A New York Times survey of Nisei status, and a pension bill for Issei

Vol. 40, No. 25, June 24, 1955. 8 pages. View this issue

A New York Times survey of interracial relations in the Far West was the subject of Larry Tajiri’s front-page Vagaries column. Tajiri wrote that Japanese and Chinese Americans had moved close to first-class citizenship, though progress remained uneven. Also on page one, JACL leaders asked Governor Goodwin Knight to sign AB 2255, an old age assistance bill for Issei, and Mike Masaoka urged equal treatment for refugees in Japan under the Refugee Relief Act. Masaoka also reviewed three years of the Walter-McCarran Act on page eight.

The 8 pages include Bill Hosokawa on a rainy day in Denver, Larry Nakatsuka’s Honolulu newsletter, Henry Mori on a Los Angeles fair employment vote, and a report on the Virginia ruling upholding a ban on interracial marriage. Chapter news covers Issei Americanization classes in Chicago and Ogden, and the JACL Nisei Relays.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Vagaries, by Larry Tajiri, page 1. The New York Times survey found that Japanese and Chinese Americans have moved close to first-class citizenship in the Far West, though progress remains uneven. Western state legislatures passed several anti-discrimination measures, while Negroes remain the most frequent victims of discrimination.
• Fascination of a rainy day, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa reflects on watching rain in Denver, where water is precious, contrasting it with Seattle’s rainy climate. He describes his children playing in the shower and his own wish he had joined them.
• Talks about U.S. press, by Larry Nakatsuka, page 3. The author discusses whether foreign audiences hold distorted views of America shaped by the press, citing Billy Graham’s criticism. He plans to survey visiting Asian students on their impressions of American publications.
• Ideas on American economy, by Larry Nakatsuka, page 3. The author notes a Twentieth Century Fund study attributing American industrial success largely to its skilled, individualistic population. He points out that the most capitalist industrial nation has come closest to providing abundance for all.
• OK, Loo Yee, drop the lon, by Naomi Kashiwabara, page 5. The author responds to Westbrook Pegler’s April column describing Japanese Americans as hardworking horses who live on little. She argues Nisei also enjoy golf, bridge, and sports, and that Chinese and Japanese contributed significantly to American history.
• The Sowwester, by Tats Kushida, page 6. Kushida reports on JACL activities including a farewell for Mike Masaoka and a Long Beach-Harbor chapter newsletter. He also notes Issei membership in the 1000 Club.
• Los Angeles newsletter: time for FEPC law still due, by Henry Mori, page 7. The Los Angeles City Council voted 7 to 1 against establishing a local Fair Employment Practices Commission. The author notes that state legislation remains necessary to address employment discrimination.
• Very truly yours, by Harry Honda, page 8. Honda comments on the editorial stance against Russian demands in Japan and the need for fair employment legislation. He also writes about vacation time and dining out at Japanese restaurants featured in Holiday magazine.

Incarceration & Redress

• Calif. pension for Issei bill awaits governor’s signature, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL leaders urged Governor Goodwin Knight to sign AB 2255, which would provide old age assistance to Issei. The Governor promised consideration and the JACL noted he has until July 15 to act.
• Administrative funds for claims program await Congress OK, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Appropriations to continue administering the evacuation claims program for fiscal 1956 still await congressional approval. The Justice Department’s current operating funds expire June 30.

Community

• Ogden Issei citizens to be feted June 30, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Utah Governor J. Bracken Lee has been invited to speak at a Ben Lomond JACL banquet honoring 140 recently naturalized Issei. The event will be held at the Canton Cafe.
• Grateful Issei citizens give school cherry trees, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Issei who became citizens after attending Reedley College citizenship classes donated 150 cherry trees to the college. The gift was made to express appreciation and beautify the campus.
• State assembly honors Santa Barbara Nisei prep leader, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California State Assembly commended David Yamada, outgoing Santa Barbara High student body president, with a resolution. The Santa Barbara JACL also presented him a scroll recognizing his achievements.
• Hawaiian comes prospecting, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Keiji Fujii, a Hawaiian Nisei, left his Honolulu service station to prospect for uranium on the Colorado Plateau. Despite setbacks he plans to continue searching for another six months.
• Japanese stamp collectors hit by war; school children, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. Japan has about 300,000 stamp collectors, half of them schoolchildren, far fewer than prewar when war losses destroyed famous collections. Stamp dealers face exchange controls limiting purchases of foreign stamps.
• Denver University grads, scholarship winners honored, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Several Nisei students received academic honors, teaching appointments, and scholarships including Jayne Fujita and Paul Kasai’s Phi Beta Kappa elections. Others were awarded scholarships ranging from high school to university level.
• Honolulu newsletter: Asian student orientation, by Larry Nakatsuka, page 3. Hawaii will again host Asian students for a six-week orientation at the University of Hawaii before they attend mainland colleges. The program includes talks by local specialists on American life.
• Chicago corner: prospect of another evacuation, by Smoky Sakurada, page 4. Woodlawn area residents in Chicago raised concerns about high rents and housing discrimination with city officials. Japanese Americans also worried about relocation from Hyde Park redevelopment sites.
• Chicago Issei finish Americanization class, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Sixty-eight Issei completed a 30-week Americanization course in Chicago and received diplomas. More than 600 residents have now completed the program co-sponsored by JACL and JASC.
• Southwest Los Angeles JACL to hold Neki Hokey Hop July 9, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Southwest Los Angeles JACL is sponsoring an informal dance on July 9 at Park Manor, featuring the Elliott Brothers. The chapter expects about 500 attendees.
• Chapter memos, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Several JACL chapters reported local activities including a Delano graduation picnic, an East Los Angeles Hi-Fi presentation, and an Omaha graduation tea. Mt. Olympus chapter also announced its annual fish derby.
• Earl Warren, Jr. talks to Eden Township JACLers, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Earl Warren Jr., a University of California farm adviser, spoke to Eden Township JACL members about California’s coastal islands. His presentation included kodachrome slides of the islands.
• Nisei to coach varsity cagers, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Danny Fukushima was named head basketball coach at James Lick High School in San Jose. He had previously coached the school’s B and C teams.

National

• Equality in liberalization of refugee relief act for Japan urged in JACL note to Congress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mike Masaoka urged that the Refugee Relief Act liberalization benefit refugees in Japan equally with those in Europe. He argued that Japanese refugees were disqualified by technical definitions despite congressional intent to include the Far East.
• Ask Burger, Clarke to federal bench, by P.C. Staff, page 1. President Eisenhower nominated Asst. Attorney General Warren E. Burger and Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Thurmond Clarke to federal judgeships. Both were noted as friends of the Nisei for their work on evacuation claims and civil rights.
• Virginia Supreme Court upholds interracial marriage ban; Naim to seek final ruling of U.S. high court, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Virginia Supreme Court unanimously upheld the state ban on interracial marriage in the case of Ham Say Naim, a Chinese seaman. Naim plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on constitutional grounds.
• Walter-McCarran Act third anniversary, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka reviews statistics showing rising immigration and naturalization under the Walter-McCarran Act since 1952. He argues the law has removed racial bars and that many fears about it have not materialized.

Sports

• JACL Nisei Relays attract 90 athletes, expect four meet records to be broken, by Kango Kunitsugu, page 6. Over 90 entrants compete this Sunday at Rancho Cienega Stadium in the fourth annual JACL Nisei Relays. Four meet records are expected to be threatened, including the open shot put and the junior 660-yard run.
• Furukawa in national publinx, by Budd Furukawa, page 7. Erv Furukawa qualified for the national public links championships in Indianapolis after shooting a 141 in a Seattle qualifier. It marks his second straight appearance in the national meet.

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