Vol. 79, No. 13, September 27, 1974. 4 pages. View this issue
A proposal to administer reparations for Japanese Americans forced from their homes in 1942 under Executive Order 9066 led this four-page issue. Rep. George Danielson called for a commission to oversee the funds, tied to the question of reversion of funds. Also on the front page, the Northern California-Western Nevada JACL District Council condemned a statement by Rep. Gaydos in the Congressional Record, and Gardena councilman Hata criticized Lt. Gov. candidate Dymally over a city hall meeting on atomic bomb survivors.
Inside, Chicago Asian community representatives met with Sears officials about low Asian employment, and Sears answered their claims. Eve Lynn Sawyer wrote about the Jingu sisters returning to a San Antonio tea garden their family once tended. Allan Beekman covered Nikkei candidates in Hawaii’s primary, and Edison T. Uno’s Minority One column took up the Nixon pardon. Readers’ letters on the JACL convention appeared on page 4.
What’s in this issue
National
- Rep. Danielson Calls for Commission to Administer Reparations Act, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. George Danielson proposed a commission to administer reparations funds for Japanese Americans evacuated in 1942 under Executive Order 9066. The article reports on the proposal and the funding issue tied to the reversion of funds.
- Five Nikkei in Line for Top Hawaii Democratic Nominations, by Allan Beekman, page 2. Strong Nikkei candidates are seeking top Hawaii offices in the Oct. 5 primary, where Democratic votes will dominate. The article notes the possibility that five Democratic Nikkei could hold the top five state offices.
- Kennedy Speech Helps Mineta Drive, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sen. Edward Kennedy spoke at a San Jose fundraiser for congressional candidate Norman Mineta, attracting about 750 attendees paying $15 each. Mineta said fundraising is the most debilitating part of running for office.
- Washington State Supreme Court Race Dark Horse Finalist, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A surprise finalist advanced to the runoff for a Washington state supreme court seat. The article covers the campaign and the vote totals.
Community
- Hata Criticizes Dymally Over Hiroshima-Nagasaki Bomb Survivors Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Gardena councilman Hata criticized Lt. Gov. candidate Dymally for holding a city hall meeting on atomic bomb survivor assistance without notifying the council. Dymally’s office called the lapse an oversight and regretted it.
- Nisei Farms Struck in Yuba City, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sheriffs dispersed pickets at the Wakatil tomato field in Yuba City where union protesters confronted non-union workers. Nishikawa Bros. farms in Yolo County was also picketed.
- NC-WNDC Presents $250 to Support AALDEF, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The NC-WNDC contributed $250 toward the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which received top priority at the National Convention. District Governor Dr. Harry Hatashita said greater voluntary support would help secure public funding.
- Chicago Asians Criticize Sears for Imbalance, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Chicago Asian community representatives met with Sears officials to criticize low Asian employment figures in the company’s 1973 annual report. Affirmative action gains for other minorities contrasted with declines for Asians.
- Bannai Wants Pension Plan Repeal, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Assemblyman Paul Bannai asked Governor Reagan to convene a special session to repeal a $1.1 million early pension plan for legislators. The Assembly Rules Committee killed the repeal bill, 5-2.
- Sears Rejects Asian Imbalance Claims, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sears officials responded to community criticism over Asian employment statistics. The article summarizes the company’s stated affirmative action efforts.
- Merriam to List Jap in ’75 Issue of Collegiate Dictionary, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Merriam-Webster editorial director wrote to Ben Woo of Washington’s Governor’s Commission acknowledging the derogatory nature of the term Jap. The publisher said the word would be labeled as a disparaging term.
- Young Adult JACL Chapter Being Organized in Gardena-South Bay Area, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A new young adult JACL chapter is forming to work on community issues, led by Gardena Valley JACL president Stuart Tsujimoto. Organizers had to convince skeptical young people that JACL was a useful vehicle for change.
Commentary
- NC-WNDC Blasts Rep. Gaydos for Racist Comment in Congress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Northern California-Western Nevada JACL District Council condemned a Gaydos statement in the Congressional Record titled The Second Attack on Pearl Harbor as irresponsible and inflammatory. The council warned such rhetoric revives the racial hysteria that led to the wartime Evacuation.
- Letters to the Editor on JACL Convention and Related Issues, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Readers wrote in response to coverage of the JACL National Convention and related controversies. Letters discuss convention proceedings and JACL direction.
- Minority One, by Edison T. Uno, page 4. Uno reflects on the Nixon pardon and its implications for justice and accountability. He argues the pardon sidesteps the need for a full reckoning of Watergate and wartime injustices.
Incarceration & Redress
- Sisters Get Civil Welcome Home in San Antonio, by Eve Lynn Sawyer, page 2. Jingu sisters returned to San Antonio for the first time in 25 years and visited the Japanese Tea Garden their family once tended. The family was forced out during World War II and the garden was renamed Chinese Tea Garden.
- Mitose Guilty on Six Counts, Draws Life Imprisonment, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A Los Angeles jury found James Mitose guilty on all six counts in the death of strawberry grower Frank Namimatsu. The jury declined the death penalty and Mitose received life imprisonment.
JACL
- Seattle JACL Shelves Reprimand of Kubota, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Seattle chapter board declined to reprimand Tak Kubota after his petition seeking to retain the citizenship requirement. Members debated whether the petition process was proper and the chapter’s standing in the district.
In-Depth
- Riddle of Prehistoric Japanese Culture, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A review of a book by Edison Uno on the origins of Japanese culture, tracing the Jomon and Yayoi periods and the Yamato state. The piece examines competing theories about the people of Wa and their language.
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