PC with Membership and the Washington alien land law repeal

Vol. 51, No. 5, July 29, 1960. 8 pages. View this issue

Two stories led this eight-page issue. The Pacific Citizen Board met to work out how PC with Membership, approved at the Sacramento national convention, would begin in 1961, and chapters were asked to finish their membership campaigns by March 1962. The front page also reported that the Seattle Post-Intelligencer backed repeal of Washington’s alien land law, which was headed for the November 1960 ballot. Mike Masaoka met with repeal committee members from the Seattle and Puyallup Valley chapters, and he also wrote about the Republican convention in his Washington Newsletter.

Columns include Bill Hosokawa on Nisei in politics, Harry K. Honda on a new community history, and Mary Oyama on life in suburbia. Page 5 prints the winning Oakland Jr. JACL essay by Diane Utsumi and names Joe Kadowaki as 1958-59 JACLer of the Biennium. Page 6 covers Canadian Nisei and divided families.

What’s in this issue

National

• PC with Membership on launching pad, details being implemented, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Citizen Board met to discuss implementation of PC with Membership, a program approved at the Sacramento national convention for 1961. Chapters are asked to complete membership campaigns by March 1962 so members receive PC by early April.
• Hearst editorial supports repeal of Washington alien land law, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer editorially backed repeal of Washington’s alien land law, which will be on the November 1960 ballot. The editorial credited Japanese Americans’ wartime service and urged voters to repeal the racist-inspired law.
• Masaoka talks on trade curb legislation outlook, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mike Masaoka spoke to the Northern California Japanese Chamber of Commerce about the outlook for trade curb legislation before attending the Republican convention. His remarks addressed the current legislative picture in Washington.
• Promotions slow for Orientals to supervisory posts, says state expert, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Benjamin B. Brown of the California Department of Employment reports that skilled minority workers, including Orientals, find jobs readily. He notes employers remain hesitant to promote Orientals into supervisory positions.
• Canadian JCCA delegation meets Minister of Immigration on divided families, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Canadian Minister Ellen Fairclough told a National JCCA delegation she would consider cases of divided Japanese Canadian families individually. She agreed immigration regulations needed revision but did not commit to a timeline.
• Republican platformers urged to support return of vested German, Japanese property, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Methodist Bishop Wilbur E. Hammaker urged the Republican platform committee to support returning German and Japanese property vested in the United States. He argued return would strengthen American claims abroad.

Community

• PC, regional office to move next week, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Southern California JACL Regional Office and Pacific Citizen are relocating from the Miyako Hotel to the remodeled Sun Building on Weller Street. The move consolidates PC and JACL offices and is expected to be completed by August 15.
• Hollywood Nisei appointed state Democratic committeeman, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mrs. Marjorie Shinno, an active civic worker and Hollywood JACL member, was appointed to the Democratic State Central Committee. Her appointment came from George E. Danielson, Democratic nominee for assemblyman.
• Masaoka meets with Washington alien land law repeal committee, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mike Masaoka met with alien land law repeal committee members from the Seattle and Puyallup Valley chapters during a Seattle visit. They discussed how to conduct the repeal campaign through the November general elections.
• Japanese widow to appeal loss of $85,000 in will, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Betty Kameshima Gudnason is seeking a new trial after losing a court case over an $85,000 bequest from her late husband. The judge ruled that an earlier oral agreement with his first wife gave his three children a prior claim.
• Community health-welfare center organization supported by Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A citizens group presented plans for a new community health and welfare agency to carry on work of Shonien Child Care Center and Japanese American Youth Inc. The plan was approved 31-0 at a public meeting in Hollywood.
• Canadian Nisei bids for BC legislature, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Yasusi Sugimoto, a potato cooperative farm manager, was nominated by the Progressive Conservative party for the British Columbia legislature. He was born on Queen Charlotte Islands and was previously unsuccessful in a Grand Forks city council race.
• Concern still high in U.S. over Tokyo student riots, visiting scouter reports, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. A Japanese Boy Scout deputy contingent leader reports from the Jubilee Jamboree on hospitality arrangements and his cross-country bus trip. He notes that Americans are concerned about the recent Tokyo student riots.
• U.S.-Japan stamp changes announced, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Post Office Department changed the colors and design of the 4-cent U.S.-Japan Treaty Centennial stamp, to be issued September 26. Gyo Fujikawa, a Nisei artist, designed the stamp.
• By the Board, by Loe Nishioka, page 4. Intermountain District Council chairman Loe Nishioka reflects on the 16th biennial National Convention and reports on district chapter activities. He addresses PC with Membership discussions and the Hawaii Tidal Wave Fund drive.
• Japan Air Lines sets new Honolulu-Tokyo mark, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Japan Air Lines set a westbound Honolulu-Tokyo non-stop record of 7 hours 6 minutes on its DC-8 jet inaugural flight. Regular schedules from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle follow in August through October.
• Director’s Report, by Masao Satow, page 5. National JACL Director Satow reviews the 16th Biennial National Convention in Sacramento and explains new procedures for national committees. He also notes minutes will be published and Travel Pool checks issued.
• Oakland Jr. JACL essay contest winners announced, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Diane Utsumi won the first prize of $100 in the Oakland Jr. JACL essay contest for her essay on people to people understanding. Suzie Takahashi and Asako Nagatoshi received the second and third prizes.
• Jr. Tri-Villes vote in new cabinet members, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Palo Alto Jr. Tri-Villes JACL elected new cabinet officers led by president Karen Sukekane. The slate includes vice president, corresponding secretary, recording secretary, treasurer, athletic and parliamentarian posts.
• Hollywood JACLers head for Detroit floral confab, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Arthur Ito and his family will attend the Florists Telegraph Delivery Association’s 50th convention and the International Floral Design Institute in Detroit. The Ito sons will also take part in the program.
• Placer County Nisei working on political realignment, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Kay Takemoto of Lincoln serves on a four-man committee studying realignment of Placer County supervisorial districts. The committee presented recommendations at the freeholders’ meeting on July 26.
• Bonsai fans warned by National Forest wardens, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Two Lodi Issei were fined $105 each for removing dwarf trees without a permit from Stanislaus National Forest. The report reminds bonsai enthusiasts that taking trees from national forests is illegal.
• GOP candidate against Rep. Inouye not found, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Honolulu Republicans had still not found a candidate to run against Democratic Rep. Daniel Inouye in the upcoming campaign. The party had sought a strong contender for months.

Obituaries

• Bishop Parsons, 92, wartime JACL sponsor dies from illness, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Retired Episcopal Bishop Edward L. Parsons of California died July 18 at age 92. JACL Director Mas Satow praised his willingness to vouch for the loyalty of Nisei during the war.
• Fresno publisher dies, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Eiji Ushijima, publisher of the weekly Chuo (Central California) Times from 1927 to 1941, died July 17. His tenure as publisher is noted in the brief report.

Commentary

• Very Truly Yours, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. Honda praises a new Japanese-language community history published by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California. He laments that the Nisei editorial staff lacked time to add a chronicle of Nisei events from 1950-60.
• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa discusses growing Nisei political participation, including Dan Inouye’s congressional seat and Seiji Horiuchi’s Colorado state senate candidacy. He notes the Nisei are advancing in mainland politics despite small voting numbers.
• Winning Oakland essay: People to People, Key to World Understanding, by Diane Utsumi, page 5. Utsumi argues that a world divided against itself cannot stand and that people must recognize shared humanity to build world understanding. She urges education that makes children responsible for world affairs.
• Newsletter, by Henry Mori, page 7. Mori compares the Democratic and Republican national conventions, criticizing the Democrats’ disorganized press credential process at the Biltmore. He finds the Republicans more courteous and efficient with press needs.
• Washington Newsletter: Republican Convention, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka previews the Republican national convention in Chicago, discussing the civil rights plank dispute and Nixon’s compromise with Rockefeller. He notes Nixon appears likely to win the presidential nomination.

JACL

• PC with Membership implementation details set, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The post-convention board decided PC with Membership subscriptions effective 1961 will be cut off March 31, 1962. Chapters submitting early membership lists by January 31, 1961 will receive added issues.
• Joe Kadowaki named 1958-59 JACLer of the Biennium, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Joe Kadowaki of Cleveland was honored as the 1958-59 JACLer of the Biennium for his leadership and growth of JACL. His accomplishments include launching the JACL Hawaii Tidal Wave Fund.

Arts & Entertainment

• Nisei in Suburbia, by Mary Oyama, page 6. Oyama writes about a Nisei housewife’s concerns over neighbors and status-seeking, using Vance Packard’s The Status Seekers as a reference. She contrasts status-seeking with genuine personal character.

Sports

• Nobu Asami wins women’s classic champion title, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Nobu Asami of Alameda won the women’s division of the Petersen Classic bowling tournament in Chicago with a 1543 game total. She previously bowled on a Metropolitan league team and has won several regional titles.

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