Fighting for the Walter omnibus immigration bill, March 1952

Vol. 34, No. 12, March 22, 1952. 8 pages. View this issue

The omnibus immigration and naturalization bill drove the news in this eight-page issue. Rep. Francis Walter told JACL ADC that the House would debate it soon, and more than thirty national organizations urged its passage. The paper reported that the bill would end racial bars to naturalization, and an editorial summarized its six main changes. On page 2, the Senate’s ratification of the Japan peace treaty ended enemy alien status for Japanese nationals in the United States, and Mike Masaoka reflected on the decade since Pearl Harbor.

Also on the front page was the story of James Nishimura, a Nisei Army veteran in Des Moines who decided to buy a West Des Moines home despite neighborhood pressure. Inside are an editorial on the tenth anniversary of Manzanar, Bill Hosokawa’s column on Frank Torizawa’s octopus fry, an Iwao Kawakami poem, chapter news from across JACL, and sports pages covering Ford Konno and bowling and basketball results.

What’s in this issue

National

  • Nisei Army Veteran Changes Plans, Will Buy Area Home Despite Protests, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Des Moines Nisei veteran James Nishimura announced he would proceed with buying a West Des Moines home despite secret neighborhood pressure. Neighbors reportedly assured him they welcomed the family, though anonymous calls had earlier threatened the sale.
  • Thirty Groups Urge Passage of Omnibus Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. More than thirty national organizations urged speedy enactment of the Walter-McCarran Omnibus Immigration and Naturalization Bill. Twenty-one signed a statement to Congress opposing efforts to block a floor vote.
  • House Debate, Vote Nears for Walter Omnibus Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Francis Walter told JACL ADC that the omnibus immigration bill, which grants naturalization rights to Asian permanent residents and quotas to Japan and Southeast Asia, would be debated and voted on soon. JACL members were urged to contact their congressmen immediately.
  • Extensive Hearings Held on Omnibus Bill, Says Walter in Reply to Critics, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Walter defended his omnibus bill against charges of inadequate hearings, citing four years of study and 56 witnesses. He outlined its main changes, including eliminating racial bars to immigration and naturalization and revising quotas.
  • Enemy Alien Status of Issei Abolished as Senate Ratifies Japan Peace Treaty, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Senate ratified the Japanese peace treaty on March 20, ending enemy alien status for Japanese nationals in the United States. Mike Masaoka reflected on the decade since Pearl Harbor and Manzanar’s tenth anniversary.
  • Senate Group Approves Two Private Bills, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved two private bills for persons of Japanese ancestry, one admitting a Japanese fiancee of a Utah veteran and another admitting an adopted Japanese child. Both were placed on the Senate calendar.
  • Six More Bills Reported Favorably by Senate Group, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Senate Judiciary Committee favorably reported six private bills, five admitting adopted Japanese children of American citizens and one restoring citizenship to a Nisei who voted in Japanese elections.
  • Court Asked for Restoration of Citizenship, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Shizue Sugino, a wartime strandee in Japan, sought restoration of her United States citizenship in a federal court hearing. Consular authorities had refused her a passport because she voted in postwar Japanese elections.
  • Three JACL Officials Hold Chicago Parley, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Mike Masaoka, Dr. Randolph Sakada, and Mas Satow met in Chicago to discuss the omnibus bill, claims processing, and the San Francisco convention. Richard Akagi was temporarily transferred to Washington to help secure passage of the bills.

Incarceration & Redress

  • JACL Joins Fight Against Racist Vandalism in Los Angeles, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL Regional Office entered the fight against racist bombings of Negro homes on Dunsmuir Avenue in southwest Los Angeles. A citizens’ steering committee was formed with NAACP cooperation to pursue the vandals.

Community

  • Katherine Shiroma Crowned Japanese Queen at University of Hawaii, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Freshman Katherine Shiroma was named queen of the Japanese group in the University of Hawaii Ka Palapala beauty contest. Joan Nakamura was runnerup among the semi-finalists.
  • Nisei Veteran to Buy House Despite Threats, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Continuing the Des Moines story, James Nishimura described how the real estate agency advised against the purchase before neighbors assured him of their welcome. The Nishimuras, a 442nd veteran and his wife, hoped to find another West Des Moines house.
  • Many Nisei Among GIs Wed to Japanese Girls in Rush Before Deadline, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Many Nisei GIs in Japan married Japanese women in a rush before the GI Brides Act expired on March 19. Such spouses may not be able to join them in the United States unless Congress acts.
  • Connally Caravan Leaves After Tour Boosting Statehood, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A group of Hawaiians returned from a two-week tour of Dallas, Washington and New York to counter Senator Connally’s remarks questioning Hawaii’s Americanism. Members described warm receptions, including a Senate standing ovation.
  • Seattle Nisei Conference Notes, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Announcements in the Eastern district and Seabrook communities were reported this week. Plans for the upcoming district meeting were discussed.
  • Philadelphia JACL Raises Funds with Pocket Book Library, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Philadelphia JACL raises chapter funds by selling donated used pocket books at chapter meetings for ten cents each. Proceeds cover postage and other small expenses.
  • Marysville JACL Will Hold Annual Community Picnic, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Marysville JACL will hold its annual community picnic in the Sierra Nevada foothills on March 30. A queen contest will select a representative for the national convention.
  • Christian Group Holds Conference in Pocatello, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Intermountain Christian Youth Conference met in Pocatello on March 1 and 2 under the theme To Serve the Present Age. New officers were elected for the 1953 conference in Salt Lake City.
  • Coachella Chapter Holds Installation of New Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Coachella Valley JACL installed Mas Oshiki and his cabinet at a dinner held in conjunction with bowling league awards. Regional Director Tats Kushida served as installing officer.
  • Attorney to Discuss Making of Wills, by P.C. Staff, page 6. John F. Aiso will speak to the Downtown Los Angeles JACL on the importance of wills, noting that many Issei and Nisei neglect to make them. The luncheon is set for March 26.
  • Child Injured in Seattle, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Geraldine Uno, 7, was seriously injured and Eric Gustafson, 7, was fatally injured when a car struck them in a school crosswalk in Seattle. The driver said the children ran into the street.
  • Reno JACL Hears Senate Candidate, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Reno JACL held its first general meeting, hearing Democratic Senate candidate Alan Bible speak. Plans were discussed for an Easter egg hunt and a fishing contest.
  • Install New Montana Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Officers of the Montana JACL were installed at a banquet in Billings, with George Kawamoto as president. Guest speakers included Earl Fagg and Russ Hart.
  • Select Colorado Nisei Farmer for Farm Youth Exchange Plan, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Paul Hoshiko of Greeley, Colorado, was selected to represent US farm youth in a six-month foreign exchange, the first Nisei to do so. Officials said it would help counter Communist charges of discrimination.
  • Hawaiian Nisei Will Teach in Idaho Atom City, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Etsuko Kurosawa, a University of Hawaii graduate, became the new home economics teacher at Butte High School in Arco, Idaho. She previously taught at Waipahu High School near Honolulu.
  • Nisei Dancer Will Appear at Kabuki Theater, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Chicago classical dancer Haruko Uyeda will appear as a guest artist at Tokyo’s Kabuki-za theater on March 22. She is in Japan to further her study of classical dancing and Kabuki.
  • Awamura Heads Honolulu Chamber, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Tokuyoshi Awamura, a Honolulu jeweler, was elected president of the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce. He succeeds prior leadership at the annual elections.
  • Eastern District Council Spring Meeting Set for Seabrook, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Sen. Robert C. Hendrickson and Mike Masaoka are slated to address the JACL Eastern district council spring meeting on March 29 in Bridgeton, N.J. The program includes bowling, golf, a banquet and a panel discussion.

Military & Veterans

  • Nisei Veteran Heads VFW Post in Hood River, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sho Endow, Jr., a World War II Nisei veteran, was elected commander of the Hood River VFW post, in a community that once protested Nisei names being removed from the honor roll. Other officers and district delegates were also named.
  • Seek Legislation to Assist Nisei Postal Worker Group, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mike Masaoka urged a House subcommittee to approve legislation helping Nisei postal workers who lost jobs due to evacuation, and to extend it to all Nisei federal employees and Hawaii Nisei denied appointments. Officials expressed sympathy with the proposed amendments.
  • Nisei Soldier Reported Hurt in Korean War, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Pfc. George Yoshida, a draftee from Los Angeles, was reported wounded in Korea on March 1. He was a graduate of Bridgeton High School in New Jersey.
  • 442nd Veterans Fete Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Honolulu planned an annual banquet to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the unit’s formation. The event was set for March 22.
  • Nisei Airwoman Takes Airlift on Japan Trip, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Airwoman Pauline Asano of London, Ontario, became the first Canadian airwoman to fly the RCAF airlift route to Tokyo. She traveled on 52 days compassionate leave to visit her ailing mother in Japan.

JACL

  • District Council Will Pick JACL’s Miss Homecoming, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Northern California-Western Nevada district council will select the Miss Homecoming candidate for the June national JACL convention on May 18 at Palo Alto. Chapters hold local contests with a May 1 entry deadline.

Commentary

  • The Walter Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial urges support for the Walter omnibus immigration bill, which will go before the House within the week. It summarizes six significant changes, including making all races eligible for naturalization.
  • A Tenth Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial marks the tenth anniversary of the Manzanar relocation center, reflecting on how Japanese Americans regained political, social and economic security. It urges that the injustices of evacuation not be forgotten.
  • The Step Beyond Petition, by Iwao Kawakami, page 4. A poem based on the 1616 Japanese tenant-farmer revolt, in which villagers push past petitions to armed resistance against crushing taxes and hunger. The poem is reprinted from Kawakami’s collection The Parents and Other Poems.
  • Frank Torizawa’s Octopus Fry, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Bill Hosokawa describes Frank Torizawa’s annual octopus fry, a lavish Chinese dinner for Denver newspapermen. He also notes how Torizawa’s Granada Fish & Poultry Co. changed local fish-eating habits.
  • Box-Score on Race Relations: First Steps Toward a New Race Relations Program, by Elmer R. Smith, page 4. Smith argues that a race relations program must first diagnose a community’s different types of discriminators. He explains that fair-weather liberals, fair-weather illiberals, and all-weather illiberals each require different approaches.
  • Sacramento JACL To Provide Food for GI Social, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Sacramento JACL will provide refreshments for a servicemen’s social at the YWCA. The chapter also joined a community memorial project honoring local Nisei who died in World War II and Korea.

Sports

  • Konno, World’s Greatest Swimmer, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Hawaiian Nisei swimmer Ford Konno of Ohio State is rising toward Olympic recognition after setting a fast 1500-meter time despite a side cramp. He is considered a strong contender for the Helsinki Games.
  • Sato Enters Coast Boxing Tourney, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Several Nisei athletes were reported in boxing, bowling and basketball this week. Notable results included Nancy Ito’s Denver AAU title and Horace Nishijima’s selection to an all-star team.
  • Bowler $300 and Perfect Game Pass, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Detroit Nisei bowler Tom Yasuhiro missed a perfect game by one pin, settling for a 299. His 743 series is the highest by a Michigan Nisei bowler this year.
  • San Francisco Saints Favored as First-Round Pairings Set in Intermountain Cage Play, by P.C. Staff, page 6. First-round pairings were announced for the 17th annual Salt Lake JACL invitational basketball tournament. The San Francisco Chinese Saints are rated the favorite.
  • Ed Dong, Dragoneers Sweep Oregon Nisei Bowling Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Ed Dong and the Dragoneers won major honors at the annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League handicap tournament in Portland. Sachi Nakata also took the women’s singles and all-events titles.

Obituaries

  • Issei Pioneer Dies, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Susumu Ichishita, a San Jose pioneer of more than 40 years, died March 13 and was buried March 18. He was the father of several Nisei athletes.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.

More from Issue archive