Impeachment withdrawn: JACL leadership and the job ahead

Vol. 80, No. 12, March 28, 1975. 4 pages. View this issue

JACL’s national leadership was the main subject of this four-page issue. National President Shigeki Sugiyama wrote that the Pacific Southwest District Council had withdrawn its impeachment resolution against him, and he laid out the programs he planned to pursue. National Executive Director David Ushio explained national advocacy, and Harry Honda looked at the constitutional questions the impeachment effort raised. Letters from Sam Shoji, Ben Nakagawa and Takashi Mayeda added members’ views, and Bill Hosokawa wrote about a lunch in Washington, D.C. with Mike Masaoka and Kaz Oshiki.

Elsewhere, an Esquire article reported that the late Chief Justice Earl Warren admitted acting in panic when he advocated the uprooting of Japanese Americans in California. Community news included Mike Shiosaki’s appointment as Bingham County sheriff, plans for the 1976 Nisei veterans reunion in Denver, and a Pekin school board vote to keep a derogatory team nickname.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• The Job Ahead, by Shigeki Sugiyama, page 1. JACL National President Shigeki Sugiyama reports that the Pacific Southwest District Council withdrew its impeachment resolution against him after 13 chapters had voted for it. He outlines programs he will continue to pursue, including legal defense, political education, youth programs, and development of resources for the elderly Issei and Nisei.
• National Advocacy, by David Ushio, page 1. National Executive Director David Ushio explains how national advocacy complements local chapter work and why members should understand the difference. He describes how staff regional directors and the national office help address individual and community problems.
• Decision-Making, by Sam Shoji; Ben Nakagawa, page 2. Two Seattle JACL members write to criticize the lack of communication between JACL’s national leadership and its membership, citing the impeachment controversy. They call for greater involvement of members in decisions affecting the organization.
• Mountain-Plains high on director, by Takashi Mayeda, page 2. Mountain Plains District Council Governor Takashi Mayeda defends National Executive Director David Ushio, praising his revitalization of the district and its chapters. He calls on members to criticize constructively and work toward a stronger JACL.
• Lunch with two gentlemen, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Bill Hosokawa recounts lunch in Washington, D.C. with Mike Masaoka and Kaz Oshiki, discussing JACL’s transition and the challenges facing the organization. He concludes that constructive advocacy and intangible benefits are essential to Japanese American progress.
• The resiliency of man, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Bill Hosokawa reflects on New York City life, observing the determination of students commuting to Columbia University and the human capacity to adapt to difficult circumstances. He draws parallels to the resilience of people facing hardship.
• It all started, so innocently, by Bill Marutani, page 3. Bill Marutani describes his experience in Philadelphia after being passed over for a position, reflecting on how Asian Americans should not accept rejection quietly. He discusses the need for community leaders to recognize the pattern of exclusion.

National

• Warren panicked on Evacuation, says Esquire story, by P.C. Staff, page 1. An Esquire Magazine article by Alden Whitman reports that late Chief Justice Earl Warren admitted he acted wrongfully and in panic in advocating the uprooting of Japanese Americans in California. Warren also reportedly made harsh remarks about Nixon and Burger in the interview.
• Seating limited for Japan flights, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Ten seats remain on JACL Charter Flight 3 from San Francisco, and flight 4 has been confirmed with 361 seats for travelers from Los Angeles and San Francisco. National JACL Travel Committee chairman Steve Doi announced the seating allocations.

JACL

• No more impeachment worries, by Harry Honda, page 1. Harry Honda examines the JACL constitutional provision on impeachment of national officers and the procedural questions raised by the Pacific Southwest District Council’s effort against National President Sugiyama. He notes the lack of precedent and the difficulty of proceeding after the resolution was withdrawn.

Community

• Mountain Plains to meet in Omaha, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Mountain Plains JACL District Council will meet April 4-6 at the Ramada Inn Central in Omaha to discuss programs for the coming biennium and elect district officers. National figures Shig Sugiyama and David Ushio were invited as speakers.
• Idaho Nisei named Bingham sheriff, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mike Shiosaki, a Pocatello-Blackfoot JACL member and son of Issei pioneers, was appointed sheriff of Bingham County. He previously served as a police officer and captain and is a veteran of the 442nd Infantry in Europe.
• Named ‘Orchardist of the Year’, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Shig Yamaki of Hood River, Oregon, was honored as Orchardist of the Year for 1974 at a county awards event. A World War II evacuee to Tule Lake, he has farmed for decades and served on local school, JACL, and church committees.
• Woman, 30, learns of her Nikkei heritage, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ariel Floyd of Ben Lomond, California, discovered through her late mother’s papers that her birth parents were Japanese, with a birth certificate issued in Denver in 1944. She is seeking information about her Nikkei background.
• ’76 Nisei vets reunion kickoff banquet staged, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Spark Matsunaga spoke at the kickoff banquet for the 1976 Nisei Veterans Reunion in Chicago, which will be held July 26-31 in Denver. The reunion will also highlight the contributions of Japanese Americans in connection with the U.S. Bicentennial.
• San Jose Japanese plan for Bicentennial, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Japanese cultural events will form part of the 18-month U.S. Bicentennial celebration in San Jose. Organizers announced a series of activities culminating in events planned for the coming months.
• 150 attend Nat’l JACL CU dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The National JACL Credit Union held its annual dinner meeting in Salt Lake City with 150 members and guests attending. S. Ushio was re-elected president, and the credit union reported growing reserves and a successful insurance rating plan.
• Riverside JACLers speak of evacuation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Riverside JACL members have been speaking about the 1942 evacuation to various community groups, drawing increased invitations after Jim Urata addressed the San Bernardino Kiwanis. Speakers have also responded to student questions at several area schools and colleges.
• Chinks to stay, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Pekin school board voted 5-2 to retain the ‘Chinks’ nickname for its athletic teams despite objections that the term is derogatory. The decision followed a prior controversy over the same name.

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.