Statehood, minority candidates and a flooded Yuba City

Vol. 42, No. 3, January 20, 1956. 8 pages. View this issue

Whether minority candidates can count on their own communities was the question behind the front-page editorial on Douglas Jung, a Chinese Canadian who lost a British Columbia by-election. Hawaii’s Lawrence Nakatsuka argued that territorial status makes the United States look colonial to Asian nations, and Mike M. Masaoka’s Washington Newsletter took up the statehood question in Congress. A second storm sent 80 Issei and Nisei back to the JACL shelter at Marysville Gakuen after Yuba City residents had to evacuate.

Other pages carry new rules for deportation proceedings, thanks to the JACL from the Refugee Relief Program, and Hiroshi Miyamura’s appointment as a VFW aide-de-camp. Bill Hosokawa, Tamotsu Murayama, Harry K. Honda and Larry S. Tajiri contribute columns, and chapter cabinets are listed for Boise Valley, Washington D.C. and Southern Alameda County. Sports pages follow bowling results.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Chinese Canadian Loses Election, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Douglas Jung, the first Chinese Canadian to seek public office, lost a British Columbia by-election. The editorial examines whether minority candidates can count on support from their own ethnic community.
• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa profiles 13-year-old Don Chikuma of Brighton, Colorado, who placed second in the catch-it calf contest at the Denver stock show. He raised the calf Thorny for a year before its sale.
• Tokyo Topics: Leap Year-Monkey Year, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 3. Murayama explains that 1956 is a Monkey Year in Japan, considered unlucky for marriage due to a word play suggesting divorce. He also surveys monkey lore and proverbs in Japanese culture.
• Very Truly Yours: Vital Statistics, by Harry K. Honda, page 3. Honda discusses the Vital Statistics section, explaining how items are gathered and how formats have changed over time. He notes that insertions are free of charge.
• Vagaries: Hollywood Mainstream, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 8. Tajiri reports on Dave Yokozeki’s move into Hollywood film production through Nacirema and its planned projects. He also covers the Nisei performers in Mother-Sans and Around the World in 80 Days.
• Washington Newsletter: Hawaiian-Alaskan Statehood Question, by Mike M. Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka examines hopes for Hawaiian statehood following President Eisenhower’s State of the Union message. He analyzes congressional strategy and the political obstacles tied to pairing Hawaii with Alaska.

National

• Asians Regard Alaska-Hawaii Territorial Status as Mark of U.S. Colonial Power, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hawaii’s press secretary Lawrence Nakatsuka told a World Brotherhood committee that territorial status for Hawaii and Alaska makes the U.S. appear colonial to Asian nations. He argued that statehood would improve international relations with Asia.
• Miyamura Appointed VFW Chief Aide-de-Camp, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Korean War Medal of Honor recipient Hiroshi Miyamura was named a national aide-de-camp to the VFW Commander in Chief. The appointment recognized his service to overseas wartime veterans.
• Neuberger Talks to Portland Chapter on U.S.-Japan Trade, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Oregon Senator Richard Neuberger praised President Eisenhower’s reciprocal trade program at a Portland JACL installation banquet. He argued that trade, not aid, is essential to keeping Japan from moving toward Red China.
• Jim Crow Ban Ignored, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Officials in several Mississippi towns said train and bus stations would remain segregated despite a federal ruling against segregating interstate passengers. Police in Jackson posted segregation signs at the stations.

Incarceration & Redress

• Regulations Humanizing Deportation Proceedings Officially Approved, by P.C. Staff, page 1. New Immigration Service directives require an order to show cause before deportation proceedings, replacing the warrant of arrest. The rules also separate the special inquiry officer from the examining officer and allow respondents representation.
• Refugee Relief Director Thanks JACL for Assistance, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Pierce J. Gerety, deputy administrator of the Refugee Relief Program, thanked the JACL Washington Office for its help. Visas were being issued at an increasing rate under the program.

Community

• 80 Return to JACL Shelter After New Yuba Flood Crisis, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A second storm forced 2,800 Yuba City residents to evacuate and sent 80 Issei and Nisei back to the JACL shelter at Marysville Gakuen. Civil defense declared the crisis over and Red Cross nurses inspected the facilities.
• Support Scarce as Chinese Canadian Loses Bid for B.C. Legislative Seat, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Douglas Jung, a 31-year-old Progressive Conservative lawyer, finished second to Social Credit candidate Leslie Peterson in Vancouver. Only 2,500 of 15,000 Chinese voters cast ballots, splitting between the candidates.
• Pick Successor to George Togasaki of Nippon Times, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Shintaro Fukushima, a former diplomat, was elected president of the English-language Nippon Times in Tokyo. He pledged to continue close cooperation in Japanese-American friendship.
• Iowa Doctor Installed as Masonic Group Commander, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Dr. Sam I. Kuramoto of Webster City, Iowa, was installed as commander of Triune Commandery No. 41 and vice-president of the local Kiwanis. He and his wife are the only Nisei residents in the city of 8,000.
• Chicago Corner: Quakers Fight Bias, by Smoky H. Sakurada, page 4. A Chicago Daily News report described how the American Friends Service Committee helped firms adopt integrated hiring. John Y. Yoshino directs the program and answers common objections to integration.
• Southwest Los Angeles JACL Cabinets, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Several chapters including Salinas Valley, Orange County, Boise Valley, and Watsonville announced their 1956 cabinet officers. The listings cover officers, board members, and committee assignments.
• Steve Hirai Installed as Boise Valley Head, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Steve Hirai and his cabinet were installed as Boise Valley JACL chapter officers at a dance in Caldwell, Idaho. Tom Arima was the retiring president.
• Washington D.C. JACL Cabinet Installed, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Ben Nakao heads the 1956 Washington D.C. JACL cabinet, installed at a semi-formal dinner dance. Allen H. Eaton, author of Beauty Behind Barbed Wire, was guest speaker.
• Southern Alameda County JACL Honors June Handa, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Southern Alameda County JACL installed its new cabinet headed by Ace Handa at a ceremony in Niles. June Handa of Centerville was honored as outstanding member of the year.
• Northwest Picture: International Sportsmens Club, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Seattle-based International Sportsmens Club, founded in 1950 with a membership of 250, promotes fellowship and conservation among sportsmen. Its annual Labor Day salmon derby draws over 1,000 fishermen.
• Young Adult Buddhists to Convene Feb. 18-19, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Western Young Adult Buddhist League convention will be held in Fresno on February 18-19. Mike Iwatsubo spearheads the planning committee for the event.
• Los Angeles Newsletter: Manual Arts Prexy, by Henry Mori, page 7. Florence Okamoto was elected student body president at Manual Arts High School, becoming the first Nisei girl to hold the position there. Her achievements in Girls’ League and other groups are noted.
• From Gas Stations to Newspapers, by Henry Mori, page 7. Taul Watanabe expanded from a chain of gas stations into real estate and newspaper financing, including the Gardena Valley Newspaper. Plans for a supermarket and a motel near Disneyland were also reported.
• Cowboy Yokozeki, by Henry Mori, page 7. Los Angeles JACL chapter president David Yokozeki is producing a western film called Count the Dead through his company Nacirema. The film is set to reach about 7,000 theaters nationwide.

JACL

• 1000 Club Notes, by George Inagaki, page 5. National 1000 Club chairman reports on the Operations Breakthru campaign with a goal of 2,000 members by convention time. Gresham-Troutdale became the first chapter to reach its Breakthru goal.

Sports

• Coffee’s Strawberry Pacts ATA Alas, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Salt Lake City sixth annual Northern California Nisei Invitationals were set for Downtown Bowl with defending champions returning. The mixed doubles and team events were highlighted with entry details.
• Gish Endo Racks 10 Strikes in Row, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Gish Endo rolled 10 consecutive strikes for a 280 game in an All-Star league session at Hillside Sports Center in San Francisco. His 675 series was among the highlights reported.
• Tomita Rolls 643 in Oregon State Tourney, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Taylor Tomita of Hood River led the Oregon state bowling championships with a 643 series at East Side Bowl. Harry Tsukal and Min Asai also placed high in the Class B and C events.

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