Proposition 14, chapter news and a threat to the 442nd reserve unit

Vol. 60, No. 1, January 1, 1965. 4 pages. View this issue

JACL chapters filled the front page of this four-page issue. Chicago JACL installed its new officers at an anniversary celebration, where Yates urged Nisei to keep working to shape democracy. Lupton, French Camp and Gresham-Troutdale also named their leaders. Two national stories stood out: a Pentagon directive that proposed to eliminate the 442nd reserve unit, which drew opposition from veterans, and an ACLU suit in Los Angeles seeking to declare Proposition 14 unconstitutional.

On the editorial page, Mrs. George (Toy) Kanegai of West Los Angeles replied to critics of her chapter’s stance on Proposition 14, and Raphael Gould tied the effort to defeat it to brotherhood and peace. Mike Masaoka’s newsletter looked ahead to the new Congress. Bill Hosokawa reflected on prosperity and poverty, and the Christmas and New Year editorials closed out 1964.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• Business of Democracy Is Never Finished, Yates Declares in Inaugural Address Urging Nisei to Continue Fight, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Chicago JACL installed its new officers at a celebration marking the chapter’s anniversary. Speaker Yates urged Nisei to keep working to shape democracy.

Community

• Lupton Elects Officers for 1965, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Lupton, California JACL chapter elected new officers and will install them at a January dinner. The chapter’s new leader promised more food-related activities during 1965.
• Ted Taya Elected French Camp JACL President, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ted Taya, the architect who designed the French Camp Hall, was elected chapter president. Officers will be installed at the annual chapter potluck dinner.
• Shig Nagao Installed at Gresham-Troutdale, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Shig Nagao was installed on the Gresham-Troutdale board after eight years of service. He is also active in recreation and civic organizations in Sanger.
• Esaku Sato Welcome Plans Slated Jan. 10 at San Francisco, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A welcome dinner for Esaku Sato is planned for January 10 in San Francisco. Sato was traveling to Washington, D.C. on the occasion.
• Anti-Poverty Crew Takes Flight to Help Japanese Americans, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A group of Nisei volunteers worked with the county anti-poverty program to help Japanese American citizens access federal assistance. Their work was coordinated with Washington, D.C. offices.
• Furrowed Brow Can Expose Illness, Says Reedley Optometrist, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Dr. Akira Tajiri of Reedley, California described a diagnostic method using a furrowed brow to detect hyperphoria. He presented the technique at the American Academy of Optometry meeting.
• Chicago JACL Group Christmas Cheer Tops $2,000 as 200 Made Merry, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Over 200 Christmas Cheer checks were distributed in Los Angeles, raising more than $2,000 under chairman George Fujita. The annual drive was sponsored by the L.A. JACL Coordinating Council.
• Yuba City-Marysville Issei, Nisei Faced Evacuation Alert as River Front Threatens, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Issei and Nisei in Yuba City and Marysville faced an evacuation alert as flood waters rose along the river. Residents prepared sandbags and monitored the situation.
• Puyallup Valley JACL to Push Japanese in Local Public Schools, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Puyallup Valley JACL plans to promote Japanese language instruction in local public schools. The chapter sees the effort as a way to strengthen community ties.
• Utah JACL Basketball Season Underway, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Utah JACL basketball season began with teams competing across the chapter. Results and schedules were reported.
• Idaho Falls JACL Entertains at Yuletide Party, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Idaho Falls JACL chapter hosted a holiday gathering for members. The event featured entertainment and a festive atmosphere.
• Nisei Selected for L.A. Mayor’s Advisory Cabinet, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Several Nisei were chosen to serve on Los Angeles Mayor Samuel Yorty’s advisory cabinet. The appointments were noted as recognition of Japanese American civic participation.
• Monterey JACL Health Plan Sign-Ups Start, Blue Shield Officials to Meet with Chapters, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Monterey JACL opened sign-ups for a group health plan, and Blue Shield officials will meet with various chapters in January. The plan is intended to give members access to group coverage.

National

• Pentagon Order Threatens 442nd Unit Reserve, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Pentagon directive proposed to eliminate the 442nd reserve unit, drawing opposition from veterans. Matsunaga, a Hawaii veteran and member of the reserve, spoke out against the move.
• Complications Foil JACL Chapter Bid to Repeal Washington Alien Land Law, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A JACL effort to repeal Washington’s alien land law ran into complications, and chapters are reconsidering the campaign. The article notes the issue’s legislative status.
• ACLU Files Suit to Declare Prop. 14 Unconstitutional in Los Angeles Court, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The ACLU filed suit in Los Angeles seeking to declare Proposition 14 unconstitutional. The filing followed a similar NAACP action in Sacramento.
• NC-WNDC Group Over $5,000 Raised by ‘Sparky’s Friends’, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Northern California-Western Nevada-Idaho District Council group raised over $5,000 through a fundraising effort known as Sparky’s Friends. The funds support JACL programs.

Obituaries

• JACL Mourns Loss of Keisaburo Koda, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL expressed sorrow at the death of Keisaburo Koda. The notice honors his service to the organization.

Commentary

• Christmas 1964, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial reflects on the commercialization of Christmas and the enduring meaning of giving. It hopes children’s joy will inspire adults to recover the spirit of the season.
• New Year 1965, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial looks ahead to 1965 amid national and international concerns, noting that good news often prevails. It closes with the staff’s New Year resolutions to be better organized.
• March 31 Cut-Off, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Pacific Citizen circulation department explains the March 31 cut-off for 1964 JACL member subscribers. The process has been streamlined to finish within a month.
• West L.A. Replies, by Mrs. George (Toy) Kanegai, page 2. A former West Los Angeles JACL president responds to criticism over the chapter’s stance on Proposition 14. She urges the No on 14 campaign to improve public relations and engage elected officials.
• Biased Uncle, by Kerry Sufurida, page 2. A proud uncle shares a fourth grader’s school composition that shows advanced reading ability. The letter is presented as a personal and biased view.
• Clarion Call, by Raphael Gould, page 2. The Fellowship of Reconciliation director urges readers to act for the betterment of individuals and society, linking this to the effort to defeat Proposition 14. He emphasizes that brotherhood and peace go hand in hand.
• Newsletter by Mike Masaoka, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Masaoka reviews developments in Congress, including committee chairmanships and the new Congress. He also discusses President Johnson’s upcoming State of the Union message.
• Tokyo Topics: Mike’s Japanese Amazes, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. Murayama describes Mike Masaoka’s energetic engagement with Japanese language and culture during his years in Japan. The column also notes the death of Tamotsu Nakaya and other Japanese American figures.
• Affluence Amid Poverty, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa reflects on the prosperity many Nisei now enjoy while noting persistent poverty and unemployment. He argues that global inequality makes wider concern for world problems necessary.

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