals can help address these disparities.
  • For Equality in Naturalization, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial welcomes the likely passage of the naturalization equality bill this year, noting how the alien ineligible status had enabled discrimination in land ownership and employment. It praises the House vote and the Los Angeles Times support for the measure.
  • So Now It’s an Issue: New York JACL Joins State Campaign to Win Equal Rights in Housing, by Everett James Starr, page 5. A New York state committee launched a campaign for three proposed laws to end housing discrimination, backed by over 22 organizations including JACL. Speakers argued that segregated housing carries high social, economic, and psychological costs.
  • At the Mardi Gras, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. The columnist describes his first Mardi Gras in New Orleans, including the parade tradition of tossing trinkets to crowds and the costumes worn on Mardi Gras Day. He also contrasts the elaborate krewe organization with the Negro Zulu parade.
  • Washington Report: Nisei in Gallery Watch as House Moves to Repudiate Bias in Immigration Law, by I. H. Gordon, page 5. The House debate on equal immigration and naturalization rights was calm and cordial, lacking the rhetoric of past debates on Asian immigration. A small group of Nisei and Issei watched from the gallery as the bill passed.
  • A Picture Poses a Problem, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. A Denver Post photo of a Japanese American child in ceremonial costume was reduced in size in the second edition, prompting debate over whether minorities should be shown as similar to or different from other Americans. The columnist notes merit on both sides.
  • From the Frying Pan: Kikuta’s Pearl Harbor Tomato, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. University of Hawaii scientist Kazuo Kikuta and Tex Frazier developed a disease-resistant tomato called the Pearl Harbor tomato, which helped feed troops in the Pacific. The variety is now being planted on other Pacific islands.
  • Questions on Evacuee Claims, by Edward J. Ennis, page 6. This installment of a JACL ADC question-and-answer series explains that the Justice Department is processing evacuation claims without a specific appropriation and will request funds. It also clarifies that deposits in Japanese banks and contraband items are generally not recoverable under the Evacuation Claims Law.
  • Vagaries, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A brief column of notes covers artist Mine Okubo’s Klumpke prize, Toru Matsumoto’s new book The Seven Stars, and reports on Yoshiye Okada and Mumimaro Konoye. It also mentions Carey McWilliams’s cancelled speeches in Riverside.

Sports

  • Nation’s Leading Nisei Bowlers Open Play in 3rd Annual JACL Tournament in Salt Lake City, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Nearly 200 bowlers and 36 teams began competition in the 3rd annual National JACL bowling tournament at Temple Alleys in Salt Lake City, with a $3,400 prize pool. Hawaii All-Stars and several Los Angeles and Seattle teams were among the favorites.
  • Murray Taiyos Take Invitational Tourney in Idaho Falls, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Murray Taiyos won the Idaho Falls JACL invitational basketball tournament, defeating Honeyville, Ogden, and Salt Lake City Zephyrs. Two Murray players, Min Matsumori and Tom Akimoto, were named among the ten best players.
  • Sad Sam, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Manager Sad Sam Ichinose discussed the defeat of his fighter Tommy Dado-Marino by Bantamweight Champion Manuel Ortiz in Honolulu. Ichinose hopes to arrange a match with flyweight champion Rinty Monaghan.

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