Evacuation claims, renunciants and a new generation in JACL

Vol. 44, No. 8, February 22, 1957. 8 pages. View this issue

Unfinished business from the wartime forced removal ran through this eight-page issue. Harry K. Honda reported that Justice Department officials proposed a December 31, 1958 target date for settling the roughly 1,700 pending evacuation claims, and he laid out the three ways Nisei renunciants could seek to restore their citizenship. Dr. T. T. Yatabe’s column welcomed the growing interest of young people in JACL, while Mike Masaoka wrote from Washington about civil rights legislation and the coming Supreme Court vacancy, with its decisions affecting Nisei, including Korematsu.

Also inside: Katherine Kitajima was named queen of the 11th National JACL Bowling Tournament, set for Albany in March. Bill Hosokawa took on Nisei tardiness, and Larry S. Tajiri reviewed Laurence Hewes’ book Boxcar in the Sand. Chapter news came from Pasadena, Parlier, Sonoma County, New York and Chicago.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Interest of Youth in JACL Inspiring, by Dr. T. T. Yatabe, page 1. Dr. Yatabe reflects on the growing interest of young members in JACL and the promising new generation of national officers. He urges older members to remain active and support the youth in shaping the organization’s future.
• Nisei Time, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa criticizes the chronic tardiness of Nisei at gatherings, recalling prewar habits of running on Japanese time. He argues that punctuality is now more important and that wasting others’ time should end.
• Vagaries: Boxcar in the Sand, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri reviews Laurence Hewes’ book about his work during the wartime evacuation, describing the Department of Agriculture’s efforts to protect Japanese American farm transfers. He highlights the humane conduct of government officials who carried out an unjust order.
• Dr. Lee and the Nisei, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. Honda recounts Dr. Sammy Lee’s address to the Orange County JACL, including his experiences with prejudice and the role of Nisei role models. Lee’s message emphasized perseverance, reflected in his closing thoughts on success and defeat.

JACL

• Katherine Kitajima Selected Queen of 11th Annual National JACL Bowling Tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Katherine Kitajima, representing Oakland JACL, was chosen queen of the 11th annual National JACL Bowling Tournament. She plans to become a certified public accountant after attending San Francisco State College.
• 80 Men, 24 Women’s Teams Ready for JACL Keg Classic, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Over 500 participants are expected at the 11th National JACL Bowling Tournament in Albany from March 5-10. Chick Sarae and Chiyo Tashima lead the men’s and women’s divisions with averages of 200 and 194.

Community

• Pasadena Chapter to Fete 1957 Cabinet Tomorrow, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pasadena JACL will install its 1957 officers at Carpenter’s Santa Anita Restaurant with a dance to follow. Harris Ozawa, re-elected president, also led a board meeting preparing a membership drive.
• Cortez CLers Discuss Social Calendar for Year, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Cortez JACL presented a tentative 1957 social program including outings, a joint social, and a Christmas party. Chapter representatives also reported on the NC-WNDC quarterly meeting.
• Southwest L.A. Chapter of Service to Community Protesting Rezoning Pleas, by Kango Kunitsugu, page 4. The Southwest Los Angeles JACL mobilized quickly to address a rezoning application on Jefferson Blvd. that could bring manufacturing near residences. The chapter’s objection helped secure a favorable outcome for local businessmen.
• Parlier JACL Honors Naturalized Citizens, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Parlier JACL honored six newly naturalized citizens during a membership party at the local Buddhist Church. Several of the new citizens also joined the chapter.
• Southwest LA Chapter Rezoning Battle, by Kango Kunitsugu, page 4. The Southwest Los Angeles chapter opposed a spot rezoning on Jefferson Blvd. that would have allowed manufacturing near residential areas. The chapter’s intervention contributed to a favorable resolution for local businesses.
• Sonoma County JACL Membership Canvas Underway, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Sonoma County JACL is conducting a house-to-house membership drive aiming for 300 members in 1957. A tentative program of events for the year was also outlined.
• New York JACL Hears Member Talk on Netsuke, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Attorney Murray Sprung addressed the New York JACL on Japanese netsuke, exhibiting his personal collection. Chapter leadership also announced new membership and publicity chairmen.
• Chicago CL Credit Union Declares 4% Dividend, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Chicago JACL Credit Union declared a four percent dividend at its annual meeting and elected fifteen board members. Retiring president Lester Katsura presided over the business meeting.
• Tajiri: Iss ei History Retold at Detroit Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Walter Miyao traced the history of the Issei in America at the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit annual meeting. The Detroit JACL was represented by George Nagano at the dinner attended by 350 people.
• Univ. of Colo. Regent Resigns for Post with CUNA, by P.C. Staff, page 8. H. Vance Austin resigned as University of Colorado regent to become managing director of the Credit Union National Association. He had led a campaign to eliminate racially discriminatory provisions in university fraternity charters.

Incarceration & Redress

• Deadline Seen for Claims Compromise, by Harry K. Honda, page 1. Justice Department officials proposed a December 31, 1958 target date for resolving remaining evacuation claims and renunciant cases. Three procedural avenues were outlined for the roughly 1,700 pending claims.
• Liberalized Policy for Renunciants to Restore Citizenship Revealed, by Harry K. Honda, page 1. Three classes of procedures are available to Nisei renunciants seeking restoration of citizenship under the liberalized Justice Department policy. The options include passport application, exemption request to the INS, and court action.
• Boxcar in the Sand, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri reviews Laurence Hewes’ book about his work transferring Japanese-operated farms during the wartime evacuation. Hewes describes how his Department of Agriculture staff protected Japanese American interests while carrying out the order.
• Administrative Policies by Gov’t Charged as Part of Program Delay, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Claimant attorneys presented eight points to Justice Department officials identifying government administrative practices that slow evacuation claims processing. Concerns included take-it-or-leave-it offers, appraisal disputes, and delays in payment.

National

• Anti-Nisei Film on TV Protested by JACL Official, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL protested the KHJ-TV showing of the RKO film Betrayal from the East, which impugns Nisei loyalty. The station acknowledged the film was a fictitious representation and regretted the misunderstanding it could cause.
• I&NS Extends Alien Pre-Examination Method for Status Change, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Immigration and Naturalization Service extended for another year the pre-examination procedure allowing aliens to adjust status via Canada. The extension applies to aliens who entered before January 1, 1957.
• Japanese Immigration Figures Rise, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Scott McLeod reported that 5,255 immigrants from Japan were admitted in fiscal 1956, including 79 quota and 5,176 non-quota immigrants. Overall U.S. immigration totals rose each year across the past decade.
• JACL Urges Early Civil Rights Legislation, by Mike Masaoka, page 3. The Washington JACL office submitted a statement to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee urging early passage of meaningful civil rights legislation. The statement draws on JACL’s own experience with discrimination and evacuation.
• Colorado Senate Unanimously Approves Extending FEPC to Private Business, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Colorado state senate approved a fair employment practices bill extending anti-discrimination authority to private employers. The measure covers employers with more than five employees and allows aggrieved parties to file complaints.
• Government to Appeal Rule Allowing Prewar Rate on Yen, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Office of Alien Property will appeal a hearing examiner’s recommendation that yen deposits be repaid at the December 8, 1941 rate of 23.4 cents per yen. The decision affects about 17,000 claims based on yen certificates from prewar Japanese banks.
• National Director’s Report, by Masao Satow, page 4. Satow reports on Philadelphia Chapter’s 10th anniversary, chapter installations, membership progress, and chapter deactivations. He also covers the PSWDC clinic and national bowling tournament preparations.
• Washington Newsletter: Supreme Court Justice, by Mike Masaoka, page 7. Masaoka examines the upcoming Supreme Court vacancy and the constitutional decisions affecting Nisei, including Korematsu and Oyama. He notes the presence of Nisei judges and the possibility of future Nisei judicial appointments.

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