Civil rights at the 1960 Democratic convention and JACL’s Sacramento meeting

Vol. 51, No. 4, July 22, 1960. 8 pages. View this issue

Civil rights ran through the front page of this eight-page issue. A front-page commentary looked at the Democratic platform’s civil rights plank, which drew bitter opposition from Southern delegates. Mike Masaoka’s Washington newsletter reported on the Kennedy and Johnson ticket and on the part Nisei played at the convention, including Rep. Daniel Inouye and Patsy Takemoto Mink. In Fresno, some 500 people honored Inouye with the JACL Nisei of the Biennium medallion. The JACL national convention in Sacramento drew coverage too: the oratorical contest won by William Hayashi, and reflections from Margaret Kai and William M. Matsumoto.

Elsewhere, Washington Governor Rosellini backed repeal of the state’s alien land law. Tamotsu Murayama wrote from Japan about touring Hokkaido and about Hiroshige woodblock prints. Fred Takata’s column previewed the 1960 Holiday Issue, and chapter news came from West Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, Contra Costa and Pocatello. Fred Taomae recounted Mrs. Mink’s near-miss for Congress in 1954.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Genuine summons in civil rights plank, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The 1960 Democratic platform’s civil rights plank, the most liberal in party history, drew bitter opposition from Southern delegates. Speakers Rep. Chester Bowles and Sen. Philip Hart defended it as a call to do what is right.
• Ye Editor’s Desk: 1960 Holiday Issue, by Fred Takata, page 2. The editor previews the 1960 Holiday Issue, which will be a combined two-issue edition covering the last two weeks of the year. He encourages chapters to feature Issei pioneers and complete membership drives early.
• Sonoma County youth speaks, by William Yasue Hayashi, page 2. William Hayashi of Petaluma, winner of the JACL Convention Oratorical Contest, describes facing prejudice as an American of Japanese ancestry. He credits the JACL with advancing racial tolerance and equality in the nation.
• By the Board, by Kay Nakagiri, page 4. PSWDC chairman Kay Nakagiri reflects on the 1960 National Convention and the challenge of implementing its larger goals at the district and chapter level. He also describes plans for the upcoming August 7 PSWDC meeting in Santa Barbara.
• Pointing Southwestward, by Fred Takata, page 5. Takata recounts the Hawaii Tidal Wave Fund luau at Ken Kono’s Restaurant, which raised $1,200. He also describes meeting Congressman Inouye at the Democratic Convention.
• Youth role in JACL future, by William Yasue Hayashi, page 5. Hayashi argues that JACL’s work against discrimination is only half complete, citing housing and employment barriers. He calls on young Japanese Americans to keep pursuing full equality.

Community

• Gov. Rosellini backs repeal of alien land law, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Washington Governor Rosellini supported Senate joint resolution No. 4 to repeal the outdated Anti-Alien Law from the State Constitution. He argued that Japanese, Chinese and Philippine citizens have earned the right to equal treatment.
• Nisei invest in new Sacramento Mall project, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A $750,000 shopping center with local Nisei investors was approved by the Sacramento redevelopment agency. Construction will begin after a nearby apartment development advances.
• Voter registration for November urged, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Southwest JACL regional office is registering voters for the November election, with Fred Takata as deputy registrar. The article lists California voter eligibility requirements.
• Congressman Inouye honored at Fresno testimonial, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Some 500 people attended a Fresno testimonial for Rep. Daniel Inouye, who received the JACL Nisei of the Biennium medallion. Organizers also presented him an $800 check for the JACL-Hawaii Tidal Wave Disaster Fund.
• Deny applications for Li’l Tokio area savings and loans offices, by P.C. Staff, page 1. State deputy commissioners denied applications for two proposed Nisei savings and loan associations in Los Angeles. The applicants failed to prove the areas were not adequately served.
• Hayward Nisei receives Carnegie foundation grant, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Nisei graduate of UC Berkeley received a Carnegie foundation grant to study in Japan. He is currently studying Japanese culture at Syracuse University and will depart in September.
• Scouter invested with Order of the Arrow, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Visiting Tokyo scouter Tamotsu Murayama received the honorary Order of the Arrow from the Salt Lake Boy Scout Council. The honor was made possible by his American citizenship.
• Welfare agency plans to be revealed, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A citizens subcommittee will present its final report on a new community social welfare agency at the Hollywood Japanese Community Center. The agency is intended to supplement existing services and address cultural and language barriers.
• West L.A. JACLers fold of busy summer calendar, by Sumi Oshinomi, page 4. The West Los Angeles JACL chapter outlined its busy summer schedule, including a barbecue party and an introduction of new Jean Ikkanda. The chapter also completed its membership drive with 269 members enrolled.
• Contra Costa JACL sponsors youth group, officers installed, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Officers of a teen club sponsored by the Contra Costa JACL were installed at a dance in Richmond. Committee appointments for the group were also announced.
• Foot-Tellos teens name new Jr. JACL group, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Pocatello Jr. JACL members chose the name Foot-Tellos, combining parts of Pocatello and Fort Hall or Blackfoot. The group plans an old clothing and books drive for overseas relief.
• East Los Angeles JACL slates busy summer, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The East Los Angeles JACL announced several summer events, including a Pasadena barbecue, a beach party, and a Catalina Island excursion. A first general meeting of the second half of 1960 is scheduled for September.
• PSW quarterly meeting in Santa Barbara, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Pacific Southwest District Council summer quarterly meeting will be hosted by Santa Barbara JACL on August 7. Frank Chuman will be keynote speaker at the banquet, and sightseeing tours will be arranged.
• Seattle-Puyallup Valley JACL picnic and Minoru Yamasaki gathering, by Elmer Ogawa, page 7. The Seattle and Puyallup Valley JACL chapters held a joint picnic where visiting Japanese Boy Scouts joined the festivities. Architect Minoru Yamasaki later spoke to a gathering of old friends in Seattle.
• Fowler JACL scholarship won by Lynn Fujii, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Lynn Fujii, son of Mrs. Irene Fujii, won the $100 Fowler JACL scholarship at Fowler High School. Joyce Toyoda won a $220 scholarship from Fresno College and a $50 CSF scholarship.

Military & Veterans

• Seafair Queen selection due, Sansei competing, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Miss Nancy Sawa represents the Japanese American community among 35 candidates for the 1960 Seafair Queen in Seattle. Each entrant paid a $50 fee that funds a scholarship for the winner.
• Chimney descent not as simple as Santa’s feat, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Geary Mikami, 10, became wedged in his family’s chimney in Torrance and had to be rescued by firemen. The firemen ultimately knocked a hole in the chimney to free him.
• Washington newsletter: Democratic convention, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka analyzes the Democratic ticket of Kennedy and Johnson and the party platform’s civil rights and immigration positions. He also notes the prominent role Nisei played at the convention, including Rep. Inouye and Patsy Takemoto Mink.

In-Depth

• Touring northern Japan a must, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 3. Prof. Chitra Obata, after leading more than twelve tours of Japan, plans to bring groups to northern Japan and Hokkaido to show visitors the real Japan. Murayama notes that modernization is rapidly erasing traditional life in the Kyoto and Tokyo areas.

Arts & Entertainment

• Woodblock prints popularized, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 3. A memorial was held in Tokyo for Prof. John Stewart Happer, the American who popularized Hiroshige woodblock prints. Murayama suggests his example might inspire Nisei to publish on Japanese art.

JACL

• Convention oratorical contest, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Youth speakers presented their views on Japanese American roles in JACL’s future at the national convention oratorical contest. William Hayashi of Santa Rosa won the Dr. Roy M. Nishikawa perpetual trophy.
• Convention potpourri, by Margaret Kai and William M. Matsumoto, page 6. Delegates reflected on the 16th Biennial National JACL Convention in Sacramento, including youth perspectives and the convention board’s thanks to volunteers. The Sacramento board also compiled a planning booklet for Seattle’s 1962 convention.

National

• Hayato Ikeda elected Japan’s new Prime Minister, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Hayato Ikeda, a financial and economic expert from Hiroshima, was elected president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and then Japan’s ninth postwar Prime Minister. He is expected to continue encouraging U.S.-Japan cooperation.
• Mrs. Mink recalls near-miss for Congress, by Fred Taomae, page 8. Patsy Takemoto Mink recounted how Daniel Inouye’s late entry into the 1954 House primary ended her bid for Congress. Inouye later won a landslide and entered Congress, leaving Hawaii with one Nisei representative instead of two in Washington.
• Negro struggle for first class citizenship must be Negroes’ fight, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A. Philip Randolph and Rev. Martin Luther King spoke at a Los Angeles luncheon sponsored by the Jewish Labor Committee. Both urged that Negroes lead the fight against discrimination and asked for support from civic organizations.

Obituaries

• Chicago priest dies, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Tsuda, a Zen Buddhist priest bedridden for eleven years after a stroke, died at his home on July 10. He was active in helping Japanese Americans resettle in Chicago.

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.