Getting the Pacific Citizen to every JACL member, March 1957

Vol. 44, No. 10, March 8, 1957. 8 pages. View this issue

The Pacific Citizen turned its attention to its own readership in this eight-page issue. George Inagaki’s front-page commentary said the paper fell short because only about 25% of JACLers subscribed, and he challenged chapters to start real subscription drives. Harry K. Honda returned to the theme in two columns, one on circulation gaps among chapter presidents and one on holding the $3 rate steady for over five years. Elsewhere on page one, Salt Lake bid for the 1958 national JACL convention, and the Justice Department awarded nearly $247,000 to 140 evacuation claimants in January, though Congress still had to appropriate the funds.

Inside are chapter reports from Pocatello, Detroit, Cincinnati, San Diego and Mt. Olympus, plus Bill Hosokawa’s “From the Frying Pan” and Mike Masaoka’s look at a possible Republican Senate. A Look magazine article on race relations in Los Angeles County and a Stockton dinner talk by Mamoru Sakuma on the wartime detention of Japanese Americans are also covered.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Challenge well worth effort offered, by George Inagaki, page 1. The Pacific Citizen falls short of its objective because it does not reach the rank and file of JACL membership, with only about 25% of JACLers subscribing. George Inagaki challenges chapters to launch real subscription drives to put the paper into the hands of the remaining 75%.
• L.A. race relations progress in Look, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Look magazine article by Sara Boynoff describes how race relations improved in Los Angeles County, quoting Loren Miller, Ed Roybal and Saburo Kido. Progress is illustrated by minority leaders in student government, high school, and the judiciary.
• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa profiles George Nakayama, a Nisei wrestling referee in Colorado who trained at an auctioneering school to pursue crying sales. Nakayama also foresees Colorado Nisei farmers pooling resources and expanding into Kansas.
• Slogan-conscious, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. Editor Harry Honda reflects on Pacific Citizen circulation gaps among chapter presidents and urges members to read JACL’s publication to understand its aims. He argues that reading the paper serves JACL’s twin slogans of unity and better Americanism.
• Very truly yours, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. Honda notes that the Pacific Citizen has absorbed production cost increases while keeping the $3 subscription rate steady for over five years. He encourages readers to share copies to win new subscribers.

JACL

• Salt Lake bids for 1958 convention, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Salt Lake JACL chapter voted to extend a bid to host the 15th Biennial national JACL convention in 1958 after no site had been chosen at the 1956 convention. The chapter may be co-sponsored by Mt. Olympus, with official acknowledgment expected from National Headquarters.

National

• Flood damage light for Nisei of East Oregon, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Flood waters of the Malheur River struck the Vale area of Oregon in late February, forcing some Japanese American families to evacuate. Damage to Nisei families proved less extensive than first feared after cleanup began.
• Redatriates denied right to sue for vested property return, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that Japanese and German repatriates cannot sue in court for return of vested property, reversing a lower court decision in the Oehmichen case. Attorneys for Mrs. Oehmichen announced plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.
• GOP Senate control, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka analyzes how a Republican takeover of the Senate could shift committee chairmanships to conservative Republicans, following a possible Hutcheson victory in the Texas special election. He notes the implications for civil rights, immigration, and Hawaii statehood.

Community

• Chapter to vote on own corporation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Detroit JACL chapter will vote on articles of incorporation as a non-profit organization in Michigan at its March 17 potluck supper meeting. The newly organized Teen Club will care for children attending the family event.
• Reedley JACLer picked Mr. C. of C. for 1957, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. James Ikemiya was named Mr. Chamber of Commerce of 1957 at a Reedley dinner meeting. He is a past JACL president and serves on several community boards.
• Salt Lake JACL honors 18 naturalized Issei citizens in 5th annual dinner, by Jeanne Konishi, page 2. The Salt Lake JACL honored 18 newly naturalized Issei at its fifth annual dinner held Feb. 28. Speakers including Justice J. Allan Crockett and State Sen. Sol Selvin addressed the group.
• Mile-Hi spring carnival set Mar. 23 for community welfare, JACL programs, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Denver Mile-Hi JACL will hold a spring carnival on March 23 to raise funds for community purposes including scholarships and March of Dimes support. The event features a food bazaar, games, and prizes for families.
• Detroit CLers add touch of Japan at International Institute Folk Ball, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Detroit JACL members added a Japanese presence to the 11th annual International Institute Folk Ball on Feb. 23. Participants included kimono-clad greeters and JACL leaders attending the formal event.
• S.F. editor quits post for Redevelopment Agency, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Michi Onuma resigned as editor of the Hokubei Mainichi English section to join the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency as an interviewer for residents affected by Western Addition clearance. She had been with the paper since 1948.
• Garden Grove Nisei wins Elk leadership contest, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Ernest Nagamatsu, a Garden Grove High senior, won the local Elks leadership contest and advances to the statewide competition. His essay addressed the requirements of a good leader.
• Banner year predicted as Pocatello CL nears 200 members for all-time record, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Pocatello JACL signed up over 170 members for 1957 with additional sign-ups expected to reach a record of 200. Chapter president Novo Kato credited the membership drive committees for the success.
• New $21,000 building planned to replace old Pocatello hall, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Pocatello JACL is planning a new community building estimated at $21,000 to replace its current hall, which is not worth remodeling. A committee is considering a five-acre site and a 40×70 foot design.
• Mt. Olympus JACL Parents Appreciation Night, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Mt. Olympus JACL held a Parents Appreciation Night on Feb. 22 with over 120 attendees featuring a Washington birthday theme. The program included musical performances and a bingo game.
• Unusual chapter public relations technique by Cincinnati invites educators, school officials to annual installation, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Cincinnati JACL installed new officers with guests drawn from the school field, including the PTA president and a high school principal. National vice-president Shig Wakamatsu urged Nisei to participate more freely in community affairs.
• San Diego chapter opens ’57 membership drive, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The San Diego JACL opened its 1957 membership drive with dues set at $3 per person and $5 per couple. The chapter has annually topped 200 members.
• Dance instructions billed by two JACL chapters, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Richmond-El Cerrito JACL and Gardena Valley JACL are both offering ballroom dance instruction in March. The Richmond class is free to the community while Gardena charges $11.
• Venice-Culver plans buffet & square dancing, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Venice-Culver JACL will hold a buffet dinner and square dance on March 16 at the VFW Hall in Culver City. Lionel Hansen will call the square dance.
• Marysville JACL calls baseball tryouts for youth, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Marysville JACL will sponsor a teen-age boys baseball team this season with tryouts beginning at the high school diamond. New uniforms are to be obtained through donations.

Incarceration & Redress

• Over $250,000 awarded for claims in Jan., by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Justice Department awarded nearly $247,000 to 140 evacuation claimants in January under the JACL-COJAEC sponsored amendment. Congress must still appropriate funds before the awards can be paid.
• Stereotyped yellow peril attitude blamed for wartime evacuation, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sacramento attorney Mamoru Sakuma told the Stockton JACL installation dinner that the stereotyped yellow peril attitude caused the wartime detention of Japanese Americans. He noted postwar advances while arguing discrimination persists.

Military & Veterans

• Helicopter saves pair at sea, Nisei in vain attempt to rescue teenager, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A Coast Guard helicopter rescued a 17-year-old boy and San Francisco JACL board member Kiyoshi Tanamachi from the surf off Devil’s Slide. Tanamachi had leaped in to save the boy but nearly drowned and was revived at the hospital.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.