A Lechner resolution fight, chapter elections and a Cable Act history

Vol. 52, No. 8, February 24, 1961. 4 pages. View this issue

The Lechner resolution drew the most attention in this four-page issue. Elmer Ogawa wrote about the Assembly Rules Committee hearing, describing Frank Chuman’s testimony and the committee’s decision to table the matter. The front page reported that the Northern California-Western Nevada District Council, meeting in Contra Costa, discussed the resolution and adopted a new flexible quota. Mike Masaoka considered how the Kennedy administration’s Asian policy might affect Japan’s standing and, with it, Japanese Americans. Bill Hosokawa profiled Albert Bonus, a Seattle friend of Japanese Americans.

Elsewhere, chapter news covered new officers in Cleveland, Reno, Imperial Valley, Hollywood and Los Angeles. Page 4 carries an installment on the 1931 campaign to amend the Cable Act, with the Los Angeles JACL’s part in it. Shorter items cover Nisei appointments, a warning about drug use among youth, and a bill for a deportable Issei mother.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Recalled NC-WNDC Meet Held in Contra Costa, page 1. The first quarterly meeting of the Northern California-Western Nevada District Council was hosted by the Contra Costa JACL chapter on Feb. 12. The council adopted a new flexible quota and discussed legislative and youth program matters.
• Monterey Nisei VFW Commander Honored, page 1. George Nukashina, newly elected commander of Monterey VFW Post 1629, was appointed aide-de-camp to the National VFW Commander. The honor was reported in a brief notice.
• San Francisco Nisei Named to GOP Central Committee, page 1. Raymond Konagai, a precinct chairman in the 22nd Assembly District, was appointed to the Republican county central committee. He is a graduate of Los Angeles City College and UC Berkeley.
• Dr. Henry Takahashi Appointed Berkeley Planning Official, page 1. Berkeley-born optometrist Dr. Henry Takahashi was appointed to the seven-member Berkeley City Planning Commission. The commission handles key city issues including harbor reclamation and highway planning.
• Pat Ando Candidate for Nisei Relays Queen, page 1. Pat Ando, 17, was sponsored by West Los Angeles JACL as the first candidate for the 10th annual Nisei Relays queen contest. Candidates are judged on personality, beauty, poise and speech.
• Omaha Council Honors Three Nisei, page 1. The Omaha JACL Council awarded life memberships to three honorees. The recognition was given for their community service.
• Mid-Columbia Chapter Re-elects Veteran Leader Takasumi, page 1. Mits Takasumi, a longtime JACLer, began his third term as Mid-Columbia JACL president. His cabinet was announced and the chapter has had a strong membership drive.
• Juvenile Delinquency Among Nisei Youth Reported, page 1. JAY president Roy Yamadera reported that some Nisei youth in East Los Angeles were arrested for narcotics and other offenses. He urged parents to take more interest in their children’s activities.
• Taro Kawa Elected Los Angeles County GOP Group Chairman, page 1. Downtown Los Angeles JACLer Taro Kawa was elected president of the Los Angeles County Republican Assembly. He is owner of the Enbun Co.
• Stockton Nisei Appointed to District School Board, page 1. Hideo Morinaka of Bishop Tract was appointed to the Venice school district board of trustees. He succeeds Thomas Yagi.
• Juvenile Drug Use Warning for Nisei Parents, page 1. Capt. B. James Glavas warned that Japanese youth in some Los Angeles areas are using barbiturates and amphetamines. JAY urged parents to monitor their children’s off-school activities and companions.
• Cleveland Installs Two Cabinets and Honors Two Members, page 3. Dr. Toru Ishiyama was installed as Cleveland JACL president, and Silver Pins were awarded to Henry Tanaka and Mine Iwasaki. A new Senior JACL was also installed at the event.
• Reno Chapter Elects Mrs. Yoshie Fujii President, page 3. Mrs. Yoshie Fujii was chosen Reno JACL president for a second year. Her cabinet members were also announced.
• Imperial Valley JACL Elects George Kodama, page 3. George Kodama was elected 1961 president of the Imperial Valley JACL, and the cabinet members were listed. The chapter announced its new leadership.
• Southwest L.A. Chapter Invited to Crenshaw Athletic Center, page 3. The Southwest L.A. JACL will have use of the Crenshaw Athletic Center facilities on March 5. Admission is limited to chapter members, with membership sign-ups available at the door.
• New Members Get Blue Chip Stamps, page 3. The National JACL offered Blue Chip Stamps as an incentive for new membership sign-ups. Chapters were encouraged to meet membership quotas.
• Hollywood Chapter Elects Fred Taomae, page 4. Fred Taomae was elected president of the Hollywood JACL chapter. He is editor of the Rafu Shimpo and is active with the community.

National

• Kennedy Administration and United States-Japan Relations, by Mike Masaoka, page 1. Masaoka examines whether the incoming Kennedy administration will shift U.S. Asian policy away from Japan toward other nations. He argues that Japanese Americans’ acceptance depends on the status Japan holds with the United States.
• Mosk Urges Law to Void Restrictive Covenants, page 1. State Attorney General Stanley Mosk said a state law is needed to void restrictive real estate covenants that bar minority ownership. He noted the state lacks power to enforce such provisions under court decisions.
• Bill Re-introduced for Deportable Issei Mother, page 1. Sen. Wallace Bennett reintroduced a bill to extend the deportation stay for Mrs. Takimi Yamada, mother of a Utah resident. She had overstayed her visa while caring for her sick daughter.
• New Orleans Integration Viewed by Rev. Komuro, page 1. Rev. Harry Komuro, superintendent of the Hawaii Methodist Mission, commented on the New Orleans school integration crisis. He said the situation shows how democracy can be jeopardized by vicious interests.

JACL

• Five Chapters Reach All-Time Highs in 1961, page 1. Headquarters membership records show several chapters reached all-time membership highs this year. San Francisco led with 1,227 members in 1960.
• Chapter Presidents and Board Installed in Los Angeles, page 4. The Los Angeles JACL chapter installed its new board and officers for 1961. Chapter leaders discussed membership and program plans for the year.

Military & Veterans

• 250 Mainland Nisei Sign for 1961 Reunion, page 1. About 250 mainland Nisei have registered for the 1961 national Nisei Veterans reunion in Honolulu. Vice-President Lyndon Johnson has been invited to speak.

Commentary

• Lechner Hearing Before Assembly Rules Committee, by Elmer Ogawa, page 2. Elmer Ogawa reports on the Assembly Rules Committee hearing on the Lechner resolution, describing Frank Chuman’s effective testimony. He notes Lechner’s questionable credentials and the committee’s decision to table the matter.
• Our Longtime Friend, Mr. Bonus, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Bill Hosokawa profiles Albert Bonus, a Seattle friend of Japanese Americans who gave gifts to patients and spoke out against wartime evacuation hostility. Hosokawa describes Bonus’s long record of quiet support.

Obituaries

• Maryknoll Brother Stanislaus Krammer Dies, page 3. Brother Stanislaus Krammer of the Maryknoll Mission in Los Angeles died last Sunday. He is remembered by Nisei who attended Hewitt School.

In-Depth

• For the Nisei Women: Cable Act Amendment, page 4. This installment examines the 1931 campaign to amend the Cable Act, which stripped women citizens who married aliens ineligible for citizenship of their U.S. citizenship. It traces the Los Angeles JACL’s role and the controversy over the proposed amendments.

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.