The future of JACL’s Washington Office, and a call for civil rights laws

Vol. 48, No. 19, May 8, 1959. 8 pages. View this issue

The future of JACL’s Washington Office was the main question in this eight-page issue. Harry Honda reported that National President Shig Wakamatsu told the Pacific Southwest District Council convention that Mike Masaoka wants to be relieved of his Washington duties. The National Board was to take it up at its June meeting in San Francisco, and members would decide at the 1960 convention in Sacramento. Civil rights ran alongside it. Mike Masaoka’s letter to Congressman Emanuel Celler asked for one omnibus civil rights bill, and his columns discussed the lynching of Mack Charles Parker in Poplarville, Mississippi, and the Fourteenth Amendment.

Elsewhere, Kango Kunitsugu was elected chairman of the Pacific Southwest District Council. Eddie K. Shimomura became the first Nisei named to Seattle’s Board of Theatre Supervisors. Bill Hosokawa’s “Frying Pan” column, National Merit Scholarship winners, a theme contest for the 1960 convention and a screening of the 442nd film “Go for Broke” round out the pages.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• A Top Issue for the 1960 Convention, by H.H., page 1. JACL’s Washington Office, long associated with Mike Masaoka, faces an uncertain future as Masaoka has asked to be relieved of his duties. The decision on whether to maintain the office will be made by membership at the 1960 convention in Sacramento.
• Ye Editor’s Desk, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. Editor Honda recaps the PSWDC convention in Long Beach and offers a lighthearted reflection on the name George and the legend of Saint George. He closes with thoughts on the importance of local JACL chapters.
• Washington Newsletter: It Happened in Poplarville, by Mike Masaoka, page 6. Masaoka condemns the lynching of Mack Charles Parker in Poplarville, Mississippi, and draws parallels to the wartime evacuation of Japanese Americans. He urges readers to write to the President and Congress demanding federal protection of civil rights.
• Fourteenth Amendment, by Mike Masaoka, page 6. Masaoka notes that California and Kentucky are the only states that have never ratified the 14th Amendment, and urges California JACL chapters to push for ratification. He argues the amendment remains a cornerstone of civil rights.
• Civil Rights Testimony Continued, by Mike Masaoka, page 6. Masaoka’s testimony argues that federal civil rights legislation is necessary because states have failed to eliminate racial discrimination. He invokes the 14th Amendment as the basis for Congress to act.

Community

• Kunitsugu Heads PSWDC 1959-61, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Kango Kunitsugu of Southwest Los Angeles JACL was elected chairman of the Pacific Southwest District Council at its Long Beach convention. The new 14-member board includes officers and members serving staggered two-year terms.
• Nisei Appointed to Seattle Theater Board, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Eddie K. Shimomura became the first Nisei named to Seattle’s Board of Theatre Supervisors by Mayor Gordon Clinton. His appointment is subject to City Council approval.
• Convention Theme Contest Underway, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Plans for the 1960 National JACL Convention in Sacramento are taking shape, and a theme contest has been launched with a convention package prize. Entries are due June 1, 1959.
• Snake River Chapter Sponsors Two Sansei for Girls State, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Snake River Valley JACL sponsored Patty Matsunaga and Carole Kobayashi to attend Girls State meetings in Oregon and Idaho. Both are student leaders at their high schools.
• Scoutmaster Awarded Silver Beaver Medal, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Kenneth T. Takahashi, scoutmaster of Konko Church Troop 538 for 15 years, received the Silver Beaver award at the Golden Gate district dinner. Other Nisei scouters also received recognition.
• Hollywood JACL Schedules ‘Go for Broke’ Movie, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hollywood JACL will screen the film about the 442nd RCT on May 15 at Dayton Heights School. Admission is charged to help cover auditorium rental costs.
• Huge Watsonville Fire Hits Old Gakuen, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A high-wind fire destroyed the prewar Toyo Hall and Kumamoto Hotel in Watsonville and damaged a former Japanese Gakuen. The Watsonville JACL owns the old Japanese hall.
• Nurseryman Elected Hospital Board Head, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Joseph Shinoda was elected head of the Los Angeles Japanese Hospital board, which approved a $300,000 expansion adding a third floor and parking. The project is expected to be completed by spring of the following year.
• Ex-Imperial Valley Optometrist Opens Practice in Fresno, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Dr. Frank Nishio joined the Fresno optometry practice of Drs. George Nishio and George Miyake after leaving a successful El Centro practice. He was active in many civic organizations in the Imperial Valley.
• Future of Washington Office Discussion Continues, by Harry Honda, page 3. Wakamatsu explained the background of the Washington Office and said the issue requires grass-roots discussion before the 1960 decision. Delegates asked for a pro and con outline to guide membership discussion.
• Megumi Fukushima Wins National Merit Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Megumi Fukushima, a senior at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles, was among 12 Los Angeles students named National Merit Scholarship winners. She has been a student leader and an accomplished pianist.
• San Francisco JACL Sets Scholarship Available, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The San Francisco JACL announced its first annual $250 scholarship for a deserving high school graduate of Japanese ancestry. Applications were due June 15.
• Seattle Youth Picked as National Merit Scholar, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Biichi Moriyasu of Seattle was awarded a National Merit Scholarship and will study physics at MIT. He was one of two Seattle seniors honored.
• Frying Pan: Random Thoughts and Items, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa shares miscellaneous observations from Denver, including Taro Yashima’s new book and notes on Nisei achievements and personalities. He also recounts a visit by Rev. Gennosuke Shoji and notes Sansei academic honors.
• Pacific Southwest District Council Convention Recap, by Fred Tokoto, page 4. Tokoto recounts the PSWDC convention in Long Beach, including airport greetings for National President Wakamatsu, banquet events, and fashion shows. The convention is praised as a success thanks to host chapter efforts.
• San Francisco Youth Group Picks Delegates for Jr. JACL Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A San Francisco city-wide Nisei youth group elected officers and chose delegates to attend a Junior JACL youth program in Oakland. Willie Masuda was named chairman.
• Salinas JACL Office Financing Discussed, by S. Kanow, page 4. The Salinas Valley JACL discussed methods to finance its chapter headquarters and approved a donation to local Camp Fire Girls. Upcoming events include a community picnic and a cemetery clean-up.
• Wakamatsu Calls for JACL Membership Growth to 50,000, by P.C. Staff, page 5. National President Shig Wakamatsu told the PSWDC that Southern California is a gold mine for membership and urged formation of new chapters. He also called for long-range planning on the Washington Office and future issues.
• Intermountain District Council Welcomes Back Ben Lomond Chapter, by Mas Yano, page 5. The IDC welcomed the reactivated Ben Lomond Chapter and admitted the new Northern Utah JACL as its ninth active chapter. Both chapters are based in the Ogden area and were organized after meetings there.
• Idaho Falls Forms JACL Youth Club, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Idaho Falls JACL organized a Japanese American youth club with Ricky Tokita as president. State Senator A.W. Naegle spoke on citizenship at the installation.

JACL

• Future of Washington Office to Be Mooted at ’60 Confab, by Harry Honda, page 1. National President Shig Wakamatsu told the PSWDC convention that Mike Masaoka wants to be relieved of Washington responsibilities and that membership must decide the office’s future. The issue will be discussed by the National Board at its June meeting in San Francisco.
• Comprehensive Civil Rights Bill Urged Before House Subcommittee, by JACL News Service, page 1. The JACL urged Congress to consider a single omnibus civil rights bill covering all major issues, in a letter from Mike Masaoka to Congressman Emanuel Celler. The JACL proposed seven points including school desegregation, voting rights, fair employment, and fair housing.

National

• Comprehensive Civil Rights Bill Urged Before House Subcommittee, by JACL News Service, page 2. The JACL asked Congress for an omnibus civil rights bill with separate recorded votes on each issue, rather than a watered-down piecemeal approach. Masaoka argued that discrimination sanctioned by law invites further lawlessness.
• Calif. FEPC Referendum Petitions Ready for Circulation, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sponsors began circulating petitions to put California’s Fair Employment Practices Commission Act to a public vote, needing 262,789 signatures. If certified, the law would be suspended pending the November 1960 election.

Military & Veterans

• MIS Veteran Named Oregon Legion District Officer, by P.C. Staff, page 3. George Hirai of Nyssa’s Adrian Post 106 was appointed American Legion District 15 vice-commander. A former G-2 member in Japan, he is also sergeant-at-arms for his post.
• Hawaii Legislature Honors Mike Masaoka for Statehood Efforts, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Territorial House of Representatives of Hawaii passed a resolution thanking Mike Masaoka for his efforts toward Hawaiian statehood. The resolution recognizes the sacrifices of Americans of Japanese ancestry in World War II.
• Nisei Vets Go All-Out Again, by Elmer Ogawa, page 7. Seattle’s Nisei Veterans held an installation dinner-dance featuring speaker Sheriff Tim McCullough and honors for Gary Yamashita. Albert Bonus, a longtime benefactor of Issei and Nisei, delivered remarks praising the 442nd veterans and presented a scroll.

Arts & Entertainment

• Ex-Tokyo Opera Singer Gets First Break in U.S. in Nightery Spot, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mari Sato, a Tokyo Opera Company singer with 15 years of training, is performing at Charlie Low’s Forbidden City in San Francisco. She had earlier been dropped from a Madame Butterfly role in Tacoma because an official deemed her too Japanese for the part.

Incarceration & Redress

• Private Bill to Admit Japanese Refugee Passes, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Rep. John J. McFall succeeded in passing a private bill allowing Makoto Yabusaki to enter the United States to care for his children after his wife’s death. The bill was pending in the Senate.

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