Apartheid and Asians, plus scholarship and civil rights news

Vol. 50, No. 18, April 29, 1960. 8 pages. View this issue

An editorial reprinted on the front page looked at how South Africa’s apartheid policies, including the Group Areas Act, treated the Chinese community, who were classed as non-white. It noted parallels with the Nisei experience. Civil rights ran through the issue: Congress sent the Civil Rights Act of 1960 to the White House after a 288-95 House vote, and Mike Masaoka’s column on page 8 explained how the bill was reduced to a voting rights measure. A Hawaii advisory committee reported bias only in private clubs.

JACL chapters could now nominate candidates for the 1960 Pvt. Ben Masaoka Memorial Scholarship and a new Tokichi Matsuoka scholarship, each worth $200. Also inside: Harry K. Honda’s Editor’s Desk on the cost of JACL membership, a San Francisco survey of Japanese-born wives of servicemen, and chapter news, Boy Scout honors and sports, including the JACL Relays set for May 15.

What’s in this issue

National

• How Orientals Fare in South Africa, by H.H., page 1. The editorial examines South Africa’s apartheid policies, including the Group Areas Act, and how they affect the Chinese community, who are classed as non-white. It notes parallels between Chinese restrictions in South Africa and the experience of Nisei.
• Hawaii civil rights group reports bias in private clubs, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Hawaii State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission reported that the islands are free of racial discrimination except in private clubs. The committee found no discrimination in education, justice, housing, transportation, voting, or government employment.
• Congress sends 1960 civil rights bill to White House, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Congress sent the Civil Rights Act of 1960 to the White House after the House voted 288-95 to accept the Senate-passed measure, which mainly extends federal protection of Negro voting rights. The House approved the bill as the Senate had passed it.
• Nisei celery grower, embroiled in labor dispute, can’t use imported farm workers, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Oxnard Nisei celery grower Lester Katsura was denied use of imported Japanese and Mexican farm labor during a labor dispute. Immigration officials removed Japanese workers after the union called them strikebreakers, and the Labor Department barred Mexican nationals from replacing striking workers.
• Kaifuku in duress not expatriating, by P.C. Staff, page 2. U.S. District Judge William M. Byrne ruled that Masami Yamachika of Buena Park did not lose his citizenship when he recovered Japanese status in 1942 under duress. The judge found the recovery was not voluntary given the pressures exerted by special higher police during the war.
• Two’s a crowd: Orientals and Negroes classed together in home buyer grading system, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Michigan Attorney General Paul L. Adams accused a Grosse Pointe property owners group of discriminating against home buyers through a point system that awards Orientals and Negroes no points. Adams said he was considering action against the groups.
• Voting rights statute passed, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. The House voted 288 to 95 to accept Senate amendments to the Civil Rights Act of 1960, reducing it to primarily a voting rights statute sent to the White House. The article explains how Southern Democrats and conservative Republicans stripped the bill of school desegregation and fair employment provisions.
• International Institute to survey life of soldier brides in San Francisco area, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The International Institute of San Francisco will survey Japanese-born wives of American servicemen, estimated at up to 2,000 in the area, with a $13,000 Rosenberg Foundation grant. Interviewer Chizuko Tsutsumi will study their adjustment, building on JACL’s earlier work on the Soldier Brides Act.

JACL

• Seek nominations for National JACL scholarships, one candidate per chapter, by JACL News Service, page 1. Chapters may now submit nominees for the 1960 Pvt. Ben Masaoka Memorial Scholarship and a new Tokichi Matsuoka scholarship, each worth $200. Letters of nomination should be sent to the National JACL Scholarship Committee in San Francisco.
• Wakamatsu to talk at EDC session on ’60-’70 planning, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL President Shig Wakamatsu will speak at the Eastern District Council dinner in Washington on May 14 about the national convention and JACL program goals for the 1960-70 decade. The two-day meeting is chaired by Harry Takagi.
• Min.PDC selects coed for oratorical, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Joanne Yamaguchi of Ft. Lupton was chosen winner of the Mountain-Plains District Council oratorical contest and will represent the district at the national contest in Sacramento. She was selected at the 15th annual Nisei Intercollegiate Conference in Denver.

Obituaries

• Dental worker succumbs, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dan D. Sato, 39, a Seattle dental laboratory owner and former San Jose resident who served in the Military Intelligence Corps in World War II, died April 18 in Hawaii after a heart attack. The brief notice recounts his background.

Community

• East L.A. youth earns high Boys’ Week post, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Edward Sakata, a 17-year-old Garfield High School senior, serves as county supervisor for the Third District during Boys’ Week in Los Angeles. He previously served as student body president and treasurer and plans to become a chemical engineer.
• Eight Sansei Eagles honored at Crown City court of honor, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Eight of nine Eagle Scouts honored at the Crown City district court of honor in Pasadena were Sansei members of Troop 41. Scoutmaster Mack Yamaguchi and Explorer Post adviser Sel Dyo stood with the new Eagles.
• Nisei florists to enter Las Floristas contest, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Flower View Gardens, owned by Arthur and Mrs. Ito, will compete in the 22nd annual Las Floristas Headdress Ball televised on KTTV. Their entry for 1960 is titled Three Little Fishes, following their earlier win with Around the World in 80 Days.
• Parlier women shift cooking show date, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Parlier JACL Auxiliary rescheduled its cooking demonstration to May 5 due to a conflict. At the April meeting, county home adviser Georgia Wren spoke on family business papers such as wills and insurance.
• Family night planned for Mile-Hi JACLers, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Mile-Hi JACL will hold a Family Night of food, fun, and games on May 7 at the Tri-State Buddhist Church. Proceeds will support an Issei Appreciation dinner planned for June 5.
• Chicago Jr. JACL plans youth festival May 21-22 as benefit, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Chicago JACL chapter plans a two-day Youth Festival on May 21 and 22 to raise funds for youth and community service programs. The Junior division will sponsor a queen contest and dance, with the parent chapter helping with the event.
• Sonoma County JACLer serves on Cal-Kids board, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Ed Ohki, a Sonoma County JACL leader, was elected to the board of directors of Cal-Kids, Inc., a youth-focused organization sponsored by the Knights of Pythias. He is the first Nisei elected to office in this fraternal group.
• Jack Hirose elected head of Golden Gate Optimists, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Jack Hirose was chosen president of the Golden Gate Optimist Club, succeeding Frank Ogawa. Mas Oishi, Tosh Minamoto, and Marshall Sumida were elected vice presidents.
• Sonoma County JACL activities focus on youth program, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Sonoma County JACL is busy with youth-focused activities, including selecting the winner of the second annual Pioneer Memorial Scholarship and a chow mein benefit for the Analy High World Affairs Club. The chapter also plans a family conference with local young adult Buddhists.
• Santa Maria Valley elects Jun Miyoshi, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Jun Miyoshi was announced as president of the Santa Maria Valley JACL along with other newly elected officers. Joe Honda, Yoneo Hirakami, Yaichiro Minami, Mary Uyeki, and Bill Kashiwagi filled the remaining posts.
• Calvin Abe named Boy of the Month, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Calvin Abe, a sixth grader at Spreckels School in Salinas, was named Boy of the Month for March by the Salinas Valley Center Optimist Club. His older brother Ryan received similar honors three years earlier.
• Inclement weather hits Placer picnic, by George Makimoto, page 5. Placer County JACL’s 12th annual community picnic was postponed from its scheduled Sunday to the following week due to weather. The Issei entertainment program still took place at the Placer Buddhist church hall as planned.
• Board vacancy filled, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Jimmie Mametsuka was appointed to fill a vacancy on the San Francisco JACL executive board after Dr. Leo Nakayama resigned. Mametsuka is a produce department manager for a local supermarket and a VFW vice-commander.
• D.C. JACL hear members talk on space and heat, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Washington D.C. JACL members Harold Horiuchi and Dr. George Furukawa spoke on their work in electronics for space technology and thermodynamics at the Bureau of Standards. The May 28 program will show the film Go For Broke.
• Venice-Culver JACL meeting May 13, police speaker on juvenile delinquency, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Venice-Culver JACL will host a Los Angeles police speaker on juvenile delinquency at its May 13 general meeting. The chapter also plans a booth at the Community Center carnival and a teenage dance on June 3.
• East L.A. membership dinner-dance tomorrow, by P.C. Staff, page 5. East Los Angeles JACL closes its annual membership drive with a dinner-dance at Swally’s Restaurant. The chapter will also introduce its Nisei Week queen candidate at the sixth annual Emerald Ball on May 28.
• Pioneer Issei lady Mrs. Yasui dies, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Mrs. Yasui, 73, a pioneer Issei who came to the United States in 1912, died April 23 in Portland, Oregon. She was survived by five sons, two daughters, and 22 grandchildren, including several active JACL members.
• Seattle community group picks retired school teacher for Man of Year award, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Mrs. Ross W. Daubney, a retired Seattle grade school teacher, was named Man of the Year by the Jackson Street Community Council for her decades of work with children and community betterment. She has remained highly active in community affairs since retiring in 1955.
• Superior performance, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Mrs. T. (Sugi) Takahashi received an Incentive Award from the U.S. Air Force Ballistic Missiles Center in Inglewood for her superior performance. She is a former Cheyenne, Wyoming resident.

Arts & Entertainment

• Malt tossed into face of Miiko Taka in film, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Variety columnist Army Archerd reported that Miiko Taka was greeted with a malt in her face in her first scene of the film Hell to Eternity. The item contrasts this with her earlier role in Sayonara, where she won Marlon Brando from Pat Owens.

Military & Veterans

• Nisei architect named UW most distinguished alumnus, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Minoru Yamasaki, a Seattle native and Detroit architect, was named the University of Washington’s Most Distinguished Alumnus for 1960. His works include the American Consulate General in Kobe, Japan, and he will receive an honorary scroll in June.
• Nisei kegler wins first in Maryland state tourney, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Warrant Officer Frank M. Shimamoto won the first annual Maryland State bowling tournament handicap all-events with 2016 pins at Aberdeen’s Ideal Bowling Lanes. He is stationed at Ft. Meade.
• Active Sacramento JACLer-veteran dies, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Matao Daikai, active in veterans and JACL circles in Sacramento, died April 22 at his home at age 39 after an extended illness. He is survived by his mother, three brothers, and a sister.

Commentary

• Editor’s Desk: For eight cents a week, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. The editor reports that a pilot program in San Diego and Long Beach-Harbor chapters added about 300 readers to the Pacific Citizen under a PC with Membership plan. He argues that a dues increase of about eight cents a week is reasonable for the benefits JACL provides.
• Setting the record straight, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. The editor corrects a report that JACL Convention Queen Linda Yatabe would appear in a San Francisco parade, explaining she instead planned to attend the PSWDC pre-convention rally in Orange County on May 22. He notes that Disneyland hotel reservations were made by members for the same weekend.

Sports

• Northern California Nisei golfers in 1960 tourney, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A field of 189 golfers prepares for the Northern California Nisei Golf Association tournament at Pebble Beach on April 30 to May 1. Veteran players and younger contenders are expected to compete for over $1,000 in trophies and merchandise.
• Many JACL Nisei Relays records expected to fall as meet slated at University High track, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Preparations are final for the ninth annual JACL Relays on May 15 at University High in West Los Angeles. Many records are expected to fall on the city’s fastest school track.

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