The Masaoka test case and California’s Alien Land law, 1950

Vol. 30, No. 11, March 18, 1950. 8 pages. View this issue

A Los Angeles court ruling led the news. Superior Court Judge Thurmond Clarke declared California’s 37-year-old Alien Land law unconstitutional in the Masaoka family test case, finding that it targeted people of Japanese ancestry because of race. JACL President Hito Okada praised the decision, and the paper’s editorial hoped the State Supreme Court would affirm it. Attorney James C. Purcell’s 14th Amendment argument and reactions from community leaders are covered. Larry Tajiri and Bill Hosokawa wrote columns, and Jobo Nakamura looked at race discrimination on the West Coast.

Elsewhere, the American Bowling Congress rules committee was expected to recommend dropping its “white males only” rule, and a Wisconsin commission planned to look into the removal of Kenneth Koji from a state tournament team. Other pages cover the Walter Resolution on naturalization, Japanese brides of GIs, Tommy Kono’s weightlifting records and the Hawaii All-Stars’ tour of Japan.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• American Bowling Congress Will Recommend Removal of “White Males Only” Ruling, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The ABC rules committee will recommend removing the “white males only” membership restriction at its May convention in Columbus, Ohio, according to the Milwaukee Journal. Court challenges against the ABC’s discriminatory policy are pending in several states.
• Tule Renunciant Regains U.S. Citizen Rights, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Yukiko Nakanishi had her American citizenship restored by Federal Judge Leon Yankwich after renouncing it at the Tule Lake center. She became the second Tule Lake renunciant to recover citizenship through a court case with Justice Department consent.
• Los Angeles Judge Declares State Alien Land Law Invalid, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Plaintiffs and community leaders praised Judge Clarke’s ruling as a major step toward ending the Alien Land law. Leaders said the decision gave Issei a long-denied measure of security and independence.

National

• Rep. Douglas Urges Senate Approve Walter Resolution, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Helen Gahagan Douglas urged Senate approval of the Walter Resolution granting naturalization to long-time Japanese and Korean residents. She argued the measure does not affect temporary aliens and that these residents’ sons served with distinction in World War II.
• Indians Protest Return of Japanese Canadian Fishermen, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Indian representatives in the Skeena River district of British Columbia protested the return of Japanese Canadian fishermen to northern waters. They petitioned the Lands Minister to keep them from their inherited livelihood grounds.
• Superior Court Judge Rules California Alien Land Law Illegal in Masaoka Family Test Case, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Superior Court Judge Thurmond Clarke declared California’s 37-year-old Alien Land law unconstitutional in the Masaoka test case, finding it targeted persons of Japanese ancestry solely because of race. The ruling was based on the 14th Amendment and the case involved citizen sons seeking to give a home to their alien mother.
• Attorney for Masaokas Bases Case on 14th Amendment, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Attorney James C. Purcell argued the Masaoka case on March 18 before Judge Clarke, relying on the 14th Amendment and federal civil rights statutes. The judge took the case under advisement after hearing arguments from state and defense counsel.
• Dave Beck Denies ‘Anti-Japanese’ Record in Hawaii Interview, by P.C. Staff, page 2. AFL Teamsters vice president Dave Beck denied an anti-Japanese record during a Honolulu press conference after being accused by the ILWU. He claimed to be a friend of Japanese Americans and said the teamsters had accepted Japanese members before the war.
• House Passes Private Bills On GI Brides, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The House passed more than 20 private bills admitting Japanese brides and fiancees of GIs in two weeks, though none has been acted on by the Senate. Since the GI Brides Act expired, private bills are the only route for such entries.
• New Phrasing May Overcome Objection of Sen. Russell To Equality in Naturalization, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Sen. Richard Russell has twice blocked the Walter Resolution granting naturalization to all legal immigrants. JACL ADC proposed revised title wording to address his concern about treaty visitors and temporary residents.

JACL

• President Okada Hails Decision In Masaoka Case, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL National President Hito Okada praised Judge Thurmond Clarke’s decision invalidating the California Alien Land law in the Masaoka test case. He said the ruling presents the statute as an instrument of racial discrimination.

Community

• Japanese Girl Arrives Here To Wed Occupation Sweetheart, by Yuri Yamashita, page 2. Mitsue Shigeno, a Tokyo-born fiancee, arrived in San Francisco to join her American husband-to-be Caroll Klotzbach in Washington D.C. A private congressional bill passed by President Truman made her entry possible.
• Nisei Veterans Plan Clubhouse In Honolulu, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Club 100, composed of 100th Infantry Battalion veterans, plans a $50,000 clubhouse in Honolulu. Construction is expected to begin in about three months after an architect is selected.
• Clevelanders Hold “JACL Night” at Famed Karamu House, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Cleveland JACL held its annual JACL Night at Karamu House, featuring a musical play and a short play. Attendees enjoyed the performances and met performers over coffee afterward.
• Begin Moving of Oakland Church to New Location, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Oakland Buddhist church began being moved in sections to a new site three blocks away to clear land for the Eastshore freeway. The building was cut in half for the move, requiring coordination with utility companies.
• Japan Legislators Gain New Perspective on Homeland, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 3. A delegation of ten Japanese diet members and aides toured the United States for sixty days under army sponsorship. Members said the trip gave them a new view of Japan as Americans see it and of democracy in action.
• Seeks to Gain Use of Recreation Center, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Ventura County JACL won a first round in its effort to regain the Oxnard Seventh Street recreation building after the City Council ordered the Recreation Commission to vacate. The city will petition the court for a writ of mandate.
• Honolulu Newspapers Support, Oppose Masaoka Suggestion Of Nisei for Federal Bench, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Honolulu’s newspapers split on Mike Masaoka’s suggestion that a Nisei be appointed to a territorial circuit bench vacancy. The Star-Bulletin and Herald opposed it while the Advertiser and Times defended the argument.
• A Native’s Return: Race Discrimination Remains A Factor on the West Coast, by Jobo Nakamura, page 5. Jobo Nakamura observes that returning Japanese Americans on the West Coast have resumed traditional community patterns while facing persistent race prejudice in employment. He notes some progress for Nisei women in offices but continuing economic barriers.

Military & Veterans

• Japanese Diet Members Tour, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Japanese Diet members visited nine major U.S. cities on a tour concluding in Honolulu. The group prepares for reelection campaigns as Japan’s upper house election approaches.
• Wisconsin Commission Will Investigate Ouster of Nisei From State Bowling Tourney, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Governor’s Commission on Human Rights will investigate the removal of Kenneth Koji, a former 100th Battalion member, from a state bowling tournament team. Koji was barred under the ABC’s Caucasians-only membership rule.

Commentary

• Judge Clarke’s Decision, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial praises Judge Clarke’s ruling declaring California’s Alien Land law unconstitutional as a major legal victory. It notes the law’s history of discrimination and hopes the State Supreme Court will affirm the decision.
• Fair Play in Bowling, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial welcomes the ABC’s expected removal of its Caucasians-only membership rule while noting it came only after losing public opinion. It credits the JACL’s role in the Committee for Fair Play in Bowling.
• Dave Beck and the Record, by Larry Tajiri, page 4. Larry Tajiri challenges Dave Beck’s claim of no anti-Japanese record by documenting his wartime opposition to Nisei return and discriminatory policies. He argues Beck’s denials are contradicted by his own statements and Teamster actions.
• Loaded Weapon letter, by Kenneth M. Nikaido, page 5. Kenneth Nikaido writes in response to Larry Tajiri’s Feb. 24 article, noting that Nisei and Issei were required to swear oaths against subversive activity. He hopes the community will uphold that oath.
• Modern Man Is Helpless, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa reflects on modern dependence on batteries and electricity, questioning whether people could survive without them. He also discusses Randall Gould’s report on Chinese liberals fleeing to Tokyo.
• Minority Week This Week’s Quote, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The column quotes H. A. Overstreet on the inner corruption prejudice works on the prejudiced and recommends a Protestant Film Commission series promoting interracial understanding. It also reviews a pamphlet on segregation.

Sports

• Nishita Fans Fifteen in Mound Debut, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Bill Nishita struck out fifteen in his debut for Santa Rosa JC, leading his team to a win over the Cal Aggies. The Hawaii prep star is expected to attend the University of California.
• Tommy Kono Is New Weightlifting Star, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Tommy Kono broke Northern California, state and Pacific coast weightlifting records with a 745-pound lift. The article also reviews Nisei weightlifters who competed in the 1948 Olympics.
• Hawaii Stars Seeded First In Tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Hawaii AJA All-Stars are seeded first in the 15th annual Salt Lake Nisei invitational basketball tournament. The San Jose Zebras are seeded second among eight teams.
• Hawaii All-Stars Win First Three Games of Japan Tour, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Hawaii Nisei All-Stars opened their Japan tour with wins over the all-Japan collegiate stars and Japan Steel Tube, then defeated Kobe Gakushi. Thousands of fans and Nisei GIs attended the games.

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