Nominations, the endowment fund and immigration law, January 1954

Vol. 38, No. 3, January 15, 1954. 8 pages. View this issue

Immigration and JACL’s own business filled this eight-page issue. A front-page story outlined how national officers would be nominated, with Masuji Fujii of Oakland named chairman of the nominations committee. The Supreme Court heard arguments in two immigration cases that could affect thousands of Issei, and Mike Masaoka’s Washington Newsletter followed the new session of Congress. A story on the JACL endowment fund reported $60,000 acknowledged by the Bank of America Trust Department, and an editorial urged readers to give.

Also inside: Harry K. Honda reviewed 1950 census figures on Japanese Americans, and Larry Tajiri and an editorial took up Hawaiian statehood. Sozaburo Kujiraoka became the first Japanese quota immigrant under the McCarran-Walter Act to receive citizenship. Bill Hosokawa, George Yoshinaga and Tats Kushida wrote columns, and chapter news came from Seattle, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and Ft. Lupton.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• Nomination Procedure for JACL National Officers Outlined, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Masuji Fujii of Oakland has been appointed chairman of the National JACL Nominations Committee. The committee outlined a procedure in which district councils submit candidate slates that are then consolidated into a final slate for the 1954 convention.

Incarceration & Redress

• Citizenship Trial in Oregon Ends, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Final arguments were completed in federal court in a case seeking restoration of American citizenship for a Portland-born Nisei who had joined the Japanese army in 1944. The petitioner testified he was forced into service under threats to himself and his mother.
• JACL Objection Prevents Passage of Dirksen Bill on First Senate Calendar, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL objection blocked a bill that would dismiss yen debt claims against the Office of Alien Property. The JACL argues the measure is unconstitutional because it deprives citizens and resident aliens of their right to have claims processed.

Community

• Northwest Airlines Offers Special Emigrant Fares, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Northwest Orient Airlines announced reduced fares of $450 for emigrants leaving Japan for America starting January 15. Japan Air Lines also sought approval for similar special emigrant rates.
• Endowment Fund Hits $60,000 Mark in Trust, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL Director Mas Satow announced the Bank of America Trust Department acknowledged $60,000 for the JACL endowment fund. Total contributions had reached $70,418.51 by this report.
• L.A. CLers Map Joint Installation, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Los Angeles JACL chapters will hold a joint installation dance at the new Statler Hotel on January 30. Committee chairmen for the event were announced.
• Mas Satow to Speak at IDC Meeting at Boise, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Intermountain District Council will hold its first meeting of the year at Boise on January 24. National director Masao Satow will report on national affairs.
• Demolition Slated to Displace 500 Japanese Residents in Uptown Manhattan, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Demolition of outmoded buildings in Morningside Heights-Manhattanville will displace roughly 500 Issei and Nisei residents. Replacement housing includes a private cooperative and a public housing project.
• Rupert Hachiya Heads Salt Lake City JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Rupert Hachiya was elected president of the Salt Lake City JACL chapter. Other officers were named and the new cabinet will be installed at a dinner-dance.
• Poor Farm Year No Bar to ADC Fund Campaign, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Ft. Lupton JACL completed its 1953-54 JACL-ADC fund drive raising $313 despite a poor farm year. National and regional officials thanked the community for its support.
• Seattle JACL to Honor 250 Assei, Sgt. Miyamura and ’54 Cabinet, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Seattle JACL chapter will honor about 250 newly naturalized citizens at a banquet where Medal of Honor winner Hiroshi Miyamura will be recognized. The 1954 chapter officers will also be installed.

Military & Veterans

• Earl Finch Given Key to City of Tokyo, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Earl M. Finch, known as the Godfather of the Nisei, received a token key to the city of Tokyo while delivering relief supplies to Japanese orphans. He befriended the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II.
• Nisei VFW Conference Held in Sacramento, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Nisei VFW conference was held recently at the office of conference chairman Mamoru Sakuma in Sacramento. Delegates discussed organizational matters for the coming year.

National

• Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Two Immigration Cases, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two immigration cases that may affect thousands of Issei residents. One concerns detention of permanent resident aliens returning from Alaska, and the other concerns detention of deportable aliens pending court review.
• Quota Immigrant Swears In as Citizen, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sozaburo Kujiraoka became the first Japanese quota immigrant under the McCarran-Walter Act to receive United States citizenship on January 8. He had enlisted in the Air Force months after arriving in the country.
• Population Statistics, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. Honda reviews 1950 census statistics on persons of Japanese ancestry, including gender ratios, marital status, education levels, and occupations. He notes that the Japanese American educational level exceeds the national average.
• Immigration Issue Omitted in Ike’s State of Union Talk, by P.C. Staff, page 2. President Eisenhower omitted his prior recommendation that Congress review the discriminatory immigration law in his State of the Union message. He had requested such a review a year earlier.
• First Come, First Serve Principle to Apply on 3,000 Non-Quota Entry Visas, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Visas for refugees and escapees from Asia under the Refugee Relief Act will be issued on a first come, first serve basis. Masaoka urged eligible Japanese and their American sponsors to register and file assurances promptly.

Commentary

• Washington Newsletter, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Masaoka analyzes the start of the decisive second session of the 83rd Congress and the narrow partisan balance in both houses. He notes the President must provide active leadership to pass his legislative program.
• Broader View of Race Relations, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 3. Nakatsuka describes an international conference on race relations in world perspective to be held in Honolulu in summer 1954. He argues that scholars must broaden their focus beyond American minority problems to address global challenges.
• Endowment Fund Cited as Insurance Against Future Emergency for Japanese Americans, by P.C. Staff, page 5. This editorial reprinted from the San Francisco Nichibei Times argues that JACL needed a reserve fund during the 1942 evacuation. It urges Japanese Americans who received evacuation claims payments to contribute to the endowment fund.
• Golden Gate, by Haruo Ishimaru, page 5. Ishimaru recounts attending the Townsend Harris American Legion Post banquet and praises its cooperation with JACL. He also encourages members to support the YMCA fund drive.
• The Sou’West, by Tats Kushida, page 6. Kushida reports on chapter elections and installations across the Pacific Southwest District Council. He highlights the presentation of the JACL president’s pin to outgoing chapter presidents and the upcoming chapter cabinet clinic.
• Vagaries: Delicacy for Strong Stomachs, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Hosokawa describes namako, a sea cucumber delicacy, and how it is prepared and eaten. He also humorously recounts his daughter Susan’s assignment to play the bull fiddle in school.
• On Hawaiian Statehood, by Larry Tajiri, page 8. Tajiri discusses JACL’s legislative priority of Hawaiian statehood and its implications for Japanese Americans. He analyzes the partisan obstacles in Congress that may delay admission until the next session.
• Editorials: Hawaiian Statehood and Wings of Friendship, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial opposes commonwealth status for Hawaii, citing a 78 percent Gallup poll favoring statehood. It also welcomes the new Japan Air Lines service linking San Francisco and Japan.

Sports

• Champion for Nisei Athletes, by George Yoshinaga, page 6. Yoshinaga praises sportswriter Bob Hunter of the L.A. Examiner for consistently giving credit to Nisei athletes like Dickie Nagai and Ralph Kubota. He notes Hunter’s support contrasts with the overlooking of Nisei by other metro writers.
• Oyakawa, Konno Winners in Ohio State Duel Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Ohio State’s swimming team opened its season with a 61-30 victory over Wisconsin, with Yoshi Oyakawa and Ford Konno among the winners. The Buckeyes took eight of nine events.

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