Restoring citizenship to Tule Lake renunciants, January 1950

Vol. 30, No. 3, January 21, 1950. 8 pages. View this issue

A new procedure to restore citizenship to Tule Lake renunciants led the news. The State and Justice Departments agreed on a program for about 2,000 people who lost their citizenship while confined at the Tule Lake Relocation Center, following the Ninth Circuit Court’s Murakami decision. Mike Masaoka wrote about JACL’s policy on renunciants, and the JACL Anti-Discrimination Committee announced a job-bias program with the United States Employment Service. Reports of employer bias in California and a Washington survey of prejudice gave the editorial “The Prevalence of Prejudice” its subject.

Also inside: Larry Tajiri on a renaissance in Nisei writing, Bill Hosokawa’s column on pills, and Mitsu Yasuda’s notes from occupied Japan. Sports pages cover the New York action against the American Bowling Congress’s whites-only policy and plans for the national JACL bowling meet. Chapter news covers installations in Philadelphia, Cleveland, Washington, D.C. and San Mateo, and Japanese Diet members touring California.

What’s in this issue

National

• State, Justice Departments Set Procedure to Restore Citizenship to Renunciants, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The State and Justice Departments agreed on a procedure allowing about 2,000 Tule Lake renunciants to regain citizenship through American passport applications with special affidavits. The program follows the Ninth Circuit Court’s Murakami decision that the renunciations were made under duress.
• Report High Employer Bias Against California Orientals, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Chinese Press reported that many San Francisco job orders received by the state employment service carried discriminatory specifications, including exclusion of Oriental Americans in 163 instances. The findings were cited as the Board of Supervisors prepared to hear a fair employment practices ordinance.
• ADC Urges House Retention of 21-Day Rule on Legislation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL Anti-Discrimination Committee joined hundreds of organizations in urging the House to keep the 21-day rule that lets bills reach the floor without Rules Committee clearance. The Cox resolution to restore Rules Committee power was defeated, and the committee’s letters went to House leaders.

JACL

• JACL Moves to Alleviate Job Bias Against Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL Anti-Discrimination Committee announced a cooperative program with the United States Employment Service to reduce job discrimination against persons of Japanese ancestry. Local chapters will act in an advisory capacity while the USES supplies labor market information.
• Masaoka Tells JACL Policy On Renunciants, by Mike Masaoka, page 1. Mike Masaoka stated JACL policy of neither prejudging nor intervening in renunciant litigation, as set by national conventions in 1946 and 1948. He said JACL now accepts the federal courts’ finding that most renunciants are loyal citizens.

Community

• Philadelphia JACL Installs Woman As New President, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mariko Ishiguro was installed as the first woman president of the Philadelphia JACL chapter at its December meeting. The new cabinet includes officers handling vice presidency, treasury, publicity and other duties.
• Washington Survey Discloses Prejudices of White Residents Toward Non-Caucasian Group, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A University of Washington and Washington State College poll found that white residents of Washington approve civil rights legislation but hold strong personal prejudices against Negro, Japanese and Chinese persons. Opposition rose sharply with closeness of personal contact, from schools and jobs to marriage.
• Nisei Student Wins Paper’s Essay Contest, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Junko Shimizu, 17, won first prize in the senior division of the Los Angeles Examiner’s Bill of Rights essay contest. She had also won first place in an Oratorical Art Association speech contest and was being prepared for further competition.
• Coachella Elects Shibata President, Schedules Events, by P.C. Staff, page 2. George Shibata was elected president of the Coachella Valley JACL, and a full slate of officers was named. The chapter plans a snow hike, a float in the Date Festival parade, and installation of officers on Feb. 25.
• Elaborate Program Is Outlined for Fresno Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The steering committee outlined the day’s program for the one-day constitutional convention of the Central California JACL district council on Feb. 5. Activities include a panel discussion, bowling and bridge tournaments, a banquet and a dance.
• Returned Evacuees in Seattle District File for $4 Million, by P.C. Staff, page 2. William Y. Mimbu, a Seattle attorney, estimated that about 900 evacuation claims totaling nearly $4,000,000 were filed by returned evacuees in the Seattle area. Claims mainly concern forced sales of property and farm losses.
• Junior Chamber of Commerce Organized in Honolulu, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 2. A Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce was organized in Honolulu to promote civic-mindedness among young Nisei businessmen. President Robert Sato outlined its purpose as building citizenship and training for community projects, not rivalry with the Honolulu Junior Chamber.
• Goal of $25 Thousand Set for South California Drive, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The 1950 ADC fund drive in Southern California aims for $25,000, with $12,100 assigned to the Los Angeles area. Solicitation was expected to begin Jan. 23 and conclude by the end of February.
• Four Los Angeles Chapters to Sponsor Inaugural Ball, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The four Los Angeles JACL chapters will jointly sponsor an inaugural ball on Feb. 3 at the Forum Starlight room. The event features a date bureau, refreshments and music by Tets Bessho’s orchestra.
• Gosho to Head JACL Chapter In Washington, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Henry Gosho will be installed as president of the Washington, D.C., JACL chapter at a Japan Night dinner and dance. Mike Masaoka will install the other officers of the 1950 cabinet.
• Cleveland Chapter Prepares for Banner Year, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Cleveland JACL, under first woman president Alice Morihiro, set up committees for a full year of activities. Two new committees were created, one for the constitution and one as a clearing house to schedule events.
• Work of JACL for Remedial Legislation Told to Visitors, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Local Japanese in San Francisco greeted members of Japan’s Diet touring the United States and described JACL legislative achievements. Joe Grant Masaoka also addressed the delegation on the gains made by Japanese Americans.
• California Governor Tells Nipponese Legislators State Has No Japanese Problem, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Governor Earl Warren told visiting members of the Japanese Diet that California has no Japanese problem. He said returned evacuees are good citizens who live and work like other residents.
• Japanese Legislators to Watch Democracy in Action in U.S., by P.C. Staff, page 3. A group of 16 Japanese Diet members and aides began a six-week American tour sponsored by the Army’s reorientation program. The itinerary included Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans, Albany and Washington, D.C.
• Enomoto Outlines JACL Work At San Mateo Installation, by William Takahashi, page 3. Kaz Kunitani was installed as president of the San Mateo County JACL, and national treasurer Bill Enomoto spoke on the organization’s achievements. Enomoto said the chief task for 1950 was passage of the Walter resolution and Judd bill.
• Fresno Chapter Will Hold Inaugural Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Fresno American Loyalty League will hold its annual inaugural dinner at the American Legion Post canteen with guest speaker Dr. Earl Lyons. Joe Grant Masaoka will install the new officers headed by Mike Iwatsubo.
• New Director Takes Baldwin Post in ACLU, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Prof. Patrick M. Malin of Swarthmore College will succeed Roger N. Baldwin as director of the American Civil Liberties Union on Feb. 1. Malin’s background includes wartime refugee work and service in the State Department.
• Southern Alameda County JACL Will Install Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Southern Alameda County JACL will install new officers headed by Yasuto Kato at a dinner in Niles. Speakers include deputy district attorney George H. Oakes Jr., who will address occupied Japan.
• Yori Wada Named To Regional Young Democrats Group, by P.C. Staff, page 8. San Francisco’s Yori Wada was named to the 18-member regional executive committee of the Young Democratic Clubs of America. He had recently been a leader of the California delegation to the national convention.
• JACL Council Backs Fresno Bowling Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The JACL Central California district council will sponsor a team bowling tournament at the Playdium in Fresno on Feb. 5. The event will be held in conjunction with the district council’s constitutional convention.

Commentary

• The Prevalence of Prejudice, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial cites Washington and California surveys showing widespread prejudice and discrimination in job hiring against minority groups. It welcomes the USES program with the JACL as a step toward alleviating discrimination while a national fair employment act remains the ultimate goal.
• Ruark on Hawaii’s AJAs, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial rebuts columnist Robert Ruark’s claim that resurgent Japanese nationalism in Hawaii argues against statehood. It contends the claim reflects anti-statehood prejudice and that political power in Hawaii is becoming more representative.
• On Renascent Nisei Writing, by Larry Tajiri, page 4. Tajiri observes a renaissance in Nisei writing, noting that Nisei missed the postwar interest in minority literature and have mostly acted as group publicists. He highlights recent work by Toshio Mori and Hisaye Yamamoto and several new Nisei magazines.
• Holiday Edition, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A letter to the editor praises the Pacific Citizen’s holiday edition for describing the status and opportunities of Nisei in the mid-twentieth century. The writer hopes many non-Nisei Americans read it.
• Life Can Be Beautiful Dept., by P.C. Staff, page 5. This Minority Week column profiles Felice Schwartz, who founded the National Scholarship Service and Fund for Negro Students. Her work helped 450 Negro students enter college on scholarships in a single year.
• Pills for Every Problem, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa uses a pregnant acquaintance’s experience to satirize the overuse of medications for everyday discomforts. He suggests that her reliance on successive prescription pills echoes what earlier generations handled without them.
• Nipon Notebook, by Mitsu Yasuda, page 5. Yasuda recounts lighthearted experiences in occupied Japan, including a suki-yaki party, a university basketball game, and observations on Japanese movies. She also describes the cheesecloth masks worn by Tokyo crowds outside MacArthur’s headquarters.

Arts & Entertainment

• Vagaries, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This column briefly covers Sessue Hayakawa’s film comeback, Nisei roles in Hollywood productions, and Nisei artists and performers. It also notes news on Iva Toguri d’Aquino’s prison term.

Sports

• Nisei Players Await Spring Training, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The column reviews Nisei players in professional baseball last season, including Hank Matsubu, Jiro Nakamura and George Fujioka. It notes several Nisei slated for pro tryouts this spring.
• Evelyn Kawamoto—America’s Coming Star, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Fifteen-year-old Evelyn Kawamoto of Honolulu holds two national AAU titles and set new Hawaiian records early in 1950. The article describes her as a strong candidate for greater national recognition.
• New York May Outlaw ABC For Race Bias, by P.C. Staff, page 6. New York Attorney General Nathaniel Goldstein filed an application to enjoin the American Bowling Congress from state activity because of its whites-only policy. The action charges that the policy is contrary to public policy.
• San Francisco Prepares for National JACL Bowling Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The fourth annual National JACL bowling tournament will be held March 3 to 5 at Downtown Bowl in San Francisco. Over 50 teams are expected, and the event includes a women’s tournament for the first time.
• Interracial Bowling Exhibition Opposes Racial Restrictions of Bowling Congress, by Tooru Kanazawa, page 6. New York Nisei bowlers will join interracial teams in an exhibition on Jan. 21 to protest the American Bowling Congress’s whites-only policy. Proceeds go to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.

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