Voter registration, a Supreme Court refusal and JACL membership drives

Vol. 42, No. 12, March 23, 1956. 8 pages. View this issue

Getting Japanese Americans registered to vote ran through this eight-page issue. In the President’s Corner, George Inagaki urged JACL chapters to hold registration nights with Nisei deputy registrars, especially for newly naturalized Issei. The Supreme Court refused to reopen the Ham Say Naim interracial marriage case, and JACL regretted that and said it would consider joining a future case. Mike Masaoka wrote in his Washington Newsletter about the March 12 Southern Declaration, and the Washington JACL office clarified which evacuation losses stay compensable under the Lane-Hillings bill.

Chapter news fills the middle pages. Sonoma County reached 282 members, Oakland and Seattle opened drives, and Chicago editors Fumi Iwatsuki and Maudie Nakada answered rival chapters racing to 1,000 members. Tats Kushida reported on the proxy fight at Western Pioneer Insurance Co., and Mike Iwatsubo answered with an open letter to stockholders. Columns by Bill Hosokawa and Larry S. Tajiri round out the issue.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Registration of Voters Urged, by George Inagaki, page 1. JACL chapters are urged to organize voter registration nights with Nisei deputy registrars to help members, especially newly naturalized Issei, participate in the presidential election year. The column argues that every eligible Japanese American should be an active participant rather than a spectator.
• Frying Pan: Off-beat Jobs, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa offers a column of Nisei news notes, including Nippon Times editor George Togasaki’s recognition, Dr. Newton Wesley’s European research, and various Nisei in unusual occupations. The piece highlights individuals’ accomplishments across the country.
• Vagaries: Movie Stereotypes, by Larry S. Tajiri, page 3. Tajiri examines how Hollywood’s racial stereotyping of Asians helped build negative public attitudes that contributed to the wartime evacuation. He notes that post-WWII films have gradually moved toward portraying Asians as fellow human beings.
• Western Pioneer Insurance Co. Open Letter to Stockholders, by Mike Iwatsubo, page 7. Management of Western Pioneer Insurance Co. urges stockholders to support the official proxy and reject the Stockholders Committee. The letter alleges the committee has ties to an earlier 1954 move by Ralph Jensen to obtain the stockholders list and induce a proxy fight.
• Washington Newsletter: Mar. 12 Declaration, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka analyzes the March 12 Southern Declaration on constitutional principles signed by nearly 100 Southern members of Congress. He argues that signers’ committee chairmanships give them major veto power over desegregation legislation.

National

• JACL to Consider Future Intervention in Interracial Marriage Test Case If Any, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to reopen the Ham Say Naim interracial marriage case, effectively leaving Virginia’s annulment in place. JACL regretted the Court’s inaction and said it will consider intervening in a future case on the constitutionality of such bans.
• Evacuation Losses Deleted Under Lane-Hillings Claims Bill Clarified, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Washington JACL office clarified that crop, management, conservation, and rental losses remain compensable under the Lane-Hillings bill even though House committee deleted liberalizing provisions. The Court of Claims alternative remedy was added as a judicial option.
• New Japanese Ambassador Tani Meets With Washington JACL Representative, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Ambassador Masayuki Tani met with Mike Masaoka at the Japanese Embassy to discuss US-Japan relations, Asian security, and Nisei contributions. Tani praised the wartime loyalty of Issei and Nisei as fostering American goodwill toward Japan.
• Dr. Nishikawa Appears on Inquisitor TV Program, by P.C. Staff, page 8. JACL national treasurer Dr. Roy M. Nishikawa was interviewed on KTLA’s Inquisitor program about Japanese American problems and JACL’s community relations work. The program also included attorney Loren Miller and Olympic diver Dr. Sammy Lee.

Community

• Honolulu Editorial Pays Tribute to Colorado Farmer, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Honolulu’s Star-Bulletin praised Robert Y. Sakata, Colorado’s outstanding farmer of the year, for overcoming wartime evacuation and two serious accidents. The editorial criticized the evacuation as a product of prejudice while noting Sakata’s faith was restored by a Brighton farmer.
• Gardeners’ Bill Believed Killed, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A proposed maintenance gardener’s professional code appears dead after a subcommittee recommended no action following mixed Japanese American support. No further hearings are planned, according to Assemblyman Edward E. Elliott.
• Toshiko Akiyoshi Becomes Overnight Sensation Before Boston Jazz Audiences, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Japanese jazz pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi made a strong impression in Boston jazz circles through guest appearances and was granted an indefinite scholarship at the Berklee School of Music. Her popularity there was described as amazing by the school’s director.
• Dr. George Baba to Open Practice in Menlo Park, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Dr. George R. Baba ended eight years of medical practice in Southern California and announced new temporary offices in Palo Alto. He will practice obstetrics and gynecology in association with his wife, Dr. Masako Akimoto Baba.
• Mary Minamoto Due Home from ARC Work in Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mary Minamoto of Portland, the first Nisei to work overseas with the American Red Cross, is returning home from Japan. She received a 10-year ARC service bar and has been encouraged to open a branch of her Sogetsu flower arrangement school in Portland.
• Chicago JACL Credit Union Names Katsura President, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Lester Katsura was elected 1956 president of the Chicago JACL Credit Union, with Fred Nomiya as vice president and other officers and committee chairs named. The article lists the full slate of credit and supervisory committee members.
• San Francisco JACL Slates Movie Night, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The San Francisco JACL will hold a Movie Night co-sponsored with the Yuko Kai culture group featuring Kabuki and experimental films. Refreshments will be served at the Friends Service Center.
• Battle for Proxies, by Tats Kushida, page 4. Kushida reports on the intense proxy fight at Western Pioneer Insurance Co., the first Nisei insurance enterprise, between current management and a Stockholders Committee. Both sides are soliciting proxies before the March 31 annual meeting.
• Placer Jr. JACL to Install Cabinet, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The newly organized Placer Junior JACL elected Hiroaki Morimoto as president and will be sworn in at a March 24 installation ceremony. The group was formed by Placer JACL and Placer High Nisei students to pursue civic and social programs.
• Seattle JACL Membership Committeemen Named, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Names of district membership committeemen canvassing the Seattle metropolitan area for JACL memberships were announced. The chapter aims to reach 1,000 members.
• Oakland JACL Starts All-Out Membership Drive, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Oakland JACL launched a membership drive ending March 31 with district committees led by co-chairmen Mrs. Kay Okamoto and Mr. and Mrs. Asa Fujie. The chapter also reported strong attendance at Tuesday dance classes.
• Sonoma County JACL Chapter Hits High With 282 Members, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Sonoma County JACL chapter’s 1956 membership drive ended with 282 members signed, the highest figure in its history. Door-to-door canvassing reached the Ukiah area for the first time.
• Recognition Dinner to Fete 1954-55 Chicago Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Members of Kumeo Yoshinari’s 1954 and 1955 Chicago JACL cabinets will be honored at a recognition dinner at Old Cathay restaurant. Paul Otake heads the committee arranging the event.
• Keep the Lead in ’56, by Fumi Iwatsuki and Maudie Nakada, page 8. Chicago JACL editors respond to rival chapters Southwest Los Angeles, Denver, and San Francisco racing to reach 1,000 members. They describe Chicago’s membership plans and vow to keep the national lead.

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