JACL chapters elect new leaders as 1959 begins

Vol. 48, No. 1, January 2, 1959. 8 pages. View this issue

Chapter elections and installations filled the first issue of 1959. New presidents were named in Venice-Culver, Salinas Valley, Sonoma County, San Diego, Marysville and East Los Angeles, and installation dinners were announced for January in several of them. On the front page, Mrs. George Tsuruoka became a naturalized citizen while a patient at Fresno County Hospital, and two Venice High School students returned $4,000 they found in a paper bag. A fair employment ordinance in San Mateo and an Anti-Defamation League complaint against 25 Los Angeles firms put job discrimination in the news.

Other pages carry a recollection of the 1953 mass naturalization of 126 Issei in Bridgeton, New Jersey, and a look ahead to the JACL bowling tournament in Los Angeles in March. Elmer Ogawa wrote from Seattle about the campaign to repeal Washington’s anti-alien land law, and Mike Masaoka forecast the 86th Congress. The sports page follows Nisei athletes, from jockey Mitchell Shirota to prep football stars.

What’s in this issue

Community

  • War Bride Studies for Naturalization While in Hospital, Discharged as Citizen, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mrs. George Tsuruoka, a Japanese war bride receiving tuberculosis treatment at Fresno County Hospital, became a naturalized citizen while still a patient. She studied for her citizenship exam in the hospital and set an example for other patients.
  • Sansei Youth Return $4,000 Found in Bag Given Them to Wrap, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Kenichi Maruyama and Gene Horito, Venice High School students, found $4,000 in cash in a paper bag from a Culver City war surplus store and returned it to the manager. The store manager rewarded each boy $50 for their honesty.
  • Nisei Sets Precedent at High School, Second in Family to Win Student Prexy, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Ken Hayami Kato was elected student body president of Fremont High School in Los Angeles, following his brother Art who held the post in 1955. The 17-year-old senior plans to study chemistry at UC Berkeley on a scholarship.
  • Kawasaki to Head Chicago J.A. Group, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Corky T. Kawasaki was elected chairman of the Chicago Japanese American Council, a coalition of organizations that meets as needed. The group recently sent $4,000 to Japanese Red Cross flood relief and is running a campaign for victims of a Chicago school fire.
  • San Mateo Council to Act on FEPC, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The San Mateo City Council directed its attorney to draft a fair employment practices ordinance for action in January. Speakers at a hearing urged early passage to end job discrimination in the city.
  • Kado Mai, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Brief notice of local community activity in the Pacific Citizen. Limited content in OCR text.
  • Christmas Cheer Drive Final Report, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The 11th Annual Christmas Cheer Drive in Los Angeles aided 322 recipients, with 223 adults and 101 children. Donations totaled $4,451.50 in cash, goods and toys, with expenses under 5 percent.
  • Mass Naturalization Rites of 126 Issei, Integration of Evacuees into So. Jersey Community Recalled at Seabrook, by Ayako Nakamura, page 4. Bridgeton, New Jersey officials and civic groups honored the Seabrook JACL when it presented 57 cherry trees to the city park commission. Speakers recalled the 1953 mass naturalization of 126 Issei and the community’s acceptance of evacuees.
  • Mrs. Yumori to Head Venice-Culver JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Betty Yumori was named 1959 president of the Venice-Culver JACL, succeeding Pete Furuya. The new cabinet will be installed jointly with West Los Angeles JACL officers on January 17.
  • Idaho Falls JACL Plans Winter Carnival, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Idaho Falls JACL will hold its annual Winter Carnival on January 17 at the local armory, with games, food and a bazaar booth run by a newly formed auxiliary. The chapter’s Yuletide party drew over 250 attendees.
  • Kiyo Hirano to Head Salinas Valley JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Kiyo Hirano was elected president of the Salinas Valley JACL, and the new cabinet will be installed at a dinner on January 24. The chapter also held a successful Christmas party for children.
  • Fremont Auxiliary Notes, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Brief community notes from Auxiliary and chapter activities. Limited readable content in OCR text.
  • Edwin Ohki Elected Sonoma County JACL President, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Edwin Ohki, a prominent Santa Rosa business and JACL leader, was elected president of the Sonoma County JACL for 1959 after a four-ballot vote. The chapter also set plans for its membership campaign and installation dinner.
  • Sonoma County Auxiliary Christmas Party, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Sonoma County JACL Women’s Auxiliary held a successful Christmas party with carolling, games and a visit from Santa Claus. Florence Kawaoka was elected to head the Auxiliary for 1959.
  • George Muto Named San Diego JACL President, by P.C. Staff, page 5. George Muto was elected San Diego JACL president for 1959, succeeding Moto Asakawa. The chapter is preparing for a PSWDC chapter clinic in February.
  • Wartime Benefactor of Minnesota Nisei to Speak at Twin Cities JACL Installation, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Mrs. Lawrence Steefel, who helped place about 2,000 Nisei in jobs during the war, will speak at the Twin Cities JACL installation dinner on January 10. The chapter also announced its 1959 board nominees.
  • Bill Tsuji Elected Marysville JACL Head, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Bill Z. Tsuji, a Yuba City farmer, was elected president of the Marysville JACL for the coming year. His cabinet of officers includes Dr. Yutaka Toyoda as first vice-president.
  • Kabuki Authority to Live as Permanent Resident in U.S., by P.C. Staff, page 7. Tokuho Azuma, a leading Japanese kabuki authority, will enter the United States as a permanent resident and make her home in Los Angeles. She plans to open drama schools and teach kabuki to American audiences.
  • Harbor CL-ERS to Fete 1959 Officers Jan. 17, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Long Beach Harbor District JACL will hold its 1959 installation dinner-dance on January 17 at Curries’ Santa Fe. Dancing to Foozie Fujisawa’s band will follow at Harbor Community Center.
  • California Strawberry Board of Advisers Includes Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Six Nisei were named to the 19-member State Strawberry Advisory Board for 1959, representing producers and shippers. The appointments were announced by the State Agricultural Department.

National

  • Race Bias Charged in Employment of Clerical Workers, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Anti-Defamation League filed a complaint with the President’s Committee against 25 Los Angeles firms for discriminatory clerical job orders. The orders excluded Jews, Negroes, Orientals and Mexican-Americans through private employment agencies.
  • Job Bias, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Continuation of the ADL’s complaint against 25 firms for discriminatory job orders via private employment agencies. The article notes the President’s Committee had already established jurisdiction over nine of the firms.

JACL

  • Record Turnout of Bowlers Seen for JACL Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Over 1,000 bowlers are expected at the 13th Annual National JACL Bowling Tournament in Los Angeles, March 3-7. The article also traces the tournament’s history from its start in Salt Lake City in 1947.
  • Membership Issue, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Special JACL Membership Issue has been tentatively rescheduled for early February to reach chapters during their 1959 campaign. Chapters and members are asked to submit questions and answers, testimonials and statements by late January.
  • Roy Yamadera of East L.A. Re-elected, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Roy Yamadera was re-elected president of the East Los Angeles JACL for 1959 in recognition of the chapter’s strong 1958 program. The chapter will join other Los Angeles area chapters for an installation dance on January 31.

Commentary

  • Entitled to Statehood, by Seattle Times Editorial, page 2. Reprinted editorial arguing Hawaii deserves statehood after Alaska’s admission, noting its population, economy and federal tax contributions. It urges Congress to add Hawaii as the 50th state in 1959.
  • Southwest Realty Board, by California Eagle, page 2. The California Eagle criticizes the Southwest Realty Board for enforcing residential segregation through its code and for refusing to employ a Japanese saleswoman. It suggests the board may be violating anti-trust laws.
  • The Picture as 1959 Looms, by Elmer Ogawa, page 6. Seattle columnist Elmer Ogawa reviews the local JACL’s prospects for the coming year, focusing on chapter president Takeshi Kubota and the campaign to repeal Washington’s anti-alien land law. He anticipates Kubota’s renomination and continued leadership.
  • Washington Newsletter: 86th Congress Outlook, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Mike Masaoka forecasts an active 86th Congress with Democrats holding large majorities and pushing their own legislative agenda ahead of the 1960 elections. He notes the departure of several Republican leaders and expects debate over civil rights, education and housing.

Sports

  • Los Angeles Prep Gridders, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Four Nisei players earned all-city and all-league honors in Los Angeles high school football, including Dickie Masada and Ted Sadamoto of Roosevelt High. Several other Nisei athletes were also recognized in junior college and city selections.
  • Shirota Winds Up No. 2 at Tanforan, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Mitchell Shirota finished second in jockey standings at the Tanforan winter meeting with 36 wins. Fellow Nisei rider George Taniguchi placed with 27 wins before both headed south to Santa Anita.
  • Omaha JACL Bowlers, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Omaha JACL Bowling League is in its season with eight teams spanning all ages, including a 75-year-old competitor and many teenagers. The league concludes each 30-week season with a festive picnic.
  • Younger Brother May Break Brother’s Swim Marks, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Mark Imai, a Tooele High freshman, is being compared to his brother Tosh, a record-setting swimmer. Mark excels in the backstroke and individual medley and has been coached intensively by his brother and Leigh Pratt.
  • Berkeley Sanghas, Reedley Manjiettes Win Sacramento JACL Cage Invitationals, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Berkeley Sanghas and Reedley Manjiettes won the men’s and women’s divisions of the Sacramento JACL invitational basketball tournament. Dick Adachi was named most valuable player for the men.

Military & Veterans

  • Nisei VFW Post Application for Gardena Poker Palace License Stirs Controversy, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Gardena’s mayor opposed granting a card club license to a Nisei VFW post and AMVETS, prompting opposing club operators to seek a referendum. The dispute centers on the city’s license fee increase and efforts to control local card clubs.

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