Chapter installations and a push for Hawaiian statehood

Vol. 48, No. 6, February 6, 1959. 8 pages. View this issue

Chapter news filled the pages of this eight-page issue, and the editors said so themselves: there was too much news and not enough pages. Installation dinners were reported in Marysville, Cincinnati, Seattle and Oakland, and Sacramento won the NC-WNDC Chapter of the Year award at a Stockton banquet. Mike Masaoka’s Washington Newsletter covered House hearings on Hawaiian statehood, and the paper reprinted a New York Times editorial on the same subject. A bill to create a California Fair Employment Practices commission, co-authored by 26 state senators, also made the front page.

Elsewhere, T. Scotty Miyakawa wrote a column on American foreign policy after thirteen months abroad. Frank Chuman was appointed to a new Los Angeles County human relations commission, and Rev. Eizo Sakamoto of Rocky Ford, Colo., received a DAR medal for helping Japanese aliens become citizens. Harry K. Honda’s Ye Editor’s Desk and a housing anti-bias bill introduced by Assemblyman Augustus Hawkins round out the issue.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Too much news and not enough pages, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The editors explain that rising chapter news and photo volume exceeds the paper’s fixed 8-page format, forcing some items to be held over a week. They say a financial reserve is needed to expand to 12 pages and urge subscription growth toward 6,000 circulation.
• Ye Editor’s Desk, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. Editor Harry Honda reflects on recent Japanese entertainment on American television and a Nisei actor’s casting in a film. He also describes DXing on his prewar shortwave radio to reach international broadcasts.
• Hawaiian Statehood, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Pacific Citizen reprints a New York Times editorial urging immediate Hawaiian statehood, noting the racial mix of the islands and rejecting Communist-control arguments. It argues that Japanese Americans in Hawaii proved their loyalty during World War II.
• Doi ‘unseated’ in Hawaii Senate, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Hawaii Senator Nelson Doi was replaced as Senate president by Herbert K.H. Lee after an unofficial caucus vote. The item reports the leadership change.
• Views on Foreign Policy, by T. Scotty Miyakawa, page 4. Miyakawa, after thirteen months abroad in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, argues that American prestige is declining because the U.S. has been reactive and has failed to counter communist propaganda. He cites restrictive cultural funding rules and the material gap between Americans and local populations as obstacles to friendship.
• Views on Foreign Policy (continued), by T. Scotty Miyakawa, page 7. Miyakawa continues his observations, arguing that American material generosity and arrogance can create barriers abroad. He contrasts a respected American technician with less effective visitors and notes differences across Asia.
• Washington Newsletter: Statehood for Hawaii, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka reports that the House Interior Committee held hearings on Hawaiian statehood and that the bill was favorably reported out of committee. He urges JACL chapters to build grassroots support so Congress treats statehood as a voting issue.

National

• Issei first to get new DAR pin, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rev. Eizo Sakamoto of Rocky Ford, Colo., received the first DAR Americanism Medal for helping nearly all eligible Japanese aliens in the Arkansas Valley become naturalized citizens. He conducted citizenship courses and wrote a bilingual booklet on American history that was distributed across several states.
• IDC to discuss marriage bias laws, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Intermountain District Council’s quarterly meeting in Rexburg, Idaho, will address anti-miscegenation statutes in Idaho and Utah that bar Caucasians and Nisei from marrying. Several JACL past-president pins were also presented.
• 26 state solons co-author Cal FEPC measure, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Fair Employment Practices Act bill co-authored by 26 California senators was introduced to create a commission against employment discrimination based on race, creed, color, or ancestry. Its sponsor says the bill has enough votes for Senate passage this session.
• Immigration: Hawaii aliens urged to naturalize, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Edward Sweeney of the Immigration and Naturalization Service launched a drive to encourage Hawaii aliens to apply for citizenship. He explained why many older Issei have not sought naturalization and why citizenship matters for travel protection.
• Comprehensive anti-bias housing bill introduced, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Assemblyman Augustus Hawkins introduced AB 890 to prohibit discrimination in publicly assisted private housing, including FHA and VA financed homes. The bill would be enforced through the courts rather than a commission.

JACL

• Sacramento wins 1958 NC-WNDC Chapter of the Year competition, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sacramento JACL won the district’s Chapter of the Year award at the Stockton banquet marking Stockton JACL’s 25th anniversary. The district meeting also discussed National Headquarters furnishings, a Golden Gate cemetery observance, and youth programming.
• Washington D.C. JACL: Hisako Sakata installation message, by Hisako Sakata, page 2. Washington JACL president Hisako Sakata outlines three goals for the new year: making membership meaningful, recruiting new members, and building financial strength. She thanks installation dinner organizers for a record turnout.
• Marysville JACL installation dinner, by Warren Thornton, page 3. Marysville JACL installed Bill Tsuji as president at its annual dinner, with Akiji Yoshimura as installing officer. Kern Loo Yee gave the main address on Chinese tongs.
• Cincinnati installation honors first naturalized president, by P.C. Staff, page 4. James Takeuchi became the first naturalized citizen to serve as Cincinnati JACL president at the 14th annual installation dinner. National President Shig Wakamatsu presented the new Sterling Silver Pin, and Judge Ben Schwartz urged the chapter to strengthen national JACL membership.
• Director’s report: Views on foreign policy, by T. Scotty Miyahara, page 4. Miyahara reports that American prestige in Asia is declining and that the U.S. has failed to communicate its values effectively. He recommends more effective cultural exchange and more sensitive personal conduct by Americans abroad.
• Cincinnati installation: first naturalized president, by P.C. Staff, page 4. James Takeuchi of Cincinnati became the chapter’s first naturalized president at its 14th installation dinner. National President Shig Wakamatsu presented the new Sterling Silver Pin to Kaye Watanabe.
• By the Board: NC-WNDC report, by Jerry Enomoto, page 5. District chairman Jerry Enomoto introduces the new NC-WNDC executive board and summarizes the first quarterly meeting in Stockton. Topics included youth programming, FEPC efforts, and the Sacramento Chapter of the Year award.

Community

• ‘Lefty’ Miyanaga on grand jury, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Tom Miyanaga, chairman of the Salinas Valley JACL 1000 Club, was sworn in to the Monterey County grand jury and is believed to be the first Nisei empanelled locally. The item notes his longtime JACL involvement.
• Richard Arimoto named to San Mateo grand jury panel, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Richard Arimoto of Redwood City was among six city residents named to the 31-member panel for the 1959 San Mateo County grand jury. He is associated with Sequoia Nursery and is active in Rotary, JACL, and trade groups.
• Judge Aiso’s indexing system boosts procedure, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Superior Judge John F. Aiso developed an indexing system of guide cards and citation cards to speed legal research during hearings. Three other judges have adopted the system with his permission.
• Judge Aiso’s indexing system, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A duplicate of the Judge Aiso indexing item appears in the OCR. It summarizes the court indexing system used by three other judges.
• Sacramento Chapter of the Year, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sacramento JACL won the NC-WNDC Chapter of the Year award at the Stockton 25th anniversary banquet. Delegates discussed national headquarters furnishings and a youth-focused district council meeting.
• Spring activities at Stockton, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Stockton district council meeting outlined plans for a youth parley and reviewed chapter reports. Oakland was chosen to host the May district meeting.
• Fremont JACLers complete fire training program, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Henry Kato, Isao Baba, and Yas Kato of Fremont JACL completed the California Fire Training program and received certificates. They serve with the Warm Springs district fire department.
• Collegiate who’s who, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Marielle Tsukamoto of Florin, president of Associated Women Students at the College of the Pacific, was named to the 1959 Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. The item is brief.
• Los Angeles County appoints Frank Chuman to human relations commission, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Frank F. Chuman was appointed to the newly created Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations and became the first Nisei county commissioner. Supervisor Kenneth Hahn congratulated him.
• Seattle re-elects Tak Kubota prexy, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Takeshi Kubota was re-elected Seattle JACL president in a mail ballot of the board of governors. The 1959 cabinet will be installed at a February dinner featuring Mike Masaoka.
• Fremont JACLers complete fire training, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Three Fremont JACL members completed a California fire training program and received certificates. They serve with the Warm Springs fire department.
• Harvard professor to judge landscape contest, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Professor Hideo Sasaki of Harvard was selected to chair the judging committee for the first Roses in Landscape Design contest. The national competition is sponsored by Jackson & Perkins.
• Sonoma Nisei elected to community clubs, by P.C. Staff, page 6. George Hamamoto was installed on the Santa Rosa Optimist Club board, and Fred Yokoyama was elected PTA secretary-treasurer at Steel Lane School. Yokoyama also serves as vice president of the Sonoma County Life Underwriters Association.
• Los Angeles Newsletter, by Henry Mori, page 7. Henry Mori reports on the installation of Downtown Los Angeles JACL president Gongoro Nakamura, the first naturalized Issei to lead a JACL chapter. He also reflects on his son starting first grade and on the changing role of Nisei parents in schools.
• Oakland JACL to install Marie Sato as president, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Marie Sato was elected Oakland JACL’s president by mail ballot and will be installed at a February dinner-dance. Mayor Clifford Rishell and National Director Mas Satow are expected to attend.
• Calendar of upcoming JACL events, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The chapter calendar lists installations, dances, picnics, and district meetings scheduled for February through March. Events include Oakland, Seattle, Detroit, and Orange County programs.
• Russian child attends kindergarten for four years, high school for six, by George Furukawa, page 8. Lane C. Ash, a federal education official, described Soviet education to the Washington JACL, including nurseries, compulsory schooling, and specialized training. He spoke with colored slides from his recent visit to Russia.

Incarceration & Redress

• Chinese tongs provided insurance against want, place to stay in San Francisco, by Warren Thornton, page 3. At the Marysville JACL installation dinner, Kern Loo Yee of San Francisco’s Chinatown telephone exchange described how the Chinese tongs originated as immigrant village associations providing insurance and lodging. He also traced the history of the Chinatown telephone exchange founded by his father.

Military & Veterans

• Lt. Col. Tsukamoto now assigned at Pentagon, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Lt. Col. Walter T. Tsukamoto, a former National JACL president, returned from France and is now stationed at the Pentagon in the Judge Advocate General’s Office. The item recounts his prior JACL leadership.

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