Hungarian refugees, a Garden Grove housing dispute and JACL critics

Vol. 44, No. 3, January 18, 1957. 8 pages. View this issue

Civil rights and refugees ran through this eight-page issue. Dr. Roy Nishikawa’s President’s Corner took up critics of the JACL and argued that the most useful ones join a local chapter. News stories reported on Hungarian refugees placed with JACL members in Oregon’s Snake River Valley, a Colorado bill to repeal the state’s ban on interracial marriage, and a Garden Grove citizens group that protested the planned purchase of a home by a Negro naval officer. Dr. Sammy Lee threatened court action over what he called slander. Tats Kushida wrote about the incident in his column.

Elsewhere, Bill Hosokawa described meeting George Togasaki in New York, and Mike Masaoka’s columns covered President Eisenhower’s State of the Union message and Senator Knowland’s plan to retire. Masaoka also urged the Justice Department to speed up the remaining evacuation claims. Sports pages carry bowling and golf results, and the Los Angeles and Chicago community columns round out the issue.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• On the theme of JACL critics, by Dr. Roy Nishikawa, page 1. The author argues that the most valid improvements to the JACL come from critics who join local chapters and contribute their effort, not from outside criticism alone. He contends that the greatest tragedy is living safely while ignoring injustice and oppression.
• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa describes arriving in New York and meeting George Togasaki, a Nisei world citizen working for Japan International Christian University. He portrays Togasaki as a dedicated bridge-builder continuing his family’s tradition of service.
• Holiday correspondence, by Larry S. Tojiri, page 3. Tojiri shares news from holiday letters by Toge Fujihira, who is filming in Nigeria, and Gordon Hirabayashi, who is working in Egypt after evacuating from the Middle East. He also notes Myke Kosobayashi’s experiences working for the U.S. Air Force in Japan.
• Changes in modern Japan, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 3. Murayama describes how many young Japanese couples ignored the Monkey Year superstition and married in 1956, reflecting a shift away from old customs. He also notes falling birth rates and rising heart disease and cancer as modern health concerns.
• Pasadena’s Issei queen, by Tats Kushida, page 4. Kushida recalls that Mrs. Kikue Suenaga, known as Susie, was the first queen to ride a Rose Festival float in Pasadena in 1918. He also describes her Li’l Tokio snack shop.
• Snow job, by Tats Kushida, page 4. Kushida recounts a JACL tour of Arizona and Colorado chapters, including installations and meetings, and praises the enthusiastic JACL spirit he found. He thanks local hosts for their hospitality.
• Garden Grove incident, by Tats Kushida, page 5. Kushida condemns the Garden Grove incident in which a Negro naval officer was rejected as a home buyer and argues Nisei must remain vigilant about housing discrimination. He notes that the case also slandered Dr. Sammy Lee, a patriotic American.
• Around the neighborhood, by Elmer Ogawa, page 6. Ogawa walks through Seattle’s former Japanese neighborhood, recalling landmarks such as the Japanese Baptist Church, Nippon Kan Hall, and the old Maneki garden. He notes how Yesler Terrace and other changes have altered the area.

National

• Refugees from Hungary aided, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hungarian refugees Mr. and Mrs. John Kiss and George Keleman arrived in the Snake River Valley of Oregon, where they were employed by local JACL members Joe and Paul Saito. Earl Jones is coordinating placements for other refugees, including many single men who need work.
• Colo. mixed marriage ban target of bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A new bill introduced in the Colorado House of Representatives seeks to repeal the state’s ban on interracial marriage. Similar bills cleared the house in 1953 and 1955 but were not acted upon by the senate.
• Over 3,500 Japanese admitted to U.S. under Refugee Relief Act, by P.C. Staff, page 1. More than 3,500 Japanese nationals received visas for permanent U.S. residence under the Refugee Relief Act of 1953, according to a JACL Washington Office report. The total includes refugees and about 2,500 Japanese orphans admitted under an amendment JACL urged.
• Rep. McDonough elected chairman of 30-man Calif. congressional delegation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Gordon L. McDonough of Los Angeles was unanimously elected chairman of the California congressional delegation. JACL Washington representative Mike Masaoka congratulated him, noting his sympathy to JACL legislative objectives since 1944.
• Future of Far East seen in struggle between free world and Communists for friendship of Japan, says newsman, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Former AP Tokyo bureau chief Robert Eunson sees Japan as the key contested ground between the free world and Communist powers. He notes Japan’s economic recovery and its sympathy toward India’s neutralist position.
• Virginia plan for pupil placement ‘unconstitutional’, by P.C. Staff, page 3. U.S. District Judge Walter E. Hoffman ruled that Virginia’s pupil placement plan is unconstitutional on its face because it was designed to preserve school segregation. The ruling denied motions by Norfolk and Newport News school boards to dismiss desegregation suits.
• Issei sues for fall on sidewalk: $35,000, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Issei plaintiff Frank Okuna of Stockton is pursuing a $35,000 damage suit against the city and three businesses over a sidewalk fall. He claims the city knew the sidewalk was in a defective condition.
• Wirin to visit Red China for defense in sedition case, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Attorney Ben Wirin planned to travel to Red China and North Korea to contact witnesses for the defense of former Shanghai publishers John and Mrs. Powell. A federal judge authorized the trip despite State Department travel bans.
• State of Union message, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. President Eisenhower’s 1957 State of the Union message was brief compared to his 1954 address and proposed a four-point civil rights program. Masaoka highlights its relevance to Nisei concerns about school construction and immigration reform.
• Dept. of Justice urged to speed up remaining evacuation claims, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Mike Masaoka urged the Justice Department to speed processing of remaining Japanese American evacuation claims. Officials said the internee claims backlog would take several more months to process.
• State FEPC bill introduced in Sacramento, committee to meet in Fresno Feb. 9, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Assemblyman Phillip Burton introduced a bill to establish a state Fair Employment Practices Commission in California. Supporters plan a February meeting in Fresno to coordinate a unified drive for the measure.

Community

• Garden Grove citizen group protests purchase of home by naval officer, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Garden Grove citizens group protested the planned purchase of a home by a Negro naval officer, leading to a menacing crowd gathering that sheriff’s deputies monitored. Dr. Sammy Lee threatened court action against residents who he said slandered him during the controversy.
• Yas Abiko critically injured in auto accident; doctors report condition fair, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Yas Abiko, English section editor of the Nichi Bei Times, was critically injured in an auto accident in San Francisco and has passed the critical stage. He suffered a skull injury, punctured lung, and broken wrist, and was reported to be feeling all right.
• JACLer serves on Berkeley committee to fight blight, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Berkeley local committee sponsored a panoramic screen presentation on what American cities are doing to fight blight. The show was prepared by Life magazine and presented under ACTION sponsorship.
• Dr. Lee slandered at local professional meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. Sammy Lee threatened court action against unidentified Garden Grove citizens who he claimed slandered him at a protest meeting by alleging drunken brawls at his home. He said the charges were false and that he and his wife do not drink.
• Art Ito heads So. Calif. floral delivery group, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Arthur Ito of Flower View Gardens in Hollywood was elected 1957 president of the Southern California Telegraph Delivery Service. He previously served as first vice-president under Philip F. Cooper and co-chaired the 1956 TDS convention.
• Marysville Nisei named dental group officer, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Walter Hashimoto of Marysville was named treasurer-elect of the Junior American Dental Association at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry. He is a third-year student and a member of Delta Sigma Delta.
• Judge Bohn to address Detroit C.L. dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Detroit JACL chapter will hold its 1957 officer installation dinner-dance on Feb. 2 at Northwood Inn. Judge Theodore R. Bohn will be the guest speaker.
• Midwest skiers plan Caberfae (Mich.) weekend, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Chicago JACL, City-Widers and Hawaiian Club announced a February ski trip to Caberfae Ski Area in Michigan. Reservations with a deposit were due by Feb. 1.
• Los Angeles newsletter: Toys of today, by Henry Mori, page 7. Mori reflects on how today’s children receive lavish toys compared to the simple games of his youth. He contrasts modern gifts with homemade scooters and milk-cap collecting.
• Credit union dividend, by Smoky H. Sakurada, page 7. Chicago JACL Credit Union will hold its tenth annual meeting with a 4% dividend expected and 15 directors to be elected. The column also reports on Illinois civil rights efforts and board committee appointments.
• Sen. Knowland to retire, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Senate GOP leader William Knowland announced he will not seek reelection in 1958, sparking speculation about a run for governor. The column notes Nisei ties to Knowland, Governor Knight, and Vice President Nixon.

Military & Veterans

• Ex-Co. F 442nders plan Feb. reunion, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Former members of Fox Company, 442nd RCT, expect a large turnout at their 1957 reunion held with the national Nisei VFW convention in Gardena. Veterans also set a late 1957 meeting in San Francisco to plan the 1958 Seattle reunion.

Sports

• Tak Yamasaki splits, misses perfect 300, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Tak Yamasaki rolled a 288 game in the Denver Nisei Men’s League, the second highest of the local season. He missed a perfect 300 due to a late split he converted, finishing with a 656 series.
• Bill Takeda topples 690 in high keg mark, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Bill Takeda rolled a 690 series in the San Jose Nisei Bowling League, leading several bowlers over 620. The C.C. Berry Growers team also set a season-high scratch series of 2879.
• Nisei medalists in Fresno golf tourney, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Fred Yoshikawa and Dr. Fusaji Inada were the medalists in the Fresno Muny Golf Club’s best ball tourney. Their team posted a net 61 with Dr. Inada’s birdie on the final hole.

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