White Citizens’ Councils on the West Coast and JACL’s watchdog role

Vol. 45, No. 19, November 8, 1957. 8 pages. View this issue

News that White Citizens’ Councils were organizing on the West Coast led the issue. An editorial said the report would surprise many readers and warned that professional bigots were still at work. NAACP field representative Lester Bailey described rising hate-group activity in California cities after the Little Rock crisis. Elsewhere, Mike Masaoka wrote about civil rights and the newly authorized Civil Rights Commission, and the Supreme Court refused a brief from 14 organizations, JACL among them, in NAACP v. Alabama. Congressman John E. Moss spoke to 300 delegates at the NC-WNDC convention in Sacramento.

Columns this week included Bill Hosokawa on the Nisei and America’s response to the Soviet space achievements, Tamotsu Murayama on the International Nisei Convention in Tokyo, and Larry S. Tajiri on James Michener’s lost manuscript. Elmer Ogawa wrote about Seattle’s Bailey Gatzert School. Preview stories covered the Intermountain District Council convention in Idaho Falls and the national bowling tournament planned for Seattle.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• White Citizen’s Council Out West, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Citizen reports that White Citizens’ Councils are organizing on the West Coast, a surprise to many readers. The editorial warns that professional bigots are exploiting minorities and that JACL must remain vigilant as a watchdog.
• From the Frying Pan: An Opportunity, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa argues that America faces a perilous moment after Soviet space achievements exposed complacency. He urges the Nisei to contribute moral toughness and determination to help the nation meet the challenge.

Community

• Congressman Moss addresses 300 at NC-WNDC confab, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Congressman John E. Moss urged JACLers to communicate their views to representatives in Congress at the NC-WNDC convention in Sacramento. He also called for an investigation into America’s lagging guided missile program after the Soviet satellite launch.
• Nisei architects design $2-million medico-dental bldg. on Oakland hilltop, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Harry Y. Nakahara and George Y. Nakahara designed a four-story medico-dental building planned for Oakland. The modernistic structure will use an abandoned reservoir for parking and house 50 to 60 tenants.
• Statewide parley of Issei-Nisei gardeners planned for San Jose, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A statewide convention of Northern and Southern California Issei-Nisei gardeners is planned for November 16-17 at the Hotel Ste. Claire in San Jose. The program includes panel discussions on garden care, business benefits, and wages.
• Very Truly Yours: First Chapter Report, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. Honda praises Mitsu Yasuda for submitting the first 1957 chapter report from Washington D.C. He encourages other chapters to submit reports promptly and to highlight their activities.
• New Junior group organized in N.C., by P.C. Staff, page 5. A Junior JACL group was organized under the Eden Township JACL with Dr. Steven Neishi as leader. Membership is open to high school seniors and college teenagers, with a social mixer planned.
• The Northwest Picture: Bailey Gatzert School, by Elmer Ogawa, page 6. Ogawa traces the history of Seattle’s Bailey Gatzert School, which has a racially diverse student body and is praised as a model of integration. He highlights the school PTA’s letter to President Eisenhower and a teacher’s letter of praise.
• Seattle prepping for national JACL bowling tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The 12th annual National JACL Bowling Tournament is taking shape in Seattle, scheduled March 3-10 and co-sponsored by the Seattle JACL and Nisei Bowling League. Committees have been selected under general chairman Fred Takagi.
• Los Angeles Newsletter: Freeway Prospects, by Henry Mori, page 7. Mori reports on a proposed Pomona freeway route that would displace Japanese American families in the Bella Vista area of East Los Angeles. He also notes that Monterey Park residents now sell regardless of buyers’ race.
• Many repeat support for Cheer campaign, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Christmas Cheer chairman Hiro Omura acknowledged $418 in donations, many from past supporters. Contributions are accepted at the JACL office in Los Angeles until December 15.

JACL

• President’s Corner: U.S.-Japan affairs issue for PSW CLers, by Dr. Roy Nishikawa, page 1. JACL President Roy Nishikawa welcomes Mike Masaoka’s appearance at the Pacific Southwest District Council and discusses how JACL should approach Japan-America affairs. He argues for a middle ground that neither ignores nor overextends JACL’s involvement.
• NC-WNDC Convention, by Masao Satow, page 4. National Director Masao Satow reflects on the NC-WNDC convention hosted by Sacramento, noting the 1000 Club luau and Congressman Moss’s remarks. He also previews the Intermountain and Mountain-Plains conventions.
• Gov. Smylie of Idaho to greet 400 Intermountain confab delegates, by Yoshiko Ochi, page 4. Up to 400 delegates will attend the ninth biennial Intermountain District Council convention in Idaho Falls November 29-30. Governor Robert Smylie will extend greetings, and the convention will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 1000 Club.
• Spud Squeezins, by Sud Morishita, page 5. Sud Morishita, guest contributor for the 1000 Club column, previews the Intermountain District Council convention and 1000 Club 10th anniversary celebration in Idaho Falls. He outlines the Thanksgiving weekend schedule of dinners, bowling, fashion show and banquet.

National

• Racial hate groups stepping up activities in West Coast cities, by P.C. Staff, page 1. NAACP field representative Lester Bailey reports that hate groups such as the American Nationalist and White Citizens’ Councils are increasing activity in California following the Little Rock crisis. The article details the anti-Semitic and anti-Negro literature being distributed.
• Southern Canada farm reaps first rice crop, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Teizo Nakashima of Comber, Ontario, successfully grew rice on his farm, with grain exhibited at the Toronto Japanese Garden Club flower show. The experiment demonstrates rice can be grown in Ontario.
• Tokyo Topics: Nisei Convention, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. Murayama reports on the first International Nisei Convention held in Tokyo, which brought together Nisei from the mainland and Hawaii. He recounts speeches by Maxwell Rabb and a message from President Eisenhower on US-Japan relations.
• Washington Newsletter: Civil Rights, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka urges the President to appoint civil rights advocates with national reputations to the newly authorized Civil Rights Commission. He warns against appointing politicians or men with preconceived biases that would frustrate the commission’s work.
• Supreme Court refuses JACL amici brief in NAACP v. Alabama, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The US Supreme Court declined to accept an amici curiae brief filed by 14 organizations including JACL in the NAACP v. Alabama case. The brief argued that Alabama’s law requiring disclosure of membership lists was unconstitutional.

Arts & Entertainment

• Vagaries: Singapore Bound, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri reports on Mari Michener’s journey to join her husband James Michener in Asia after his manuscript was lost at sea. He also covers changes to the film adaptation of Sayonara and the career of actress Michi Kobi.
• Sculptor Noguchi commissioned by U.S. for Brussels fair, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Isamu Noguchi is among five American sculptors commissioned to create works for the US pavilion at the Brussels World’s Fair. His planned piece is a ten-foot steel sculpture.

Military & Veterans

• Nisei named alternate to state committee on homes for aged persons, by P.C. Staff, page 3. George Tsuruoka of the Japanese Old Men’s Rest Home in Fresno was named alternate to the new state advisory committee on institutions for aged persons. The committee was formed at the request of State Director of Social Welfare George Wyman.

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