Proposition 13 and the push to end California’s alien land law

Vol. 43, No. 17, October 26, 1956. 8 pages. View this issue

Proposition 13 filled the front page and much of this 8-page issue. The measure on the November 6 California ballot would repeal the alien land law, and Dr. Roy Nishikawa warned in the President’s Corner that complacency could cost it the vote. JACL chapters reported mailing more than 85,000 brochures in Los Angeles, hosting candidate forums and winning newspaper endorsements, including the Los Angeles Examiner, the San Francisco News and the Bee papers. Jack Noda, Frank Chuman and Carl Tamaki appeared in the campaign coverage.

Elsewhere, Larry S. Tajiri continued his history of Joseph Heco, and Bill Hosokawa wrote about schoolwork and the election season. A discrimination complaint at Gilroy Hot Springs drew conflicting accounts, and Sam Ishikawa analyzed the Soviet-Japanese declaration. The paper also reported plans for Nisei Soldier Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery on October 28.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Complacency can lick Proposition 13, by Dr. Roy Nishikawa, page 1. The author warns that complacency and apathy among Japanese Americans could defeat Proposition 13, which would repeal the discriminatory Alien Land Law. He urges readers to contact voters, speak to clubs, and explain the issue to coworkers before the November 6 election.
• Education and elections, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa describes helping his children with schoolwork and reflects on the difficulty of their studies. He then comments on the political campaign, calling much of the rhetoric exaggerated and expressing relief that the election will soon end.
• Tokyo Tidbits: Sunakawa incident, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. Murayama examines violent protests at the Tachikawa air base, which opposed land acquisition for expansion. He argues that Communist and Socialist groups exploit the incident to fuel anti-American sentiment in Japan.
• Heco: First Japanese citizen of the United States, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Part two of the history of Joseph Heco traces his education under Beverly Sanders, his naturalization in 1858, and his return to Japan as an American interpreter. The article also recounts his meeting with President Lincoln.
• Moderation in politics, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. Honda reflects on the close national election and summarizes Sam Lubell’s book Revolt of the Moderates, which argues that American voters are moving toward a middle ground. He observes that the parties still emphasize their differences despite this trend.
• Soviet-Japanese treaty opens new era, Kremlin gains noted, by Sam Ishikawa, page 8. Ishikawa analyzes the October 19 Soviet-Japanese joint declaration ending the state of war, which includes trade and diplomatic provisions. He argues the Soviet Union gained a political base for Communist activity while Japan secured only modest concessions.

National

• Views conflict in Gilroy Hot Springs incident, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Conflicting accounts emerged about a discrimination complaint at the Gilroy Hot Springs resort, where Negro plaintiffs were refused pool access by Nisei operator Henry Kato. The resort’s attorney maintains the denial stemmed from a lifeguard rule rather than race, and JACL director Mas Satow hopes the dispute can be resolved before going to court.
• Urge Congress amend refugee relief act to admit adopted Japan orphans, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A State Department official reported that 300 to 500 Japanese orphans adopted by American occupation personnel cannot enter the United States because refugee relief quotas are oversubscribed. He urged Congress to amend the law to address these cases.
• San Francisco CIO Council backs Prop. 13, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The San Francisco CIO Council recommended a Yes vote on Proposition 13 to repeal the alien land law. Several other organizations and newspapers also expressed endorsement as the campaign neared its end.
• Many newspapers favoring Prop. 13, by P.C. Staff, page 1. An informal poll of California newspapers by the Committee for Yes on Proposition 13 drew nearly 40 unanimous endorsements. Committee chairman Jack Noda reported the early returns from the mailing of 617 newspapers.
• Nisei Soldier Memorial Day to be observed, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Memorial services for Nisei soldiers will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on October 28, honoring those who died in World War II and Korea. The JACL Arlington Cemetery Committee arranged the observance and gravesite tributes.

Community

• 85,000 brochures in L.A. mailing supporting Prop. 13, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Los Angeles area JACL chapters completed a mailing of over 85,000 brochures urging a Yes vote on Proposition 13. The volunteer effort was part of a larger campaign that reached nearly 100,000 pieces across the Pacific Southwest District.
• Chicago JACL candidates forum at McCormick YWCA, by Smoky Sakurada, page 2. A full hall of Issei and Nisei citizens heard congressional candidates at a JACL-sponsored rally in Chicago. Several incumbents and challengers from both parties addressed the audience.
• Southwest L.A. chapter handles over 20,000 Prop. 13 brochures, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Southwest Los Angeles JACL took on distribution of more than 20,000 brochures urging a Yes vote on Proposition 13. Volunteers addressed envelopes and packed mail while chapter president Roy Iketani took leave from his business.
• Oregon candidates tell of deep interest in new citizen balloting, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Candidates for Oregon offices expressed strong interest in the votes of newly naturalized Issei citizens at a rally sponsored by Portland and Gresham-Troutdale JACL chapters. Several major candidates were scheduled to appear.
• WLA chapter to hold final dance of year at new YBA hall, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The West Los Angeles JACL planned a pre-holiday dance for November 3 at the new YBA hall after completing its Prop. 13 mailing. The chapter also announced its slate of 38 nominees for the coming board election.
• Propositions explained to Southwest L.A. JACLers, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Frank Chuman and Carl Tamaki explained the pros and cons of state and municipal propositions at a Southwest Los Angeles JACL meeting. Chuman is the national JACL legal counsel and Tamaki chairs the chapter’s Prop. 13 campaign.
• Placer County JACL discusses state issues, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Nisei voters in Placer County heard arguments for and against the nineteen state propositions at a regular JACL meeting. Local candidates were introduced and voting procedures were explained.
• Tradition of service: International Institute, by Mary Oyama, page 5. Oyama traces the history of the Los Angeles International Institute, from its origins under the YWCA to its independent status in the 1930s. She highlights the long service of executive director Esther Bartlett to new Americans and teenagers.
• L.A., S.F. metro papers urge Yes on Proposition 13, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Los Angeles Examiner and San Francisco News both editorially supported repeal of the obsolete alien land law. Their endorsements added to growing support from newspapers and organizations statewide.
• Bee newspapers recommend 13, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The McClatchy newspapers of Sacramento, Modesto and Fresno urged a Yes vote on Proposition 13. It was the first time the Bee papers took a public stand against an alien land law.
• Gardena chapter plans movie benefit Nov. 2-3, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Gardena Valley JACL will host benefit movie nights at the Japanese community center on November 2 and 3. The programs include modern and chambara films with English subtitles.
• Candidates speak before Sequoia JACL voters, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Rep. Arthur Younger and James T. McKay addressed a political rally of the Sequoia JACL at the Palo Alto Buddhist Hall. The chapter also received a convention report from president Peter Nakahara.
• Northwest picture: well attended CL rally, by Elmer Ogawa, page 6. More than seventy people attended a Seattle JACL assembly to hear political candidates, with nearly half of them Issei. Several candidates including Senator Magnuson spoke, and a Nisei challenged a speaker who used smear tactics.
• Seattle Nisei roll 298, two pins shy of perfect, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Kenny Oyama bowled a 298 game in the Nisei Merchants League, missing a perfect score by two pins. The article also reports other high series from league members.
• Nisei leaders urge No on Prop. 4, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Several prominent Nisei joined a citizens committee opposing Proposition 4, an oil industry measure. Wiji Tanabe argues that the measure would concentrate control of the oil industry and raise gas prices.
• Oil in backyard?, by Henry Mori, page 7. Mori recounts how an oil company representative persuaded him to sign a twenty-year drilling lease on his Los Angeles property. He notes that such leases pay modest annual rentals and wryly comments on the smog.
• Shonien group care program stymied by lack of funds, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Lack of financial support has delayed the group care program for children at the new Shonien home in Los Angeles. Only $2,800 of the $50,000 goal has been received since July 1.
• Clothes for Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The American Friends Service Committee is seeking donated clothing in good condition for refugees, war widows and orphans in Japan and other Asian countries. Shipments of clothing and bedding have been sent abroad.
• Medical-dental building designed by Nisei architects, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A medical building in Culver City was completed from a design by Japanese American architects Absmeier, O’Leary and Tosh Terasawa. The single-story structure is air-conditioned and houses a dental office.
• Hot springs discrimination suit filed in Gilroy, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Two Negro families sued the operators of Gilroy Hot Springs for damages after being refused accommodations. JACL director Masao Satow issued a statement calling for education against bigotry within the Japanese American community.

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