Vol. 35, No. 9, August 30, 1952. 8 pages. View this issue
Citizenship and civil rights led the news in this eight-page issue. The Immigration and Naturalization Service told Issei to wait on applying for citizenship until new forms are ready, a reversal of its earlier decision. California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown decided not to appeal the Masaoka Alien Land Law case, which attorneys called the end of a 40-year struggle. The front page also reported a Minneapolis testimonial dinner honoring Congressman Walter H. Judd and Mike Masaoka. A Pacific Citizen editorial urged a vote for Proposition 14 to repeal a provision of the California Constitution.
Columns and features include Bill Hosokawa’s reflections on the paper under editor Larry Tajiri and Elmer R. Smith’s study of Japanese immigrants in the United States and Canada. Governor Adlai Stevenson spoke to the American Legion against racial prejudice. Community stories cover a Hood River model car prize and a Stanford scholarship, and the sports pages follow swimmer Ford Konno’s national titles and boxer Tommy Umeda.
What’s in this issue
JACL
- Immigration Service Delays Issei Filing for Citizenship Until New Forms Available, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Immigration and Naturalization Service reversed its earlier decision and told Issei to defer applying for citizenship until new application forms are ready. The new forms are needed because the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 requires additional information from applicants.
- JACL Joins Drive for Voter Registration, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL joined a national sponsoring committee for a Register and Vote campaign coordinated by the American Heritage Foundation. National chapters were asked to urge every eligible Nisei to register and vote.
Incarceration & Redress
- California Official’s Decision Not to Appeal Masaoka Case Marks End of State Alien Land Law, by P.C. Staff, page 1. California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown will not appeal the Masaoka Alien Land Law case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Attorneys called this the end of a 40-year struggle against the state’s discriminatory law.
Community
- Hood River Nisei Wins $2,000 as Model Car Prize, by P.C. Staff, page 1. William Endow, a high school junior from Hood River, Oregon, won a major prize in the Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild model car contest. He was one of eight winners honored at a Detroit banquet.
- Sophomore Wins Christopher Award, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mary Inouye, a Notre Dame College sophomore, won a first prize in the national Christopher Contest for an article on the interracial Karamu Theater in Cleveland. She received $100 for the essay.
- Japanese American Sets Up Stanford Scholarship Award, by P.C. Staff, page 1. An anonymous Japanese American donor funded a $2,400 scholarship for Isao Hattori of Japan to study at Stanford University. Hattori plans to teach industrial management in Japan afterward.
- Nisei Reigns Over California County Fair, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mollie Itaya of French Camp was crowned Pageant of Nations queen on Japanese Day at the San Joaquin County Fair. Her family also contributed notable exhibits to the fair.
- Interracial Crew Spells Efficiency for Cab Firm, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mechanics Schedrack Murphy and Motto Shimizu work as a team at the Yellow Cab Company garage in Philadelphia. Their collaboration keeps the company’s fleet running efficiently.
- Masaokas Lauded for Part in Gaining Recognition for Buddhists in United States, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Hawaii Federation of Young Buddhist Associations passed a resolution praising Mike and Etsu Masaoka for their work in gaining recognition for Buddhists. The resolution also cited their role in the new immigration law.
National
- Americans Friendlier, Says Publisher After U.S. Tour, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Kiyoshi Togasaki, publisher of the Nippon Times, said Americans are friendlier toward Japanese Americans than before the war. He credited the 442nd, the 100th Battalion, and Mike Masaoka’s work with the JACL.
Military & Veterans
- Gov. Stevenson Denounces Racial Prejudice Before American Legion, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Governor Adlai Stevenson attacked the self-styled patriot who questions the Americanism of minorities, including Japanese Americans, in an address to the American Legion. The editorial notes the Legion’s shift from its earlier hostility toward Japanese Americans.
- Hawaii Sports Fans Worry Over Evelyn Kawamoto’s Future, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Hawaiian sports enthusiasts fear that swimmer Evelyn Kawamoto may leave swimming to attend Drew University. Dr. Richard You believes she has not reached her peak and could set world records with another year of training.
Commentary
- Editorial: An Echo from a Prejudiced Past, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial condemns Article XIX of the California Constitution, a relic of anti-Chinese agitation that remained in force for 70 years. It urges voters to support Proposition 14 to repeal the discriminatory provision.
- Reflections on the PC, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Hosokawa praises the Pacific Citizen’s editorial standards under editor Larry Tajiri and recalls its role in Nisei morale during evacuation. He notes the paper grew from a small monthly into a credible national publication.
In-Depth
- Japanese in the Americas: Immigrants and Communities, by Elmer R. Smith, page 6. Smith examines how first-generation Japanese immigrants in the United States and Canada interacted with the larger community mainly through occupational competition. He traces the growth of anti-Japanese organizations and labor opposition from 1900 onward.
Sports
- Konno Scores Grand Slam, Wins Three National AAU Swimming Championships, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Ford Konno completed a sweep of national AAU outdoor swimming titles, winning the 880-yard freestyle over John Marshall. Hawaiian Nisei swimmers dominated the men’s championships.
- Umeda’s Future Bright Despite Recent Defeat in California, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Tommy Umeda lost the California State bantamweight championship to Oscar Torres in a closely contested 12-round bout at Olympic Auditorium. Umeda remains a promising contender in the Los Angeles area.
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