The 1952 fight over the Walter-McCarran Act and a coming JACL convention

Vol. 35, No. 15, October 10, 1952. 8 pages. View this issue

The Walter-McCarran omnibus immigration bill ran through this 8-page issue from several sides. The Seattle chapters held a Victory Banquet where Mike Masaoka spoke, and Senator Pat McCarran met JACL leaders at a breakfast in Salt Lake City. Richard Akagi wrote an open letter answering S. I. Hayakawa’s criticism of the law, and the editorial page ran Penman’s column on the same argument. On the front page, Los Angeles chapters began organizing the 13th Biennial JACL Convention, with a full slate of committees.

Elsewhere in the issue: the Portland Oregonian told Tatsuo Fujinaka it would stop using the word “Jap,” and Hawaii’s November ballot included 42 Nisei candidates. Tommy Kono’s weightlifting win at Helsinki drew comment from coach John Terpak, and Roku Sugahara’s column followed his cousin Willie to the World Series. Mike and Etsu Masaoka’s twelve days in Hawaii are covered on page 4.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Los Angeles prepares for 13th Biennial JACL Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Los Angeles chapters are organizing the 13th Biennial JACL Convention, with a committee structure covering events, arrangements, registration, finance, and public relations. The convention is expected to follow formats of earlier successful conventions in Chicago and San Francisco.
• East Los Angeles slates political rally Oct. 17, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The East Los Angeles chapter will host a political rally on October 17 at the International Institute gym featuring Nisei representatives of the Democratic, Republican, and Progressive parties. The meeting is open to the public and will include question and discussion periods.
• Largest slate of AJAs to appear in Hawaii’s Nov. 4 general election, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Forty-two Nisei candidates advanced from Hawaii’s October 4 primaries, the largest slate in the territory’s history. The candidates will compete in the November 4 general election for Territorial Senate, House, and county offices.
• Protests from neighbors doesn’t bother San Jose veteran buying new home, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Despite a petition signed by 24 neighbors opposing the sale, 442nd Purple Heart veteran Sam Yoshihara plans to purchase a home on Thornton Way in San Jose. One neighbor said she would welcome the Yoshihara family.
• Navy jet plane zooms over homes of Cupertino Japanese before fiery crash-up, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Navy Panther jet crashed in an orchard near Cupertino, damaging nearby Issei and Nisei homes and scattering debris. The Mitsunaga family found fires started inside their home but extinguished them quickly.
• San Francisco JACL to start classes in Americanization, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Americanization classes in Japanese will be held at the First Evangelical and Reformed Church in San Francisco, sponsored by the San Francisco JACL chapter. Instructor K. Tominaga previously taught Japanese at the Boulder Naval Language School.
• Shinto shrine case delayed as key witness dies during sleep, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The death of Kazue Minami, former treasurer of the Izumo Taishakyo mission in Honolulu, postponed a hearing on the wartime transfer of mission property. Minami had testified a week earlier that he knew of no coercion in the property transfer.
• Seattle banquet celebrates Walter-McCarran Act passage, by P.C. Staff, page 3. About 400 Japanese Americans in the Pacific Northwest celebrated passage of the Walter-McCarran omnibus bill at a Victory Banquet in Seattle sponsored by the Seattle and Puyallup Valley JACL chapters. Mike Masaoka was the main speaker, paying tribute to Issei and Nisei efforts.
• Aloha time in Hawaii, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Mike and Etsu Masaoka spent twelve days in Hawaii as guests of several Japanese organizations, touring Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai and speaking at numerous banquets. They were honored with keys to the islands and a community testimonial banquet in Honolulu.
• Nisei volunteer groups organized for GOP, Democrat campaigns, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Nisei volunteer committees supporting Gen. Eisenhower and Gov. Stevenson were announced for California. Efforts to secure Japanese American votes intensified in the closing weeks of the presidential campaign.
• Fowler inaugural dinner ticket drive starts, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Fowler JACL inaugural dinner on November 8 at the Hotel Californian will feature Rep. Oakley Hunter and National JACL President George Inagaki. A ticket drive has been launched with committee members named across the district.
• L.A. community relations council to honor active woman leader, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Los Angeles County Conference of Community Relations will honor Nisei housewife Mrs. H.H. Kodani of Pacific Palisades with a Citation of Outstanding Service. Mrs. Kodani has served as president of local coordinating and women’s councils and on several boards.
• Name educator as sole U.S. delegate to UNESCO confab, by P.C. Staff, page 5. James S. Miyake, adviser to foreign students at the University of Hawaii, was selected as the sole United States delegate to the UNESCO youth conference. He holds a master’s degree in education from Springfield College.

National

• Oregonian quits using ‘Jap’ term, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Portland Oregonian assured Nisei Tatsuo Fujinaka that it will no longer use the word ‘Jap.’ The Journal had also long avoided the term.
• Rep. Walter Judd accepts invitation to Dec. 6 testimonial banquet, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Walter H. Judd of Minnesota accepted an invitation to the National JACL Testimonial Banquet in Los Angeles on December 6. Judd is regarded as the father of legislation for equality in immigration and naturalization.
• McCarran breakfasts with JACLers, by P.C. Staff, page 2. JACL leaders met with Sen. Pat McCarran at a breakfast in Salt Lake City, where he recounted the Senate fight to override the Presidential veto of the Walter-McCarran omnibus bill. National Director Mas Satow extended an invitation to the National JACL Testimonial Banquet in December.
• Nisei fighters forced out-of-the-running, ensuring…, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Allow Issei to take naturalization exam in Japanese under the new immigration rules, according to unofficial word from INS officials. Issei over 50 with 20 years residence will be exempt from English requirements.

Military & Veterans

• Oakland Nisei awarded Army commendation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Cpl. Seiichi Umemoto of Oakland received the Army Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant for meritorious service with the 40th Infantry Division intelligence section. He served on an interrogation team for prisoners of war.
• Los Angeles Nisei veteran sights gray-colored disc, so buddies call him ‘flying saucer’ boy at Legion, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Casey Kasuyama, a World War II veteran of Los Angeles, reported sighting a gray disc flying among planes while outside his home with his baby. Neighbors confirmed the sighting, which was reported by the Rafu Shimpo.
• Oahu Nisei attacks Reds single-handedly with grenades and bayonet, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Cpl. Akira Nakata of Wahiawa, Oahu, received the Distinguished Service Cross for single-handedly attacking an enemy position in Korea, allowing his company to advance. The citation describes him throwing grenades and using a bayonet after running out of ammunition.

In-Depth

• Nisei medical examiner called in to solve Denver fire-pyre murder mystery, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Denver investigators sought to identify a young woman whose charred body was found near Central City, with Nisei medical examiner Dr. Charles I. Ogura conducting the autopsy. Dental evidence remained the only hope for identification.

Incarceration & Redress

• Canadian Nisei fishermen forced to dump catch by striking union men, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Two Japanese Canadian fishermen filed Supreme Court action after striking union members forced them to dump their catch of 145 fish. They had permission from the Native Brotherhood to fish for member feeding purposes.

JACL

• An Open Letter to Dr. S. I. Hayakawa, by Richard Akagi, page 2. The author responds to S.I. Hayakawa’s criticism of JACL-ADC’s role in the Walter-McCarran Act, detailing improvements the new law makes over prior law. The letter argues that legislative progress is evolutionary and that the Act is a substantial improvement.

Commentary

• Reader at sea writes, by Kenjiro Yamada, page 5. A reader stationed in Alaska praises the Pacific Citizen for keeping him connected while serving overseas. He notes the weekly edition was eagerly anticipated during his service at various posts.
• Some questions asked, by Mrs. John R. Gray, page 5. A Sumner, Illinois reader asks questions about Asian immigration and the status of minority Americans, expressing opposition to additional foreign settlement. The editor notes the letter was shortened and invites a JACL reply.
• World series and Cousin Willie, by Roku Sugahara, page 7. A columnist recounts his visiting cousin Willie’s arrival in New York by convertible to attend the World Series, and their frustrating attempts to obtain tickets and a bet. The humorous piece ends with a speeding ticket and the columnist’s hopes for the Dodgers.
• Uncompromising Hayakawa, by Penman, page 8. The columnist criticizes S.I. Hayakawa for opposing the Walter-McCarran Act because it is not perfect, arguing that democratic legislation requires compromise. He notes the new law is a substantial improvement over existing law.
• Horse & buggy argument, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The editorial rebuts publisher Sei Fujii of the Kashu Mainichi, who claimed JACL and ADC were unnecessary for passing the Evacuation Claims Bill and Walter-McCarran naturalization provisions. The editors argue that persistent lobbying by JACL was essential to congressional action.

Sports

• Coach comments on weightlifter Tommy Kono, by John Terpak, page 6. Assistant Olympic weightlifting coach John Terpak praises Sacramento’s Tommy Kono for winning the lightweight title in Helsinki and setting a world record snatch. Kono narrowly missed a clean and jerk attempt after holding the weight overhead.
• Seattle salmon derby won by Issei and Nisei fishermen, by P.C. Staff, page 6. An Issei janitor and a Nisei real estate salesman each won automobiles in the Seattle Times salmon derby ending September 24. James Matsuoka caught a 13 lb 14 oz silver salmon that earned him a car.

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