JACL leaders look to Salt Lake City, plus the repeal of Title II

Vol. 73, No. 16, October 15, 1971. 6 pages. View this issue

Preparations for the 16th Biennial JACL Convention in Salt Lake City ran through this six-page issue. National JACL President Raymond Uno laid out the timetable for the National Executive Committee meeting and reflected on the cost of political campaigns. David Ushio described the behind-the-scenes decisions that led to the repeal of Title II of the Internal Security Act. Bill Hosokawa wrote about a day with his grandchildren in Eugene, and Harry K. Honda reported on a trip to Japan with some 700 JACLers.

Also inside: the nearly finished Harry S. Kawabe Memorial House for Seattle seniors, and a Colorado suit over a Nisei farmer accused of harboring undocumented workers. Chapter news came from Twin Cities, Monterey Peninsula, Riverside and Alameda. Page 6 carries excerpts from Seymour Hersh’s reporting on My Lai.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• Executive Committee Meeting and Political Game Plan, by Raymond Uno, page 1. National JACL President Raymond Uno outlines the upcoming National Executive Committee meeting timetable tied to the 16th Biennial JACL Convention in Salt Lake City. He also discusses the difficulty of funding political campaigns and the need for dedicated candidates.
• National JACL Planning Commission Report, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Excerpts from the August 13-15 Planning Commission session debate communication between the National Board and chapters, the role of youth members on the Board, and the function of the president-elect. Participants also consider how the National Executive Committee should be composed.

Community

• Kawabe Memorial House Nearly Ready for Seattle Issei, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The 10-story, 162-unit Harry S. Kawabe Memorial House for senior citizens in Seattle’s central area is nearly complete. The $2.44 million project, which began as a JACL housing committee initiative in 1965, is named for a prewar Alaska immigrant who contributed $100,000.
• JACL Written Up in Washington Weekly, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The National Journal, a Washington weekly guide to government, devoted ten pages of its September 25 issue to Japanese and Japanese Americans in the nation’s capital. The coverage included a profile of JACL Washington representative Mike Masaoka and discussion of the repeal of the Emergency Detention Act.
• Hayakawa Orders More Women, Minority Hiring, by P.C. Staff, page 1. San Francisco State College President S.I. Hayakawa instructed departments to hire a majority of women and minority group members within two years or face budget cuts. The college reported minority employment rising from 8.2 percent in 1965 to 15.6 percent at present.
• All Parlier City Councilmen Targeted in Recall Election, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Parlier City Council directed its city attorney to verify signatures on a petition seeking recall of all five council members, including Nisei Sho Teuchi. The petition was presented by a Mexican-American group opposing the council’s choice of police chief.
• Twin Cities JACL Community Involvement with Garden Clubs, by Masao W. Satow, page 4. The Twin Cities JACL chapter is helping raise funds for a Japanese garden at Normandale State Junior College in Bloomington, Minnesota, a project estimated at $70,000. Garden designer Takao Watanabe of Tokyo is donating his services and the garden will feature a lagoon, waterfalls, and native plantings.
• Monterey Peninsula JACL Helps International Festival, by Ross Harano, page 4. Monterey Japanese community groups took part in the Parade of Nations festival at Custom House Plaza over Labor Day weekend. The chapter ran a Japanese food booth and helped stage entertainment, with volunteers contributing hundreds of hours.
• Riverside JACL Sendai Festival Nets Over $1,500, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Riverside JACL’s annual Sendai Festival raised over $1,500 for chapter programs. The event featured food booths, cultural exhibits, and entertainment, with participation from multiple community organizations.
• Alameda JACL Issei Appreciation Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Over 100 people attended the Alameda JACL Issei appreciation dinner at the local Buddhist temple, where four Issei over age 88 were honored with plaques. The program included skits, songs, and instrumental performances.

National

• Peking Visit by Nixon Viewed as Bold Move by Sato, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato told NBC that President Nixon’s planned visit to China required courage and would contribute to easing international tensions. Sato also said Japan would not retaliate against the new 10 percent import surcharge and would continue to rely on the US security umbrella.
• ‘Illegal Alien’ Issue Swirls Over Colorado as Nisei Farmer Accused, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Colorado Rural Legal Services suit alleges Longmont Nisei farmer Johnny Mayeda harbored about 30 illegal Mexican farm workers. The US Attorney has not acted, and the case highlights federal immigration law gaps that let employers hire undocumented workers without penalty.
• Sen. Fong’s Bill Expedites Process for Naturalization, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Senator Hiram Fong introduced legislation to ease or eliminate English literacy requirements for elderly and long-time alien residents seeking US citizenship. The bill would let applicants over 50 take the test in another language and waive literacy entirely for those over 60 resident 20 years.

Commentary

• Title II Comments, by David Ushio, page 2. Washington JACL staffer David Ushio describes the behind-the-scenes legislative decisions that led to the repeal of Title II of the Internal Security Act. He credits Congressman Spark Matsunaga and Representatives Abner Mikva and Robert Kastenmeier for strategic timing and bill design that secured victory.
• From the Frying Pan: A Day in Eugene, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Columnist Bill Hosokawa recounts a visit with his grandchildren Ashlyn and Mike in Eugene, Oregon, noting how much they have grown. He reflects on the innocence of suburban childhood and the hope that they will be raised to be resilient.
• U-No Ballot: Continued from Page 1, by Raymond Uno, page 4. JACL President Raymond Uno recounts his experience speaking at a women’s gathering and his conversation with a University of Utah vice president about Asian American student interests. He discusses the underrepresentation of Japanese Americans in university programs.
• Editor’s Desk: Japan Revisited, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. Editor Harry Honda reports on his trip to Japan with some 700 JACLers, describing Tokyo’s efficient rail system, growing automobile use, and the Nisei community’s continued presence there. He notes that American firms increasingly seek bilingual Nisei representatives in Japan.
• Farm Labor Issue, by Fred Y. Hirasuna, page 6. Fred Hirasuna responds to a previous letter defending the United Farm Workers, questioning the union’s finances, its handling of grievances, and its opposition to supervised representation elections. He argues the union’s actions in the fields warrant scrutiny.
• Cookbook Notice, by Michi Masunaga, page 6. Michi Masunaga writes to report strong demand for the Wesley WSCS Cookbook from across the United States and Hawaii. Proceeds fund church school projects and equipment.
• Sansei Comments, by Lincoln W. Ukai, page 6. Lincoln Ukai reflects with pride on the resilience of Japanese Americans who rebuilt after wartime Evacuation. He sees the younger generation as well-behaved and intelligent and expresses optimism about the future.

Military & Veterans

• Charlie Company and the My Lai Massacre, by Seymour Hersh, page 6. Excerpts from Seymour Hersh’s reporting describe the atrocities committed by Charlie Company at My Lai in March 1968, including the killing of civilians, women, and children. The account details a climate of body count competition and dehumanization of Vietnamese civilians.

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