Evacuation claims, citizenship for Issei and the McCarran Act debate

Vol. 36, No. 3, January 13, 1953. 8 pages. View this issue

Evacuation claims and immigration law ran through the news. President Truman’s last budget asked for $250,000 to run the evacuation claims program but nothing to pay awards, and Mike Masaoka said a deficiency appropriation could cover awards already approved. Issei citizenship was a second thread: Jisaku Kazato of Fresno applied after four decades, and the Rev. Thomas Jonathan Machida of Seattle was processed under the McCarran Act. Newspapers from Seattle, Honolulu, Denver and Washington weighed in on the President’s immigration commission report, and George Yasukochi wrote against the JACL’s stance on the act.

Masaoka also paid tribute to outgoing President Truman. Elsewhere, Harry K. Honda wrote on happiness, Saburo Kido on Communism in Japan, and Eugene Ellery, Jr. on prewar Japanese dollar bonds. Lighter items include a Peru-born girl’s spelling championship in Chicago, Sadao Joe Matsukawa’s passing record at the University of Hawaii, and a Denver column on growing tomatoes.

What’s in this issue

National

• Only $250,000 Requested for Evacuation Claims in 1954 Budget, by P.C. Staff, page 1. President Truman’s final budget requested $250,000 for administrative expenses of the evacuation claims program but no funds for paying awards. Mike Masaoka said the omission could be addressed through a deficiency appropriation for awards already approved.
• Benny Gim Resigns as New York Assistant Attorney General, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Benny Gim, the first Chinese American to serve as Assistant Attorney General in New York State, resigned from the post. He had previously drafted the state’s narcotics laws and served as Deputy Chief Counsel of the State Narcotics Investigation Commission.
• Honolulu Nisei Naturalization Language Waiver Questioned, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 1. Non-English speaking aliens over 50 with 20 years residence may be exempt from the English requirement under the Walter-McCarran Act, but the immigration service rules have left the question unresolved. Applicants may need to test the waiver in federal court.
• Truman Honored as Champion of Human Rights for Japanese Americans, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Mike Masaoka pays tribute to outgoing President Truman for lifting the West Coast exclusion orders, naming a transport for Sadao Munemori, and sending official greetings to JACL conventions. Masaoka credits Truman with major contributions to the welfare of Japanese Americans despite vetoes of key immigration bills.
• Japanese Methodist Pastor in Seattle Becomes First Issei in Northwest to File for Citizenship Under McCarran Act, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Rev. Thomas Jonathan Machida of Seattle became the first Japanese in the Pacific Northwest to be processed for American citizenship under the McCarran Act. He had been interned during the war and has served in a Methodist ministry since 1940.
• Three Washington Papers Criticize Immigration Commission Report, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Evening Star, Washington Daily News, and Times-Herald criticized the President’s Commission report on immigration as superficial, confusing, or ill-advised. The Daily News noted the report’s proposals appeared to discriminate against Asiatics.

Commentary

• Dorothy Thompson Assails President’s Immigration Commission Report, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Columnist Dorothy Thompson criticized the President’s Commission on Immigration and Naturalization for lacking fundamental principles and for contradictory recommendations on discrimination. She argued the report’s proposed selection categories rest on alien rights that have never existed in law.
• Credit Union Estate Plan Demonstrated in Death of Pacific Southwest Member, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Pacific Southwest JACL credit union paid out a $2,000 estate plan benefit following the death of member Carl Kondo. The plan combines a member’s loan repayment with free life insurance from the credit union.
• Happiness, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. Editor Harry K. Honda reflects on material wealth, human wants, and whether prosperity can satisfy the human mind. He also considers the Nisei’s growing international awareness in a small world.
• Japanese Dollar Bonds Status Explained, by Eugene Ellery, Jr., page 5. Financial writer Eugene Ellery, Jr. explains the status of prewar Japanese dollar bonds, which became tradable in 1950 and have appreciated considerably. He outlines how the September 25, 1952 agreement extends maturities and resumes interest payments.
• Seattle Post-Intelligencer Welcomes Opposition to McCarran-Walter Act, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer endorsed the President’s Commission report and called for the McCarran-Walter Act to be re-examined. It acknowledged the Act’s progressive measures while urging changes to its discriminatory provisions.
• Honolulu Star-Bulletin Praises Naturalization Equality, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin hailed the naturalization equality provisions of the Walter-McCarran Act as a milestone. It acknowledged that parts of the law should be amended in the future.
• Denver Post Urges Congressmen to Read Immigration Report, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Denver Post urged every congressman to read the President’s Commission report, Whom Shall We Welcome. It called for removal of gross unfairness from the McCarran-Walter Act.
• Editor’s Mailbox: Is It a Prerogative?, by M. M. Horii, DDS, page 8. Dr. M. M. Horii argues that a barber should be free to refuse service to customers under the free enterprise system. Letter writer George Yasukochi responds that the McCarran Act was criticized as discriminatory.
• Contra McCarran Act, by George Yasukochi, page 8. George Yasukochi criticizes the JACL for embracing the McCarran-Walter Immigration Act and for misrepresenting its discriminatory features. He argues Nisei should have pressed for changes rather than accepting the bill.
• Farewell from Claims Section Attorney John T. Allen, by John T. Allen, page 8. John T. Allen announces his transfer from the Los Angeles evacuation claims office to Washington. He thanks claimants and attorneys for their cooperation and introduces his successor, Johnston K. Walker.
• Communism in Japan, by Saburo Kido, page 8. Saburo Kido examines the strength of Communism in postwar Japan, despite no Communist candidates winning Diet seats last fall. He attributes its appeal to economic conditions, occupation policies, and internal Communist disputes.
• Hectic Beginnings, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial outlines JACL chapter tasks for early 1953, including helping Issei file address reports and organizing naturalization classes. It also urges prompt completion of the membership drive and ADC fund quotas.
• Fresh Tomatoes by July, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A Denver columnist describes plans to start tomato plants indoors so they can be harvested by mid-July despite Colorado frosts. The piece is a light personal column from the Denver correspondent.

Community

• Fresno Issei Applies for Citizenship After Four Decades, by Henry Mori, page 2. Jisaku Kazato of Fresno applied for United States citizenship on Dec. 24 under the law removing racial restrictions. He had studied for citizenship tests for years and had lived in the country since 1904.
• Univ. of Hawaii Gains Phi Beta Kappa Chapter, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The University of Hawaii was one of seven institutions granted a Phi Beta Kappa charter this year. Among the 41 charter members are several Nisei faculty and alumni.

Military & Veterans

• Sadao Joe Matsukawa Sets Passing Mark for Univ. of Hawaii, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Univ. of Hawaii quarterback Sadao Joe Matsukawa completed 117 passes for 1,936 yards in 1952, a record likely to stand for years. His best game came against the Town Team, where he completed 13 of 15 passes.

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