Vol. 42, No. 6, February 10, 1956. 8 pages. View this issue
Tom Yego, national JACL first vice-president from Placer County, died suddenly of a heart attack at age 48, and the front page and much of this eight-page issue paid tribute to him. Editorials, a statement from national JACL president George Inagaki, a news story by Roy Yoshida and a column by Tats Kushida recalled his work as a founder of JACL and a community leader. Immigration was the other main subject. Mike Masaoka wrote that JACL found the President’s immigration message a disappointment, and later pages detailed the bills and recommendations.
Also inside: Elmer Ogawa’s account of the Boeing Clippers bowlers who challenged the American Bowling Congress’s whites-only rule, Jerry Enomoto’s preview of the 1956 National JACL Convention in San Francisco, and Bill Hosokawa’s recollections of Heart Mountain. Helen Mineta reported on an interracial marriage case sent back to the Supreme Court, and Harry K. Honda described changes planned for the paper.
What’s in this issue
Obituaries
- Big-hearted Yego, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Tom Yego, national JACL first vice-president from Placer County, died suddenly of a heart attack, and the editorial recalls his long years of service to the community and JACL. His family and civic leadership left a lasting example for the community.
- Yego Synonymous with JACL, by George Inagaki, National JACL President, page 1. Inagaki pays tribute to Yego, who helped build JACL from its beginnings into a national organization over more than twenty-five years. He describes Yego as one of the outstanding Nisei of his time and extends the membership’s sympathies to his family.
- 1st VP Tom Yego Dies of Heart Attack at Home, by Roy Yoshida, page 1. Tom Yego, Placer County’s foremost Nisei leader and national JACL first vice-president, died at his Penryn home at age 48. The article reviews his civic roles, his founding work in local and national JACL, and his farming and public service career.
- 1st VP Tom Yego Dies (continued), by Roy Yoshida, page 3. The continuation details Yego’s leadership in Placer County and his work with the Northern California District Council. It also lists his survivors and funeral arrangements.
National
- Tuscaloosa Riots, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mob violence greeted Autherine Lucy, the first Black student admitted to the University of Alabama, and she was suspended for her safety. The editorial argues that the incident exposes a lack of discipline in American democracy and calls for action to protect her.
- Eisenhower Urges Congress to Increase Immigration to U.S., by P.C. Staff, page 1. President Eisenhower asked Congress to raise the annual immigration ceiling to about 220,000 and to revise the national-origins quota system. The article lists his recommendations and explains how several of them would affect Japanese immigration.
- Interracial Marriage Case Resubmitted to Supreme Court, by Helen Mineta, page 1. A motion was filed asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider the Ham Say Naim interracial marriage case after the Virginia Supreme Court reaffirmed its decision. JACL joined other interested parties in the test case, which concerns laws affecting war brides and Nisei soldiers’ wives.
- Washington Newsletter: Churches and Color Bar, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka reviews a survey showing that many Southern churches have kept color barriers despite national church calls for integration. He also examines the history of separate Japanese churches and how Nisei ministers have shifted congregations toward integration.
- Hawaii Land Return Bill Gets Senate Attention, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Senator Henry Jackson is reviewing HR 7186, which would let eleemosynary organizations of Japanese ancestry reclaim Hawaiian lands taken during World War II. Masaoka requested the review, and Senator Murray indicated he had no objection.
- Immigration Reform Bills Introduced, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Eisenhower’s immigration recommendations are detailed, including provisions for Asian spouses and adopted children and for veterans’ naturalization. The article explains proposed changes to deportation rules and quota practices.
- Japan Honors Rep. Walter for Immigration Reform, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Japanese officials honored Representative Francis Walter for co-authoring the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, which ended restrictions on Japanese immigrants. Foreign Minister Shigemitsu praised his work on naturalization and immigration.
JACL
- Eisenhower’s Immigration Plan Disappoints JACL, by Mike Masaoka, page 1. JACL regarded the President’s immigration message as a disappointment because its proposals mostly favor Europe while doing little for persons of Japanese ancestry. Only three of the fourteen proposed amendments would substantially benefit them.
- Nisei of the Biennium Nominations to Close July 31, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Nominations for the Nisei of the Biennium award, which recognizes distinguished community leadership, will close July 31, 1956. Forms are available at JACL offices and nominees will be presented at the 14th Biennial Convention.
Community
- $24,000 Received by Marysville Flood Committee, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The joint Marysville JACL-Buddhist flood committee received over $24,000 from donors nationwide for flood victims. The committee distributed $16,230 to 107 families and 18 single men, keeping a reserve for future emergencies.
- Yego Synonymous with JACL (continued), by George Inagaki, page 3. Continuing from the front page, the tribute emphasizes Yego’s decades of service and his role as a national leader who inspired others to take on responsibility. JACL members extended sympathy to his family.
- Chicago Corner: Young Citizen, by Smoky H. Sakurada, page 4. The column profiles Helen Hikido, an honor student named Outstanding Young Citizen of the Month, who discusses school and neighborhood challenges. It also covers church officer installations and other Chicago community news.
- Tribute to a Good Man, by Tats Kushida, page 6. Kushida honors Tom Yego as a founding JACL member, a reliable leader, and a respected community figure in Placer County. He notes Yego’s dedication to JACL and his support for the Pacific Citizen.
- Very Truly Yours: Good News, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. Honda reports changes to the Pacific Citizen’s layout and columnist lineup in response to staff suggestions. He also discusses plans to expand the paper, improve circulation, and possibly link subscriptions to JACL membership.
Commentary
- From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa recalls memories of his father’s grilled steaks and wartime fire-watch duty at Heart Mountain, prompted by the sounds and tastes of winter. He also praises the Japanese film Samurai for its beauty and storytelling.
- Gag Vagaries: Celestial Cookery, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri discusses how Nisei developed a taste for West Coast Chinese-American cooking and compares it with the limited Chinese food available elsewhere in the country. He also describes unusual dishes he has eaten around the world.
- Perspectively Yours: Behind the Scenes, by Jerry Enomoto, page 4. Enomoto previews the 1956 National JACL Convention in San Francisco and introduces key committee chairmen. He also reports on district council meetings and the upcoming chapter clinic.
- Los Angeles Newsletter: Political Groups, by Henry Mori, page 7. Mori reports on the California Democratic Council convention, where a Japanese American Democratic Club housing resolution passed and Nisei delegates were active. He also discusses the Republican and Democratic primary contest for the Senate seat.
Military & Veterans
- Nisei Bowlers’ Breakthrough: The Boeing Clippers, by Elmer Ogawa, page 5. Ogawa recounts how the Boeing Clippers bowling team in Seattle challenged the American Bowling Congress’s whites-only clause in 1949. The protest led to the ABC dropping the discriminatory rule in 1950.
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