Hawaii statehood foes, Washington’s alien land law and chapter news

Vol. 48, No. 8, February 20, 1959. 8 pages. View this issue

Opposition to Hawaiian statehood drew the front page. Racist leaflets from the American Nationalist group in Inglewood, Calif., were circulating, and JACL national legal chairman Harold Gordon urged members to write their congressmen in support of statehood. Also on page one, the Washington State Senate voted to send repeal of the alien land law to voters in 1960, and the Long Beach-Harbor District JACL won the PSWDC Chapter of the Year award for a second year.

Inside, Larry S. Tajiri’s column looked at Hollywood casting of young Asian actors and at the stereotype writers Wallace Irwin and James E. Edmiston. T. Scotty Miyakawa wrote on foreign policy and on the Department of Justice’s program of partial compensation for West Coast evacuees. Harry Honda’s desk column, an editorial on Idaho’s 1867 law against mixed marriages, and installations in Portland, Fremont and San Mateo fill out the eight pages.

What’s in this issue

National

• Statehood foes go racist, JACL reacts in fighting mood, page 1. Opponents of Hawaiian statehood, including the American Nationalist group in Inglewood, Calif., circulated racist leaflets opposing the measure. JACL national legal chairman Harold Gordon urged members to contact their congressmen in support of statehood.
• Calls for Kansas-based JACL membership push, page 4. The National Director’s Report by Masao Satow reviews chapter installations, membership drives, and upcoming district conventions. It highlights Delano’s role in forming the Bakersfield Chapter and San Diego’s hosting of the PSWDC clinic.

Incarceration & Redress

• Washington referendum for alien land law approved, by ELMER OGAWA, page 1. The Washington State Senate voted to submit repeal of the alien land law to voters in 1960. Local JACLers celebrated but recognized the campaign ahead to eliminate the law from the state constitution.
• Foreign Policy, by T. SCOTTY MIYAKAWA, page 5. Miyakawa reports that the Department of Justice completed its program for partially compensating West Coast evacuees. He warns that false anti-Japanese American espionage portrayals in media and textbooks reveal lasting weaknesses in American moral principles.

Community

• Long Beach-Harbor District JACL garners PSWDC ‘Chapter of Year’ for second year, page 1. The Long Beach-Harbor District JACL won the PSWDC Chapter of the Year award for its community service. The district council also passed resolutions supporting minority rights legislation and discussed a revised constitution.
• Statehood foes go racist: Southwest LA JACL reports 546 members, page 1. The Southwest Los Angeles JACL reported 546 members at the conclusion of the first four weeks of its membership campaign. Team captain Mary Arikawa’s team won the flag with 126 new members.
• More active role in community life seen for new San Mateo JACL chapter, page 4. The San Mateo JACL installed Haruo Ishimaru as president at a dinner-dance and he expressed hope the chapter would take an active role in community affairs. The chapter’s first meeting of the year will feature a talk on income tax and wills.
• San Francisco JACL to establish annual $250 scholarship fund for prep student, page 4. The San Francisco JACL has established a $250 annual scholarship for an outstanding Nisei high school graduate. The chapter also plans a benefit Japanese movie program to raise initial funds and is studying a Junior JACL unit.
• Shig Wakamatsu column on Oakland JACL and Bakersfield chapter formation, by SHIG WAKAMATSU, page 5. JACL national president Shig Wakamatsu reflects on the change in attitudes shown by Ed Schnarr of the Native Sons at the Oakland JACL installation. He also welcomes the formation of the Bakersfield Chapter as a sign of growing JACL strength.
• Portland elects K. Tambara as head, page 5. Kimi Tambara was unanimously elected to a second term as Portland JACL president and her cabinet was installed at a February 7 banquet. Sportscaster Charles LaFranchise was the guest speaker.
• Shikano named Fremont president, page 5. Chuck Shikano was installed as president of the Fremont JACL at ceremonies led by Mayor Michael Overacker. Ace Handa received the Member of the Year pin for his work chairing the successful carnival.
• Sequoia JACL bridge club awards master points, page 5. The Sequoia JACL Bridge Club held its first monthly master point award night on February 11 and announced winners in North-South and East-West play. The next award night is scheduled for March 11.
• Attn: Kelly Yamada, page 5. Oakland Mayor Clifford E. Rishell told a story at an Oakland JACL event about ordering glasses for bowling from Dr. Kelly Yamada in 1942 and never receiving them. The anecdote was shared with Dr. Russell WeHara.
• Oldest Issei pair gifted with hula hoop to stay trim at Salt Lake JACL event, page 5. Salt Lake JACL held its first annual Issei Night on February 7, honoring pioneers with entertainment and prizes. Iwakichi Furukawa and Mrs. Toyo Matsumoto were presented hula hoops as the oldest Issei man and woman present.
• More active role in community life seen for new San Mateo JACL chapter, page 5. The San Mateo JACL installed its new cabinet at a February 8 dinner-dance at Belmont Casino. President Haruo Ishimaru expressed hope for active community involvement.
• Nisei GI revisits Tokyo, page 7. A Nisei veteran who landed with the first Occupation troops in 1945 revisits Tokyo and is astonished by its rapid growth and traffic. He also notes the dramatic changes in Japanese women’s behavior since the Occupation.
• JAYs Start Fund Drive, by Henry Mori, page 7. The Japanese American Youth, Inc. began a fund drive to hire an executive secretary and open an office in Little Tokyo to address youth delinquency. Hollywood JACL president Mike Suzuki described the group’s potential to guide community youth programs.

Commentary

• Idaho’s Law Against Mixed Marriages, by Lewiston (Ida.) Morning Tribune, page 2. The Lewiston Morning Tribune editorial urges Idaho to repeal its 1867 anti-miscegenation law, which burdens Japanese American couples. It argues the law is preposterous and should be abandoned as a relic of the state’s vigilante days.
• Ye Editor’s Desk, by HARRY HONDA, page 2. Editor Harry Honda comments on chapter reporting, the importance of citations for silver pin awards, and a humorous election story from Eden Township JACL. He also announces the birth of his daughter Teresa Miwa.
• About Japanese Stereotype Writers, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri examines the legacy of Wallace Irwin, who created the Hashimura Togo caricature, and James E. Edmiston, who sought to counter that stereotype, both of whom died recently. Irwin’s writings helped fuel anti-Japanese public sentiment in the early twentieth century.
• Nisei Views on U.S. Foreign Policy, by T. SCOTTY MIYAKAWA, page 5. Miyakawa argues that American foreign aid must be improved by training local leaders with human and social understanding rather than relying on technical or monetary aid alone. He also notes that racial incidents like Little Rock harmed American standing among non-communist nations.

Military & Veterans

• Casting Pendulum Swings to Men, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Larry Tajiri reports on Hollywood’s search for young male Asian actors, including Jimmy Shigeta for The Crimson Kimono and George Shibata’s debut in Pork Chop Hill. The column also covers casting for several upcoming films about Japanese subjects.

Obituaries

• Issei leader, Girl Scout organizer awarded JACL silver pins at Stockton fete, page 3. The Stockton JACL honored Harry S. Hayashino and Mrs. George Baba with its new sterling silver pin for their service to the chapter and community. Hayashino was a longtime Issei leader and Baba organized a Girl Scout troop sponsored by the chapter.

In-Depth

• Fact and fiction about sleep separated by research project headed by Nisei, by TOORU KANAZAWA, page 3. Dr. Joe Kamiya, director of the University of Chicago’s Dream and Sleep Research Project, discusses common myths about sleep in a U.S. News and World Report interview. The article covers sleep needs, reading in bed, and the effects of bedmates on sleep.

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