JACL joins the NAACP’s fight for freedom of association

Vol. 45, No. 16, October 18, 1957. 8 pages. View this issue

JACL’s brief in support of the NAACP led this eight-page issue. Along with fourteen other national organizations, JACL asked the U.S. Supreme Court to protect the freedom of association and the right to anonymity for voluntary groups in the case against Alabama. Mike Masaoka’s Washington column looked ahead to the Court’s October 1957 term and the cases of special concern to Nisei. Harry Honda told how the town of Calipatria rallied around the Momita family after Mrs. Shizuka Helen Momita died in a freeway accident.

Other pages cover Judy Seki’s perfect 300 game, Seattle’s plan for an International Settlement near Jackson Street, and Bill Hosokawa’s notes from a trip east. Larry S. Tajiri questioned claims about Japanese spies before Pearl Harbor. Chapter news came from Cleveland, Tulare County, Long Beach, Salt Lake City and elsewhere, and the Holiday Issue advertising drive was under way.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• JACL in Fight for Right of Association: NAACP Issue Before U.S. Supreme Court, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL joined fourteen national organizations in filing an amicus curiae brief supporting the NAACP in its case before the U.S. Supreme Court against Alabama. The brief argues that the constitutional freedom of association and the right to anonymity protect voluntary organizations from state attempts to destroy them.
• Another $2,000 in JACL Endowment Fund, by P.C. Staff, page 3. National JACL President Dr. Roy Nishikawa acknowledged $2,021.04 from 34 donors to the National JACL Endowment Fund. Donors came from California, Idaho, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington.
• Nominations for 1958 Slate to Be Revealed, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Twin Cities JACL meeting on October 25 will include nominations from the floor and a nominating committee report for the 1958 chapter board. A social hour and Holiday Issue ad collection will follow.

Incarceration & Redress

• Calipatria’s Postlude for Momita: Tragedy Strikes, Townsfolk Pitch In Display of Esteem for Family, by By Harry Honda, page 1. After Mrs. Shizuka Helen Momita was killed in a freeway accident, the townspeople of Calipatria volunteered to keep the Momita drugstore open while her husband Tak recovers. The story highlights the community’s esteem for the family, a longtime JACL supporter.

National

• Farm Laborers Being Returned, Refuse Contract, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Seven Japanese temporary farm workers who refused to renew contracts with Harden Farms in Soledad are being sent back to Japan. The workers complained that their earnings were far below expectations, while camp officials and the Japanese association disputed their claims.
• Brando’s License to Wed Incident Recalls JACL Fight to Ban Anti-Miscegenation Law, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Marlon Brando’s marriage license raised questions, but county officials confirmed the marriage was legal because California’s ban on interracial marriage was struck down in 1948. The article recalls JACL’s long fight against racial restrictions in marriage laws and its past intervention in such cases.
• Japanese Doctor Marries Crockett Descendant, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Dr. Wikio Kato, a Japanese-born physician who came to Tangier Island, Maryland, at the islanders’ request, married Emma Sue Crockett, a member of the island’s oldest family. The island had been without a physician since 1954.
• Vagaries: Pre-Pearl Harbor Spies, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri examines Ronald Seth’s book on Japanese espionage and questions whether Japan really ran a large-scale spy network using Japanese Americans before Pearl Harbor. He notes that the claims rest mostly on journalistic sources and that Frank Knox’s wartime remarks were misleading.
• Washington Newsletter: Supreme Court, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Mike Masaoka previews the Supreme Court’s October 1957 term, including cases on loss of citizenship, the proscribed list, and blood tests for Chinese immigrants. He notes that several cases of special concern to JACL and Nisei will be argued.
• Farm Laborers Continued from Front Page, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The article continues the report on Japanese farm workers being returned after refusing contracts, describing disputed earnings, deductions, and welfare fund arrangements. Immigration officials said the employers had met their contract obligations.

Community

• San Benito JACLer Named to School Advisory Group, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Kay Kamimoto of San Juan Bautista, an active San Benito County JACLer, was appointed to a citizens advisory committee for the San Benito County High School and Jr. College District. The 18-member group will advise trustees on policy and a forthcoming building program.
• Minneapolis Nisei Recalls Moments of Citizenship Camp, by Mary Yoshida, page 3. Deni Uejima of Minneapolis attended a six-week Encampment for Citizenship at Fieldston College in New York, where he met Eleanor Roosevelt. He is an active Boy Scout leader and education student at the University of Minnesota.
• Social Security Benefits Illustrated by Harry Miyake Case, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Social Security Administration used the death of self-employed Santa Barbara accountant Harry Miyake to explain survivor benefits. His family would receive about $200 monthly for 15 years, plus a lump-sum payment.
• Pointing Southwestward, by Fred Takata, page 4. Fred Takata reports on preparations for the Los Angeles JACL Christmas Cheer campaign, which aims to raise $2,000 for needy families. He also covers the Holiday Issue solicitation and the community’s response to the Momita tragedy.
• Nisei Models Named for Auxiliary Fashion Show, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Eleven Nisei models were selected by the White House Gown Salon to appear in the San Francisco JACL Women’s Auxiliary winter fashion show at the Mark Hopkins Hotel on October 26. A special luncheon dessert was also planned for the event.
• Intimate Report on Stock Markets Made at Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The New York JACL scheduled a business meeting featuring a stock market report by Joe Imai and a delegate report by Kenji Nogaki on the recent EDC-MDC convention. The chapter newsletter also noted that Dick Akagi authored the chapter’s convention skit.
• Issei Pioneers Entertained at Talent Show, First of Its Kind in Cleveland, by George Ono, page 4. Cleveland JACL honored thirteen Issei residents at a talent show attended by 200 people at the Central YMCA. The program featured twelve specialty acts including dance, music, and magic.
• Tulare County Fishing Contest Winners Announced, by Jim Hatakeda, page 4. The Tulare County JACL fishing outing at Sequoia Lake drew a family crowd, with grammar school girl Donna Jean Mayeda winning the grand prize. Senior and junior division winners were also named.
• Constitution Ready for Discussion by Tulare Junior JACL Group, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The first Junior JACL group in the Central California District Council held its initial meeting in Dinuba to discuss a draft constitution and future programs. The constitution will be presented for ratification at the next meeting.
• Long Beach Names Hostesses for Queen’s Ball, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Long Beach-Harbor District JACL is honoring Mitzi Miya, its candidate in the 1957 Nisei Week queen contest, at a Queen’s Ball with twenty hostesses. Several Nisei Week court members will attend as special guests.
• Boys’ Group Meeting Every Friday Night, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A weekly boys’ club for ages 13 to 25 meets Friday nights at the Cleveland Buddhist Church under JACL sponsorship. The program includes socials with girls’ clubs and athletics such as judo and table tennis.
• Salt Lake City Home Rule Voting to Be Discussed, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Salt Lake JACL chapter will discuss the Home Rule ballot measure at its upcoming meeting. A nominating committee for 1958 chapter officers will also be appointed.
• Thousand Club Notes: Convention Circuit, by Kenji Tashiro, page 5. Kenji Tashiro reports on the joint EDC-MDC convention in Chicago, where eighteen new Thousand Club members were enlisted. He previews upcoming conventions in Long Beach, Sacramento, Idaho, and Fresno.
• Holiday Issue Kickoff, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. Harry Honda urges chapters to meet the Holiday Issue advertising deadline and recalls last year’s chapter results. He reminds readers that the PC Introductory Offer expires November 1.
• Northwest Picture: Nipponmachi Hopes, by Elmer Ogawa, page 6. Seattle’s Jackson Street Community Council is pursuing urban renewal to create an International Settlement adjoining Chinatown, with the aim of restoring a concentrated Japantown. The plan would clear eight blocks and invite back scattered Japanese businesses.
• Los Angeles Newsletter, by Henry Mori, page 7. Henry Mori reports on the East Los Angeles JACL annual dinner dance, featuring singer Mas Hamasu, and recalls Roy Yamadera’s prewar fight against discrimination at Roosevelt High School. He also previews the 10th annual Christmas Cheer campaign and the new Harbor Hi-Co group.
• Salt Lake CLers Gain Utah State Fair Honors, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Mrs. Kazuno Waki and John Mizuno, both Salt Lake JACL members, placed in Utah State Fair competition. Mizuno won honorable mention and second place in fine arts, and Mrs. Waki won a trophy in hobbies.
• Mayor Kanno Seeks Site of New State College Adjacent to Fountain Valley, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Fountain Valley mayor James Kanno is working to annex the Mile-Square Airport as a potential site for a new state college in Orange County. Fourteen possible sites were offered, and the state has allocated $1,650,000 for site acquisition.
• Chicago Nisei Admitted to Practice Before Court of Claims, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Chicago attorney Masuda was admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Claims, believed to be the first Nisei to gain that admission. He has practiced law since 1929 and has long been active in JACL.

Arts & Entertainment

• Osaki Silver Jewelry on Display at Local Museum, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Silver jewelry by Harry Osaki is exhibited at the Pasadena Art Museum through November 3. Osaki, who created a silver chalice for President Eisenhower commissioned by the JACL, has exhibited widely in the United States and abroad.
• Judy Seki Bowls First 300 Game by a Woman in U.S., by P.C. Staff, page 6. Judy Seki, a 22-year-old Nisei bowler from Los Angeles, rolled the first perfect 300 game ever bowled by a woman in sanctioned play in the United States. She won a Ford Thunderbird and qualified for the National Match Game eliminations.

Commentary

• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Bill Hosokawa shares brief notes from a business trip to the northeastern United States, including a visit to Matthew Calbraith Perry’s grave and reflections on how Perry’s expedition opened Japan. He also describes Nisei families and a cinematographer whose work took him abroad.

Obituaries

• Tak Momita Continued from Front Page, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Tak Momita’s family and the Calipatria community are described as he recovers from his wife’s death. The article also profiles Tak Momita’s background as a pharmacist, JACL member, and naturalized citizen active in local civic life.

Sports

• Global Series: Japan Wins Baseball Tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Global Baseball Tournament held in Detroit was won by Japan, and organizers plan to keep it in the United States for the near future. Japanese pitcher Takashi Suzuki was voted the top hurler of the series.
• Ken Fujii Stars in First Grid Victory for Nevada, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Quarterback Ken Fujii passed and ran for key plays as the University of Nevada defeated Cal Aggies 21-18 for its first victory in two seasons. Fujii scored on a plunge from the two-yard line.

Military & Veterans

• VFW Official Defends Good Name of U.S.A., by P.C. Staff, page 7. VFW senior vice-commander John W. Mahan spoke to Japanese GI brides in Tokyo, defending America against criticism stemming from the Little Rock school integration crisis. He pointed to progress in civil rights and the role of education in overcoming prejudice.

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