Social security for Issei abroad and the 1954 JACL convention

Vol. 38, No. 6, February 5, 1954. 8 pages. View this issue

Proposed social security legislation took the front page of this eight-page issue. The JACL Washington Office studied the Curtis bill, and Mike Masaoka said its residency requirements would deprive most Issei in Japan of earned benefits. His column that week turned to the Bricker Amendment and what it might mean for Issei and Nisei rights. Evacuation claims rulings and a vested property bill also made the news, along with plans for the 13th biennial National JACL convention in Los Angeles and an Endowment Fund holding $70,000 in trust.

Chapter news filled the middle pages: new chapters forming at Moses Lake and Gilroy, officer installations, and Haruo Ishimaru’s look at Placer County as Chapter of the Year. Sports covered Ford Konno, Yoshi Oyakawa and Chiharu Igaya. Bill Hosokawa and Larry Tajiri closed the issue with their columns.

What’s in this issue

National

• Proposed Social Security Legislation on Overseas Payments Studied by JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL Washington Office investigated pending social security legislation affecting payments to Issei and Nisei abroad, particularly the Curtis bill H.R. 6863. Mike Masaoka said the bill’s residency requirements would deprive most Issei in Japan of earned benefits, and the JACL pledged to protest it.
• House Committee Approves Bill Extending Vested Property Filing Deadline, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee favorably reported legislation extending for one year the deadline for filing claims to recover vested property held by the Office of Alien Property. The Senate had already passed the measure unanimously, and it now goes to the House for concurrence.
• Gov’t Returns Shinto Temple to Hawaiian Congregation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Office of Alien Property approved returning property to the Hawaii Ishizuchi Jinja, a Shinto temple in Honolulu, under the Trading with the Enemy Act. The temple, organized in 1916 and serving 150 members, will receive the property after final audit.
• Govt Recommends Vested Property Be Returned to Former Owners, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Dirksen Senate Judiciary Subcommittee recommended returning vested wartime property, including to Japanese nationals in Japan, and reforming the Trading with the Enemy Act. Masaoka had urged inclusion of Japanese in remedial legislation, and the subcommittee agreed to treat Japan equally with Germany.

Community

• Nisei Anthropologist Appointed to UNESCO Position, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. Hiroshi Daifuku, a Honolulu-born anthropologist, was appointed program specialist in UNESCO’s Museums and Monuments Division in Paris. He is the first anthropologist appointed to that division, organizing international conferences among natural history museums.
• Social Security-Related Bills Introduced by Rep. Reed, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Masaoka noted that several other social security bills introduced by Rep. Daniel A. Reed on behalf of the Eisenhower administration contain no residence requirements. He argued there is no justification for terminating benefits to Issei and Nisei in Japan.
• State Supreme Court to Rule on Nisei Liquor License Case, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Toshikuni Taenaka, a Nisei veteran, had his off-sale liquor license revoked after a neighborhood protest, and the case has reached the state supreme court. The attorneys argue the board must return the license for the same location under Section 7.1 of the law.
• Community Center Project Takes Priority Over Home for Aged in Toronto, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Toronto Japanese Canadian community voted to prioritize a community center project costing $70,000 over an old folks’ home. A committee will determine how to finance it, with $1,428 accumulated so far.
• Franklin Life Pays Over $365 Million Last Year, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Franklin Life Insurance Co. of Springfield, Illinois, produced over $365 million in paid business last year and has $1.5 billion in force. The company expects to reach $2 billion in insurance in force by the end of 1955.
• Hawaiian Attitude Toward the Deep South, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 3. Hodding Carter, Mississippi editor, criticized Hawaiians’ one-sided view of the Deep South during a visit to gather material on statehood. Nakatsuka describes Carter’s acknowledgment of the South’s progress in race relations, including Negro policemen and voting equality.
• Salt Lake CL Benefit Recital Slated Feb. 15, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mrs. Harue Miyake, returning from a year of study in Germany, will perform at a Salt Lake City JACL benefit recital on February 15. Tickets are $1 and James Miyake and Howell Ujifusa are co-chairmen.
• Idaho Falls CLers Sponsor Carnival, Citizenship Class, Install Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Idaho Falls JACL held its Winter Carnival with donations from merchants and families, and began citizenship classes for about 30 Issei. The chapter also installed its new cabinet under president Sam Yamasaki.
• Twin Cities Chapter Reelects Dr. I. Iijima, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Dr. Isaac Iijima was reelected president of the Twin Cities United Citizens League at a dinner-dance where Harry Takagi installed the new cabinet. The 1954 officers were listed.
• Seattle Kegler Rolls 290 Game, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Mako Yaguchi bowled a 290 game and a 659 series in the Nisei Commercial League at Main Bowl, the highest single mark in the league’s seven-year history. Other bowlers posted 600 series that night, and Northwest bowlers were urged to enter the ABC national tournament.
• Los Angeles Chapter Presidents Sworn In at Joint Inaugural Dance, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Over 350 attended the joint installation dance of seven Los Angeles area JACL chapter cabinets at the Statler Hotel, with George Inagaki conducting the ceremony. Honored guests included Medal of Honor recipient Hershey Miyamura and director Bob Pirosh.
• Mile-Hi JACL Assists in Citizenship Day Ceremonies, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Mrs. Fumi Yabe represented the Mile-Hi JACL chapter on the city-wide Citizenship Day Committee, which honors newly naturalized citizens each October. The chapter’s involvement continued its community participation.
• Intermountain YBA Conference Set for February, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The 18th annual Intermountain YBA conference will be held February 20-21 at Honeyville, Utah, preceded by a bowling tournament in Ogden. Miss Hatsumi Mitsunaga, the Bussei Sweetheart of 1954, will reign at the conference ball.
• Los Angeles JACL Newsletter: Joint Installation Dance and Inaugural Events, by Henry Mori, page 7. Henry Mori reports on the successful Los Angeles JACL joint installation dance at the Statler Hotel and the JAL inaugural flight stop at LAX. He notes local authorities’ concern over the lack of a home base for foreign airlines in Los Angeles.

JACL

• Los Angeles Prepares for ’54 National JACL Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Further appointments to the 13th biennial National JACL convention board were announced, covering official events, social events, arrangements, registration, finance, and public relations. The convention is scheduled for Los Angeles in September 1954.
• Endowment Fund Reaches $70,000 in Trust, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL President George Inagaki and Treasurer Dr. Roy Nishikawa reported $72,474.26 received for the National JACL Endowment Fund, with $70,000 now held in trust at Bank of America. Nearly 2,000 individuals have contributed to the fund.
• Your National Director Reports: New Chapters on the Make, by Masao W. Satow, page 4. National Director Satow reports a new JACL chapter forming near Moses Lake, Washington, and a Gilroy chapter nearing debut at the next district council meeting. He also notes a six-month probation placed on the Rio Grande Valley chapter in Texas.
• Scene from Golden Gate: IDC Meets, Installs Officers, by Haruo Ishimaru, page 4. Ishimaru reports on the Intermountain District Council meeting in Boise, where eight chapters’ officers were installed despite snowstorms. He also previews the Pacific Southwest District Council chapter clinic and the National JACL bowling tournament.
• Placer County: Chapter of the Year, by Haruo Ishimaru, page 5. Placer County JACL, the first-place Chapter of the Year candidate, is praised for its activities including owning a baseball park and an annual Goodwill Banquet. The article lists its past presidents and 25-year members celebrated at its anniversary dinner.
• Sonoma County’s Piggy Bank for Jaclyn, by Haruo Ishimaru, page 5. Ishimaru describes the Sonoma County Chapter’s installation dinner, where Issei Eichi Yamamoto led the Pledge of Allegiance. Chapter members also presented a piggy bank for baby Jaclyn’s future trousseau.
• Still Growing: New Chapters, by Haruo Ishimaru, page 5. Ishimaru reports new JACL chapters being organized at Moses Lake in the Pacific Northwest and Gilroy in California, with officers elected for Gilroy. He credits George Inagaki and San Benito County members for their help.

Incarceration & Redress

• Adverse Claims Ruling Hits Merchant Who Sold Store at a Loss Because of Rumors, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Dept. of Justice ruled that losses from a forced sale of a Hollywood shop before evacuation orders were issued are not compensable under the Evacuation Claims Act of 1948. The government contended that evacuation could not be anticipated until the claimants became residents of Military Area No. 1 after March 2, 1942.
• Judicially-Determined Evacuation Claim Not Compensable, Justice Dept. Rules, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Dept. of Justice held that a former Terminal Island resident cannot recover additional evacuation claims after a court had already determined the value of his property. The government relied on a similar California fishermen’s case to conclude the determination was res adjudicata.

Commentary

• The Bricker Amendment, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Masaoka examines Senator Bricker’s proposed constitutional amendment limiting presidential treaty powers and its potential effect on Issei and Nisei rights under the Treaty of Commerce and Friendship with Japan. He notes the amendment could allow states to nullify treaty guarantees of fair treatment, recalling discriminatory alien land laws.
• Very Truly Yours: A Milestone in TV, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. Honda reviews television’s technological progress over the past year, including cheaper 21-inch sets and approaching color TV. He criticizes over-commercialized programming and crime dramas while praising the potential of color TV recorded on magnetic tape.
• Nondescript Nisei Nebula, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Hosokawa reflects on colorful Nisei characters from the Pacific Coast era and suggests Larry Tajiri could write about them. He also shares a lighthearted anecdote about his son Mike’s growing concern with clothing and wrestling.

In-Depth

• Nippon Statesman-Industrialist Kuhara Helps Foster U.S.-Japan Friendship, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. Fusanosuke Kuhara, a former Japanese state minister and industrialist, supported his daughter Matsuno’s marriage to American Hugh T. Patrick. The article profiles Kuhara’s international reputation, including his 1927 talk with Stalin, and his stated commitment to closer U.S.-Japan relations.
• Vagaries: Bohemian Sadakichi Hartmann, by Larry Tajiri, page 8. Tajiri profiles Sadakichi Hartmann, a Japanese-German artist and writer who influenced American literary and artistic circles. The article covers his plays, poetry, paintings, and the forthcoming Gene Fowler memoir about his life.

Military & Veterans

• Kazuo Kage Installed as Maui Chamber of Commerce President, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Kazuo Kage of Wailuku became the second Nisei installed as president of the Maui Chamber of Commerce. The first Nisei to hold the position was Shizuichi Mizuha.

Sports

• Dartmouth’s Japanese Slalom Champion, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Chiharu Igaya, a 22-year-old Japanese freshman at Dartmouth, won the seventh annual Victor Constant trophy race at Mt. Mansfield. Columnist Archer Winsten praised his technique as distinctive compared to other slalom runners.
• Ohio State Swimmers Ford Konno and Yoshi Oyakawa Shine, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Ford Konno won double events in Ohio State’s 64-27 win over Northwestern and set pool records. Teammates Ed Kawachika and Yoshi Oyakawa also contributed, and Norman Yabe of East Denver High won top honors at a relays meet.
• Norman Tamanaha Sets Record in 10-Mile Road Race, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Norman Tamanaha broke his own 1946 record in the 10-mile road race with a time of 59 minutes 41 seconds. He plans to race again on February 21 before an AAU marathon.
• Bob’s TV and Cosmopolitan Realty Win NAU Basketball Games, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Bob’s TV clinched the NAU Double Aye basketball title in Northern California after defeating the San Jose Zebras with Tosh Sano scoring 28 points. In Southern California, Cosmopolitan Realty upset defending champion Nisei Trading with Kengo Yamamoto scoring 27 points.

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