Election eve 1966: Washington’s SJR 20 and California’s Prop. 15

Vol. 63, No. 19, November 4, 1966. 6 pages. View this issue

Two ballot measures ran through the news of this six-page issue, published days before the November 8 election. Jerry Enomoto, the JACL National President, urged Washington chapters to back SJR 20, which would repeal the state’s alien land law, and Californians to vote yes on Prop. 15, which would excuse elderly naturalized citizens from literacy requirements. Mike Masaoka made the same case in his column, and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer’s editorial on SJR 20 was reported on page 1. Nisei attorneys in Southern California also urged re-election of five state Supreme Court justices.

Elsewhere, Bill Hosokawa began a series on his travels in Japan, and Elmer Ogawa wrote about a mushroom hunt on the Olympic Peninsula. Richard Gima reported on a 101st birthday in Honolulu, and a front-page article traced Tadaatsu Matsudaira, an engineer in Colorado and Wyoming. Karen Hanamoto reflected on the national convention, and the editorial and a reader’s letter debated JACL’s nonpartisan policy.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Election Eve, by Jerry Enomoto, page 1. JACL National President Jerry Enomoto urges Washington chapters to support SJR 20 and Californians to vote yes on Prop. 15 in the November 8 election. He argues JACLers should evaluate candidates on issues like fair housing, employment, and social welfare rather than party affiliation.
• On Leadership, by Mas Satow, page 1. JACL Director Mas Satow distinguishes between born leaders and leaders who achieve their position through service, study, and organizational skill. He argues good leadership actively involves members and builds lasting organizational strength beyond any individual leader.
• Ballot Issues, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Washington Representative Mike Masaoka urges voters in Washington and California to support SJR 20 and Prop. 15 in the November 8 election. He argues both measures carry significant meaning for Japanese Americans nationwide.
• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Bill Hosokawa describes his travels through Japan, noting the crowding of cities and popular sites and the rapid industrial development. He contrasts the bustle of Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya with the tranquility he found at Kinkakuji in Kyoto.
• Nikkei View: Convention Afterthoughts, by Karen Hanamoto, page 5. A young adult member reflects on the national JACL convention, noting the age gap between Juniors and Seniors. She argues JACL must become more relevant to young adults whose connections to World War II are minimal.
• Political Participation, page 6. The editorial discusses JACL’s nonpartisan policy under its constitution, which permits political involvement when the welfare or civil rights of persons of Japanese ancestry are directly affected. It questions how long this policy can hold and urges voters to cast intelligent, wise ballots.
• Political Issues, by Dr. David M. Miura, page 6. A letter to the editor defends JACL’s involvement with the Friends of Sparky and Patsy committee and objects to the Democratic slant of certain columns. The writer, Dr. Miura, argues that legislators’ voting records on Japanese American issues are legitimately reported.

National

• Nisei attorneys back re-election of high court men, page 1. Southern California Nisei attorneys, through an ad hoc committee led by Frank Chuman, urge re-election of five California Supreme Court justices. They defend judicial independence against backlash over the court’s invalidation of Prop. 14.
• Prop. 15 benefits Issei, page 1. A letter from JACL leaders asks the San Francisco Examiner to reconsider its opposition to Prop. 15, which would excuse literacy requirements for elderly naturalized citizens. The letter argues these older Issei were barred from citizenship until late in life and are productive taxpaying residents.
• Without ‘alien land law’ phrase may help passage, page 1. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer editorially urged passage of SJR 20 to repeal Washington’s alien land law, noting the ballot title omits the phrase. The editorial cites recruitment of skilled workers, trade relations, and unequal treatment of Canadians as reasons for repeal.
• Demo victory in Hawaii seen, by Allan Beekman, page 1. Allan Beekman reports that a Honolulu newspaper editorial endorsing Governor John Burns suggests a Democratic victory in Hawaii’s general election. He notes Burns’s improved standing after a primary setback and the absence of scandal in his administration.
• Can I Be Naturalized After Asking an Exemption from Military Service?, page 5. A reader asks whether a long-term resident who sought exemption from military service during World War I can still be naturalized. The answer explains that such an exemption does not necessarily bar naturalization and suggests consulting an attorney.

Military & Veterans

• Pure Hawaiian heads all-white Eagles Aerie, page 1. A full-blooded Hawaiian, George P.W. Hookano, leads the local Eagles chapter, which follows a national whites-only membership policy. Attempts to revise the clause at the national convention failed, though the subject is scheduled for reconsideration.
• Hey, Wait for Me!, by Denny Nishida, page 4. A Minneapolis-St. Paul Junior JACL column describes a progressive Hawaiian-style dinner held by the chapter in August. Members visited multiple homes for courses and games before ending the evening with dancing.

Community

• CCDC chapters to host election rally Nov. 7, page 1. JACL chapters of the Central California District Council will hold a public meeting in Fresno on statewide propositions and elections. The meeting will be conducted in English and Japanese.
• Salt Lake not going to up chapter dues, page 1. The Salt Lake JACL board voted to keep local dues at $6 per member despite a $1 National dues increase. Chapter president Tubber Okuda explained that the chapter will rely on fundraising events to cover operating costs.
• Christmas Cheer appeal still to be made but $75 already acknowledged, page 1. The 19th annual Christmas Cheer project in Los Angeles received early donations totaling $75 before its mail solicitation began. Committee chairman George Fujita set a $2,500 goal and noted that canned goods and personal items will no longer be accepted.
• NC-WNDC JACL-CPS group health plan to close open enrollment Nov. 15, page 1. The JACL-CPS group health program’s open enrollment period for Northern California and Western Nevada members closes November 15. Administrative committee chairman John Yasumoto emphasized the plan’s group coverage and reasonable rates.
• Apartment owners ruining aloha spirit, say students, page 2. African students at the University of Hawaii report being refused rental housing by Honolulu landlords on the basis of race. The International Student Office says the problem has arisen only with African students.
• Matsutake Safari, by Elmer Ogawa, page 3. Elmer Ogawa recounts a mushroom hunting trip on the Olympic Peninsula with Joe Tsujimoto and others during a dry summer. The group found only modest yields, and the specimens lacked the characteristic matsutake flavor.
• 101st Birthday Celebrated, by Richard Gima, page 6. Richard Gima reports on the 101st birthday of Dr. Ichitare Katsuki in Honolulu, a retired physician who came to the United States in 1885. The column also covers campaign spending, political endorsements, and labor statistics in Hawaii.

In-Depth

• Matsudaira: First Issei Engineer, page 1. The article traces Tadaatsu Matsudaira, a young Japanese attaché who arrived with the 1872 Iwakura mission and later became a civil engineer in the American West. It recounts his work in Colorado and Wyoming and his death in Denver in 1888.

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