Convention thoughts, the Little Rock ruling and the Alien Land Law

Vol. 47, No. 14, October 3, 1958. 8 pages. View this issue

The Salt Lake City National Convention was the main subject of this eight-page issue. A front-page piece from the Board looked back at the debate over the International Relations policy and at Bill Hosokawa’s Nisei of the Biennium honor. It also described plans by the Puyallup Valley and Seattle chapters to seek repeal of Washington’s anti-alien land law. Charles Yata and M. Misaki added their own thoughts on the convention. The Supreme Court’s order that Little Rock schools integrate was covered by JACL News Service and by Mike Masaoka in his Washington Newsletter.

Elsewhere, Larry S. Tojiri wrote about an all-Asian cast for Flower Drum Song and a fight over Chinese American membership in the Forty and Eight, and Henry Mori followed that story in his Los Angeles Newsletter. Saburo Kido urged young people to stay in school, and Nancy Fusita’s prize essay on pride in JACL was printed. Sports pages covered golf, football, kendo and bowling, and several chapter events were announced.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• Convention Thoughts and Alien Land Law, page 1. The Board reflects on the National Convention, including the International Relations policy debate and the Nisei of the Biennium honor for Bill Hosokawa. It also outlines plans by Puyallup Valley and Seattle chapters to push for repeal of Washington’s anti-alien land law.

Incarceration & Redress

• School Desegregation Order of High Court Hailed by JACL, by JACL News Service, page 1. The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously reaffirmed that Little Rock public schools must integrate immediately, rejecting state efforts to defy federal orders. The JACL Washington Office praised the ruling as consistent with American constitutional tradition.

Community

• Out-of-Court Settlement for Widow of JACLer, by P.C. Staff, page 1. An out-of-court settlement of $85,000 was reached for the family of Harry Makita, a San Francisco JACL officer killed in a 1957 auto accident. The driver, Nathan Rothman, still faces a manslaughter trial.
• Club 100 to Build Apartment as Income Property, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Honolulu’s Club 100, a veterans group of the 100th Infantry Battalion, will build a $180,000 apartment house on its clubhouse lot. The income is intended to reduce the club’s need for annual public fundraising.
• Empty Tricycle on Bridge Leads Father to Tragic Scene, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Three-and-a-half-year-old Patrick Joel Ikeda drowned in a Clovis canal after riding his tricycle onto a bridge. His father, a former Clovis JACL president, found the body after following the riderless trike.
• Kokubo Community Fund Planned for Building, by Paul Nakamura, page 1. Detroit JACL plans to use the Kokubo Community Fund, a gift from the late Taizo Kokubo, to construct a building. The proposal is to be presented to the membership.
• Two Held for Death of Chicago Nisei, Police Admit Delay for Medical Help, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A Chicago inquest heard that police kept Richard Tado in a squad car for half an hour before he died of a skull fracture. Two men were charged in connection with the street fight that injured him.
• Fall Fashion Show Fabulous, by Miyuki Aoyama, page 4. The San Francisco JACL Women’s Auxiliary held its fifth annual luncheon fashion show at the Fairmont Hotel before 300 guests. Local fashions and furs were featured in a successful event.
• 10th Anniversary East L.A. JACL Fete Reservations Urged, by P.C. Staff, page 5. East Los Angeles JACL announces a dinner-dance celebrating its 10th anniversary at Swally’s Restaurant on Oct. 18. Notable JACL leaders and past chapter presidents are expected to attend.
• Fowler JACL Affair Civic Dignitaries Invited, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Fowler JACL invites local civic leaders to its Miss Fowler coronation ball, which kicks off the city’s 50th anniversary celebration. Seven queen contestants are selling tickets for the event.
• Watchmaker Johnny Toya Achieves Dream as California Nisei Open Champion, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Johnny Toya won the California Nisei Open golf title at Pebble Beach with a record-setting 149. Defending champion Ery Furukawa finished among the players who struggled on the challenging course.
• Los Angeles Newsletter: Legion Racial Bias, by Henry Mori, page 7. Henry Mori examines the American Legion’s history of racial discrimination and the continuing bias within its 40 et 8 organization. He notes that the San Jose chapter’s challenge may help eliminate racial restrictions entirely.
• Southwest L.A. JACL Assumes Major Role in Christmas Cheer Campaign, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Southwest L.A. JACL is conducting its 11th annual Christmas Cheer campaign with a $2,000 goal and a December 15 deadline. Last year’s effort raised $2,357.61 to aid about 260 local families.
• Police Officer Tami Ishikawa Serves New Haven, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Tami Ishikawa is believed to be the only Nisei policeman on the East Coast, serving on the New Haven force for seven years. His path included Army service, a radio announcing career, and eventually joining the police.

Commentary

• Advice to Youth Not to Quit Schools for Good Paying Job, by Saburo Kido, page 1. Kido recounts a luncheon with Rev. James Sugioka, a former JACL national secretary now serving a missionary society. He urges young people to finish their education rather than leave school for higher-paying work.
• Convention Post-Mortem, by Charles Yata, page 2. Detroit JACL’s Charles Yata reflects on the national convention, praising the spirit of cooperation and new ideas shared by chapters. He notes that the U.S.-Japan relations issue was resolved after careful deliberation.
• Convention Praised, by M. Misaki, page 2. The Omaha JACL chapter thanks everyone who made the Salt Lake convention possible and reports the enthusiasm of youth who attended. The letter expresses deep appreciation for the superb event.
• Tomodachi Club, by Berry Suzukida, page 2. A Chicago reader asks what became of the Tomodachi Club, a matchmaking service for lonely Nisei. The editors respond that the response has been good, with some matched couples going steady.
• Vagaries: 40 et 8 for White Only, by Larry S. Tojiri, page 3. The American Legion’s Forty and Eight society attempted to oust San Jose’s Santa Clara County chapter over its Chinese American member Gerald Lee. The chapter responded by obtaining a court restraining order against the national organization.
• Nisei Youth Essay: Pride in JACL, by Nancy Fusita, page 3. Seventeen-year-old Nancy Fusita’s prize-winning essay praises the JACL for advancing Japanese Americans and encouraging loyalty to the United States. She argues that the organization has earned the respect of youth through honorable, democratic action.
• Washington Newsletter: School Integration, by Mike Masaoka, page 7. Mike Masaoka analyzes the Supreme Court’s unanimous reaffirmation of federal supremacy in ordering Little Rock schools to integrate. He argues the Executive branch must act quickly to enforce the law across the nation.

Arts & Entertainment

• All-Oriental Cast Assembled for Flower Drum Song, by Larry S. Tojiri, page 3. Rodgers and Hammerstein assembled an almost entirely Asian cast for their musical adaptation of C.Y. Lee’s novel Flower Drum Song. Director Gene Kelly explained the producers’ insistence that only Orientals could convincingly play Oriental roles.

Military & Veterans

• Football Stars: Father and Son, by Elmer Ogawa, page 6. Seattle’s Frank Yamashita, a former Washington Huskies end, now watches his son Gary play left end for Franklin High. The column also profiles other former Little Leaguers who now play high school football.

Sports

• Quarterback Miyano Leads East L.A. JC in Two Victories, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Sei Miyano, a small quarterback, led East Los Angeles Junior College to a 28-6 win over Pasadena with two touchdown passes and a rushing score. The team has now won two games without a defeat.
• Non-Japanese with Highest Ranking in Kendo Is 1000 Club Member at Long Beach, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Dr. Gordon Warner, a Long Beach State professor and 1000 Club member, earned fourth-degree kendo rank despite losing a leg in the war. He returned from a month of training in Japan, where he gained deeper insight into the culture.
• Iwasaki in Debut Before Home Fans, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Reedley High and JC halfback Larry Iwasaki made his Fresno State debut, playing as No. 2 fullback. He made several key defensive tackles, though San Diego Marines defeated the Bulldogs 20-6.
• Women’s Bowling Tour to Hawaii Postponed, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A proposed women’s bowling tour of Hawaii has been postponed to next year, with possible dates in May, June or July. Organizers hope to finalize plans at the National JACL bowling tournament in March.

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.