A retirement plan for JACL staff, and a campaign to repeal the Alien Land Law

Vol. 42, No. 18, May 4, 1956. 8 pages. View this issue

Planning for the JACL’s future ran through the front page of this eight-page issue. George Inagaki reported that the National Council was expected to take up a permanent National Headquarters and a retirement program for the National Staff at the San Francisco convention, with a chairman appointed to study a plan. The Alien Land Law Committee met in Fresno to organize a November ballot proposition to remove the 1920 Alien Land Act from state statutes. Masao Satow reported on that meeting and on membership, nominations and awards. Mike Masaoka’s Washington newsletter followed a civil rights bill in Congress, and the paper covered immigration and refugee quotas.

Columns by Harry K. Honda and Bill Hosokawa offered commentary, Honda on anti-Semitic letters signed as ‘Niseis for Kawakita Society’ and Hosokawa on Japan’s growing population. Bob Okazaki and Larry S. Tajiri traced early Japanese actors and scenarists in Hollywood. Sports, chapter news from across California and the Northwest, and local events fill the later pages.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• Retirement fund for JACL staff studied, by George Inagaki, page 1. The National Council is expected to address a permanent National Headquarters and a retirement program for the JACL National Staff at the San Francisco convention. A chairman has been appointed to study and recommend a retirement plan.
• Portland JACL women’s meeting with Mas Satow, by P.C. Staff, page 4. National JACL Director Mas Satow addressed a women-only meeting of the Portland chapter, reviewing JACL history since 1928. He stressed that the organization must remain active to respond to future emergencies.
• National nominations, by Masao Satow, page 5. Tom Hayashi, chairman of the National Nominating Committee, requests nominee returns from districts by June 30 for the next biennium’s National Board. A final slate will be prepared at the convention.
• Pvt. Ben Frank Masaoka memorial, by Masao Satow, page 5. The 1956 Pvt. Ben Frank Masaoka Memorial Scholarship competition, now in its 11th year, will be announced to chapters. The scholarship is funded by Mrs. Haruye Masaoka.
• National recognitions, by Masao Satow, page 5. Dr. Thomas Yatabe reminds chapters that nominations for Nisei of the Biennium are due July 31. A new JACLer of the Biennium award will be named the Dr. Randolph M. Sakada Memorial Award.

National

• Rid alien land law at election, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Alien Land Law Committee met in Fresno to plan a campaign for a November ballot proposition removing the 1920 Alien Land Act from state statutes. The committee named its chairman, vice-chairmen, treasurer, and members to lead the effort.
• First Issei citizen called for Utah jury, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Henry Kasai, a naturalized Issei, has been summoned for jury duty in Salt Lake City, the first such summons for an Issei there. Rupert Hachiya, local JACL president, was also called to serve a two-month period.
• Reallocation of Asian refugee quota sought, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL Washington representative Mike Masaoka urged that unused Far East refugee visas be reallocated to Japanese refugees with US assurances. He noted fewer than 500 of the 2,000 visas are expected to be used before the Act expires in 1956.
• Use of confidential information in deportation cases being challenged, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A federal test case challenges the use of confidential information in deportation proceedings, filed by the American Jewish Congress on behalf of Czech student Thomas Otto Robitscher. The JACL is following the case because it affects resident Japanese aliens.
• T.H. supreme court may have Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Masaji Marumoto, former president of the Hawaii Bar Association, has been endorsed for appointment to the Territorial Supreme Court. He could become the first Nisei nominated to that court by President Eisenhower.
• Supreme Court ruling on Jim Crowism in intrastate bus travel pondered, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Legal experts in Washington doubt the Supreme Court’s recent bus desegregation decision will be as sweeping as first reported. The article details the Sarah Mae Flemming case and its procedural posture.
• Japan Air Lines buy four DC-7Cs for 1957, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Japan Air Lines announced purchase of four Douglas DC-7Cs for late 1957 delivery, cutting San Francisco to Tokyo flight time from 25 to 17 hours. The purchase meets growing passenger demand until jet airliners arrive around 1960.
• Membership standing, by P.C. Staff, page 4. National JACL Headquarters acknowledged 86 new memberships and renewals for April 15-30. Members were recognized across multiple years and chapters.
• Alien land law, by Masao Satow, page 5. National Director Satow reports on a Fresno meeting setting up an Alien Land Law Committee to push deletion of the 1920 initiative from state statutes. He also thanks Senator Kuchel for remarks protesting a Newsweek letter.
• Washington newsletter: civil rights battle, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. A civil rights bill cleared the House Judiciary Committee, with its provisions based on the Administration’s program. Obstacles in the House Rules Committee and Senate make enactment uncertain this election year.
• Ike proposal ‘hardly compatible’, says Oakland Tribune, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Oakland Tribune criticized the Eisenhower immigration proposal as discriminatory toward Asians, noting it would still limit Asian countries to 200 visas per year. Masaoka’s analysis of the Watkins-Keating bill is also summarized.
• Ike aide proposes congress study on immigration, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Attorney General Brownell proposed a congressional study toward a new immigration policy and urged a 65,000 increase in admissions. He also asked that displaced persons quota mortgages be canceled.

Community

• Salt Lake chapter passes 1955 membership count, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Salt Lake JACL chapter has signed 252 members for 1956, surpassing last year’s total of 247. The chapter hopes to reach its goal of 300 members.
• Judge Aiso to speak at Shonien dedication, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Shonien, the Southern California Japanese Children’s Home, will dedicate its new buildings with Judge John F. Aiso as speaker. Open house will run daily through May 9 with special art pieces on display.
• Bussei launch $100 membership group, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Buddhist Churches of America launched the BCA Century Club, a program of voluntary donors giving $100 a year to support its activities. Fifty pledges have been made and 34 have paid to date.
• Nisei prof granted $6,000 scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Prof. Kenneth K. Murase of the Seattle Social Work Graduate School received a $6,000 Career Teaching Fellowship from the National Mental Health Institute. He will study international social service programs at Columbia University.
• Delinquency, FEPC topics at East L.A. meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The East Los Angeles JACL meeting discussed FEPC and Nisei juvenile delinquency. J.J. Rodriguez of the Community Service Organization spoke on the need for FEPC in Los Angeles.
• Chinese American family disillusioned as new Manhattan Beach home disappears in cloud of bigotry on eve of escrow, by P.C. Staff, page 3. George Moy Lee, an ex-GI, and his wife were denied purchase of a Manhattan Beach home after escrow was reportedly arranged. The Lees had given up their apartment and their wife returned to Chicago with their daughter.
• Teacher and Nisei pupil win visit to Valley Forge, Seattle school cited, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Bailey-Gatzert elementary school in Seattle was honored by the Freedom Foundation for advancing the American way of life. Teacher Eleanor Langworthy and sixth-grader Terry Kato traveled to Valley Forge as representatives.
• Recover body of woman drowned last Christmas, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The body of Mrs. Yoshino Kusaba was recovered in Isleton four months after her car plunged into the Sacramento River with her husband, whose body was found earlier. The couple had been missing since December 22.
• NC-WN district council quarterly meeting in San Jose, golf tournament entry regulations, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Northern California-Western Nevada JACL District Council will meet in San Jose on May 20 with registration, business session, banquet and dance. A golf tournament will also be held with entry rules announced.
• Berkeley community picnic, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Berkeley JACL will sponsor a community picnic on August 19 at Oakland’s Lake Temescal. Races, games, refreshments and prizes are planned.
• Berkeley JACL slates duplicate bridge meet, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Berkeley JACL will hold a duplicate bridge tournament on May 12 at the Berkeley YMCA. Members and friends regardless of experience are welcome.
• Orange County carnival at Buena Park June 30, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The annual Orange County Japanese community carnival will be held June 30 at Buena Park Recreation Park alongside a judo tournament. Talent shows and booths are planned.
• Mothers’ tea on May 11, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Southern Alameda County JACL will honor mothers at its annual Mother’s Day tea on May 11 at Hansen Hall. Games, entertainment and refreshments are planned.
• Sequoia JACL slates two films for voters tonight, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Sequoia JACL will show two films on voting and Americanism at its general meeting at the Palo Alto Buddhist Church. Discussion of the June graduation party and pre-convention rally is also on the agenda.
• Chapters hustle memberships, by Masao Satow, page 5. Nineteen chapters have surpassed their 1955 membership totals, with San Francisco leading at 1,062. Frank Nakamura of Marysville became a 1000 Club Life Member.
• Pacific Northwest meeting, by Masao Satow, page 5. The PNWDC meeting was hosted by the Gresham-Troutdale Chapter, and Satow met with Portland women for an informal discussion on how they could help the local chapter.
• Salt Lake chapter bills five events, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Salt Lake JACL chapter scheduled five events for the coming month, including a girls’ dance, a TV program, a Mother’s Day tea and fashion show, and a Memorial Day service. A graduation dance is also planned.
• Five-year ambition to have silversmith address SWLA JACL to be fulfilled May 9, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Silversmith Harry Osaki will speak and demonstrate his methods at the Southwest L.A. JACL meeting on May 9. He is donating five original art pieces as door prizes.
• Mothers’ tea on May 11 (Southern Alameda), by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Southern Alameda County JACL will hold its annual Mother’s Day tea on May 11. Games and a special prize for the lucky mother are planned.
• Southland Hi-Co conference, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A leadership conference for Southland Nisei collegians and high school students will be held June 16-17 at Forest Home in the San Bernardino mountains. It is sponsored by the Los Angeles JACL Coordinating Council.
• Oakland JACL assists in community-wide Japanese festival, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Oakland JACL members helped stage Bunka Sai, Oakland’s Japanese centennial festival of culture, with fifteen attractions. The festival ends with a dedication luncheon and cherry tree planting on May 5.
• Prewar Japanese YMCA members plan reunion, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A Blazing Arrows reunion dinner for former members of the prewar Japanese YMCA will be held June 3 in San Francisco. A committee is gathering addresses and raising funds to bring Chojiro Numajiri.
• 150 aid in success of Sac’to art fest, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The fourth annual Japanese Flower Festival and Art Show in Sacramento drew over 150 volunteers and featured flower arrangements, pottery and paintings. The week-long show closed at the Crocker Art Gallery.
• Shonien receives big boost, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Los Angeles Buddhist Church Federation donated $1,000 from its annual drive to the new Shonien Japanese Children’s Home. The Nisei Veterans auxiliary also gave $100.
• Western Pioneer Insurance officers announced, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Officers of Western Pioneer Insurance Co. were elected at a directors meeting following a heated stockholders battle. Mike Iwatsubo was re-elected board chairman and Paul Watanabe serves as executive director.
• Settle train wreck claims at $60,000, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Settlement totaling $60,000 was approved for claims arising from a January Santa Fe train wreck that killed William Koga. Frank F. Chuman represented the Nisei survivors.
• Fete men for help in basement project, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The WLA Ladies Guild hosted a sukiyaki dinner for the Buddhist men’s club to thank them for finishing the church basement project.
• Refugee act relief for Japanese orphans, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Under the Refugee Relief Act, about 1,000 Japanese orphans have been granted visas, with the article detailing quota allocations for various refugee groups. The Act enters refugees on nonquota visas.
• A Nisei file for school positions, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Four Nisei are among 179 candidates filing for school district trustee posts in Fresno County. Incumbent George Kitahara and Hajime Hamada are unopposed.
• School secretary wins superior rating third time, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Mrs. Betsy M. Nakashima, secretary at the Phoenix Indian School, received a superior performance award and $50 for the third time. She is the sister of Mrs. Henry Miyata of Covina.

Commentary

• ‘No payoff raiding guarded nest’, by Tats (Sou’wester) Kushida, page 1. The Pacific Citizen’s Anti-Vandalism Fund gathered contributions from supporters after the business office was wrecked. The column also offers wordplay on a Japanese-derived proverb about vandalism.
• Wolf in sheep’s clothing, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. The column warns that racial bigotry is becoming subtler, citing anti-Semitic letters signed as ‘Niseis for Kawakita Society’ circulated in several cities. JACL chapters are urged to watch for the mailings and report to national headquarters.
• 90 million Japanese, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. The column discusses Japan’s rapidly growing population, which is nearing 90 million, and the difficulty of supporting it. It also notes declining juvenile delinquency in Japan and the racial barriers faced by Australian aborigine artist Albert Namatjira.
• Successful scenarist, by Bob Okazaki, page 3. Actor Bob Okazaki continues his history of persons of Japanese ancestry in motion pictures, focusing on early Issei scenarists such as Yutaka Jack Abe. He also profiles Japanese heavies and early child actors in Hollywood.
• Semanticist continues to stir controversy in race relations in talk before Negroes, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Dr. S.I. Hayakawa told a San Francisco State audience that Negroes should stop emphasizing race and pursue other interests. The remarks echoed his earlier advice to Nisei to abandon Nisei-only groups.
• Perspectively yours, by Masao Satow, page 4. The column previews convention public relations efforts for the 14th Biennial in San Francisco and announces the Queen Contest. It also urges prompt pre-registration and package deal payments.
• Vagaries, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 4. Larry Tajiri’s column is continued from the preceding page and covers Hollywood history of early Japanese actors including Masajiro Kaihatsu. It traces his film credits and family background.
• International trade fair, by Elmer Ogawa, page 6. Elmer Ogawa previews the International Trade Fair in Seattle and notes growing respect for Japanese quality goods and design. He cites the growing popularity of Japanese cameras in the U.S.
• Emerald Ball, by Henry Mori, page 7. East Los Angeles JACL prepares its Emerald Ball in Santa Monica, aiming to make it a community-wide traditional event. The chapter also runs a theater ticket project and works toward a 400-member goal.
• Very truly yours: Wolf in sheep’s clothing (continued), by Harry K. Honda, page 7. Honda continues his column on the anti-Semitic letters signed by ‘Niseis for Kawakita Society’ and their circulation to Jewish groups. He notes the JACL has alerted the FBI and postal authorities.
• New twist, by George Kanno, page 8. A letter writer describes how the North Santa Ana Home Owners Association buys homes to keep Negro buyers out of the neighborhood. The writer questions how such exclusion serves community health and welfare.

Military & Veterans

• Festival float wins top prize, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Japanese community entry in the Festival of Progress parade, marking San Francisco’s Earthquake and Fire anniversary, won the top $750 prize. The float was designed by Hatsuro Aizawa and featured several local children.
• Santa Barbara ROTC cadet wins top honors, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Cadet Henry Koga of the Santa Barbara College ROTC won the Association of the U.S. Army award for outstanding first-year advanced course cadet. He was previously a member of the 1st Cavalry Division.
• Memorial services slated in Seattle, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Community-wide Memorial Day services will be held May 30 at the Nisei War Monument in Lakeview Cemetery, sponsored by the Seattle Nisei Veterans Committee.
• New commander picked for L.A. Nisei VFW post, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Johnny Takayanagi of Venice was named commander of the Nisei Memorial Post 9938 VFW in Los Angeles.

Sports

• Northwest mat star eliminated in U.S. Olympic wrestling try, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Mitsuru Tamura of Gladstone, Oregon, lost in the first round of U.S. Olympic wrestling trials to Manuel Pihakia. Tamura had been the Pacific Northwest flyweight champion.
• Warm weather aids Nishita win, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Bill Nishita pitched a seven-hitter for his first professional win as Montreal defeated Havana 6-3. Earlier, Nishita had been knocked out after two and two-thirds innings in a debut loss at Columbus.
• Grid prospects for Cal colleges seen, by George Yoshinaga, page 6. Columnist George Yoshinaga previews several Nisei football prospects at California colleges, including Ken Matsuda at San Jose State and Mitch Yamamoto at COP. He also notes Hideki Hamamoto may play at UCLA.
• OC JAYs cage tournament title won by hosts, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Orange County JAYs won their own basketball tournament in Garden Grove, defeating Senshin YBA 58-45 in the final. Ginza Sukiyaki finished third.

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