Hawaii’s primaries, a civil rights bill’s defeat and Native American teens

Vol. 63, No. 14, September 30, 1966. 6 pages. View this issue

A mix of political news and community stories filled this six-page issue. Jerry Enomoto, JACL’s national president, defended the University of California’s leadership in his column. Mike Masaoka reported that the Senate failed to end debate on the Civil Rights Act of 1966, and he also announced a committee to help re-elect Congressmen Spark Matsunaga and Patsy Mink. Allan Beekman previewed Hawaii’s October 1 primary. A page 4 report described a UCLA study of young American Indians in Los Angeles, and Bill Hosokawa wrote about the Soviet Aeroflot agreement with Japan Air Lines.

Other pieces covered the House’s repeal of the “cooly trade” laws, Eugene V. Rostow’s appointment as a State Department undersecretary, and Japan’s first satellite launch, which failed to reach orbit. Sister city news came from Kent and Delano, and Tamotsu Murayama traced a descendant of a member of the 1860 Grand Embassy. Dr. George Miyake continued as chairman of the JACL Endowment Fund Committee, and the Placer County JACL float won the governor’s trophy.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• The University, by Jerry Enomoto, page 1. Enomoto defends the University of California’s leadership during recent turmoil and criticizes the State Superintendent of Public Instruction for irresponsible public attacks on the university. He argues the official’s conduct lacks the dignity and objectivity his office requires.
• The Classless Society, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa remarks on the irony of the Soviet Aeroflot joint service agreement with Japan Air Lines, given the USSR’s claim to be classless. He notes first and second class seating on Soviet aircraft and disputes over profit sharing.
• A Masterpiece, by Tom Shimasaki, page 4. Shimasaki praises the National JACL Council’s Civil Rights Resolution from the San Diego Convention as well-crafted. He urges JACL to address Nisei civil rights issues such as the Washington Alien Land Law and anti-miscegenation laws.
• Human Relations, by Phil Hayasaka, page 5. Hayasaka reports that Al Westberg stepped down as chairman of the Los Angeles human relations commission due to a growing legal practice. His colleagues honored him, and Barney Poor and Bill Leckenby were named as successors.
• D.C. News Notes: Let’s Revamp the JACL, by Zebra, page 6. A satirical column proposes that JACL membership be turned over to teenagers, who are described as intelligent, enthusiastic, and financially solvent. The writer suggests forming a Senior JACL auxiliary to learn the basics of being a JACLer.
• Why Can I Petition for My Parents as Immediate Relatives But Not for My Brother?, by P.C. Staff, page 6. An immigration question explains that minor children of immediate relatives do not receive the same privilege as parents, so a 12-year-old brother must wait under the oversubscribed fifth preference. Once the parents become permanent residents, they may petition for him as a second preference relative.

Community

• Japan’s First Satellite Lofted, Fails to Orbit, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Japan launched its first artificial satellite on Sept. 26, but the third-stage booster went off course and it failed to reach orbit. Officials at the Uchinoura launch site in Kyushu blamed trouble with the four-stage Lambda 4S rocket after stage separation.
• JACL Float Wins Governor’s Trophy, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Placer County JACL float won the governor’s trophy among top prizes at the Auburn District Fair parade on Sept. 18. The parade featured some 250 entries and about 1,000 participants.
• Chinese Immigrants Inundating New York City But Not Hawaii, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hawaii has absorbed new Oriental immigrants under liberalized immigration law without welfare problems, while New York’s Chinatown is overwhelmed. Applications to Hawaii roughly doubled to about 20 a month.
• Youth Arrested for Scout Shooting, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Police in Chicago arrested six youths in connection with the Sept. 16 shooting of Sansei Explorer Scout James Kanki, who was recovering from a head wound. Two of the suspects are alleged to have fired the shots.
• Study of Nisei Attitudes on American Political Practices Underway, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ralph Bunch, a University of Oregon doctoral candidate and Portland JACL member, is conducting a study of Japanese American attitudes toward political practices. He plans to interview over 100 randomly chosen families from Portland’s Japanese American community.
• Nursery Wholesaler Praised, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Governor Brown commended George S. Oki of Oki Nursery, Sacramento, on completing his tenure as the first Japanese American president of the California Association of Nurserymen. The Oki family founded the nursery in 1907.
• Gardena S&L Changes Hands, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Stockholders of West Bay Financial Corp approved selling Gardena Savings & Loan Association to Union Federal Savings and Loan Association. The Gardena office will become Union Federal’s fifth regional branch.
• Sister Cities Formalize Affiliation, by Elmer Ogawa, page 4. Kent, Washington formalized a sister city relationship with Kaibara, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, after a year of negotiations. The two communities share similar population and industrial growth patterns.
• Sister City Visitors Antidote for Delano Unrest, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Five visitors from Delano’s sister city of Arida toured the community, which local officials said demonstrated the city’s freedom from bigotry during summer farm unrest. The visit included radio appearances and local hospitality.

National

• Dr. Miyake Reappointed to Fund Group, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL President Jerry Enomoto appointed Fresno optometrist Dr. George Miyake chairman of the National JACL Endowment Fund Committee. The fund, with a million-dollar goal, is estimated at $430,000 and supports JACL operations.
• Hawaiians to Vote in Primaries, by Allan Beekman, page 1. Hawaii’s October 1 primary features a Democratic contest for lieutenant governor between Tom Gill and Kenneth Brown, with Governor Burns backing Brown but Gill expected to win. The split may help Republicans in the November general election.
• Wartime Enemy Data Declassified by U.S., by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Defense Department declassified some 60,000 German and Japanese research documents captured after World War II. The microfilmed materials were transferred to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
• Radiation May Boost Hawaiian Fruits to U.S., by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Atomic Energy Commission reported that radiation preservation extended shelf life of Hawaiian papayas and controlled mango seed weevil, which could allow mango shipments to the Mainland. Rep. Spark Matsunaga, a strong supporter of radiation agricultural development, was informed of the results.
• Evacuation Critic Appointed No. 3 Man in State Dept., by P.C. Staff, page 1. Eugene V. Rostow was named undersecretary of state for international economic affairs, the third-ranking post in the State Department. Rostow had earlier called the Evacuation the ‘greatest wartime mistake.’
• House Repeals Cooly Trade Laws, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House unanimously passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Spark Matsunaga to repeal the ‘cooly trade’ laws prohibiting procurement of Oriental persons as servants or laborers. The JACL endorsed the bill and is requesting Senate Judiciary Committee action.
• Mainlanders for Matsunaga & Mink Formed, by Mike Masaoka, page 1. A bipartisan national committee called the Mainland Friends of Sparky and Patsy has been organized to help re-elect Congressmen Spark Matsunaga and Patsy Mink. Coordinator Mike Masaoka urged Japanese Americans to contribute to their campaigns.
• Study Reveals Young Indians Adapt to Los Angeles, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A UCLA Summer Ethnographic Field School study found that young American Indians in Los Angeles adapt well to urban life, retaining Indian pride while embracing teen culture. The study surveyed 158 households and found most prefer city life to reservations.

In-Depth

• Grand Embassy Kin Discovered, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 1. A granddaughter of Masaoki Shimmi, first envoy of the 1860 Grand Embassy, has been identified as the poet Byakuren Yanagihara, also known as Mrs. Akiko Miyazaki. The article traces her family’s history from the Tokugawa era through the Meiji period.

Incarceration & Redress

• Civil Rights End, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. The Senate failed to invoke cloture on the House-passed Civil Rights Act of 1966, ending civil rights legislative prospects for the session. Masaoka analyzes the votes and blames partisan dynamics and urban unrest for the defeat.

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