Nisei and the Walter Resolution, Korea and Nisei Week in 1950

Vol. 31, No. 7, August 19, 1950. 8 pages. View this issue

The Walter Resolution, which would remove race as a barrier to naturalization, ran through the front page of this eight-page issue. Reports explained why it stalled in the Senate after Sen. Scott Lucas moved for reconsideration, and how newspapers and agencies wrongly reported it as passed. Mike Masaoka of the JACL ADC described the security provisions added in conference. The Korean War touched the news too: Pfc. Mitsuru Goto of Denver died, and Sgt. Fred Y. Furukawa was wounded. In Denver, two men were jailed for assaulting a Nisei spectator at a Bon Odori dance.

Columns by Al T. Miyadi, Jobo Nakamura and Elmer R. Smith appear on page 5, with Smith recalling how the JACL fought espionage rumors in 1942. Sports pages follow Ford Konno’s world-record swim and Wally Yonamine’s hitting. Nisei Week in Los Angeles, JACL queen contests and 21 Nisei among 39 Hawaii witnesses cited for contempt also made the issue.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Two Men Jailed for Assault Against Nisei at Denver Bon Odori Dance, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Two men were jailed in Denver on Aug. 13 after assaulting Nisei spectator Henry Yamamoto at a Bon Odori street dance. Police said the pair called out racially derogatory remarks before a scuffle broke out.
• Two Nisei Get San Francisco Teaching Posts, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Kamio Maruoka and Tadami Yamasaki were appointed as permanent teachers in San Francisco public schools for the fall term. Maruoka is the first San Francisco Nisei to hold such a public school post, while many Nisei were qualified to teach before the war but were unable to receive appointments.
• Justice Department May Send Aides to Prepare Cases, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Justice Department indicated it will send special assistants to Hawaii to help prepare the contempt of Congress cases before a territorial grand jury. The citations were sent to U.S. Attorney Ray J. O’Brien in Honolulu.
• Three Nisei Win Doctorate Degrees, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Three Minnesota Nisei, Drs. Thomas H. Ige, David Imagawa and Akira Omachi, were awarded doctorates from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Loyola universities. Ige is an associate professor of economics and the others work in bacteriology and physiology.
• Idaho Falls JACL Float Wins Prize at War Bonnet Roundup, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Idaho Falls JACL chapter’s float took first place in the novelty division of the War Bonnet Roundup parade on Aug. 9. The float was built as a corral with a cowboy holding a lariat.
• Call Off Rescue Posse Plans as Two Nisei Located, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Two Sacramento men, LaVerne Kurahara and Robert Shimada, were reported safe after being lost for over 24 hours while fishing near the American River. Plans for a search party were cancelled.
• Three Nisei Hurt at Denver Park, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Three Nisei were injured when a ride called the Loop-O-Plane broke in half at Lakeside Park in Denver on Aug. 12. They were taken to Denver General Hospital.
• YPCC Will Hold Asilomar Retreat, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Northern California Young People’s Christian Conference will hold its 1950 retreat at Asilomar from Sept. 4-10. Ministers will lead Bible studies and discussion groups, and a scholarship will be awarded.
• Nisei in Politics: Territorial Politicians Remain Reticent About Announcing Plans for Coming Elections, by Lawrence Nakatsuka, page 3. Hawaii’s fall elections are getting a late start as politicians hold back due to statehood uncertainty. Many Nisei incumbents and newcomers are expected to file, as the Republicans hold an advantage amid a Democratic split.
• Kathy Tamura Selected as Intermountain Candidate, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Kathy Tamura of Murray, Utah, a member of the Mount Olympus JACL, was chosen from 15 candidates as the Intermountain District’s entry in the JACL queen contest. The national queen will be crowned at the convention in Chicago.
• Pick Candidates for Nisei Week Queen Contest, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Five finalists were selected in the Los Angeles Nisei Week queen contest, with Sachi Kazunaga leading the balloting. The winner will be crowned at the coronation ball on Aug. 19.
• Los Angeles Area Residents Celebrate Annual Nisei Week, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Los Angeles’ Nisei Week festival runs from Aug. 19 to 27 with a queen contest, baby show, Issei pioneer picnic and ondo parades. The article outlines the week’s schedule of events.
• Eight Mainland Young Buddhists Leave for Hawaii, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Eight Nisei representatives of mainland Young Buddhists organizations were set to travel to Honolulu for the 17th annual YBA federation convention. Rose Moritomo, the 1950 WYBL queen, won her trip as a contest prize.
• Invite Applications for Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Chi Alpha Delta alumnae scholarship is accepting applications through Aug. 31, with final selection in early September. Applicants should send transcripts to scholarship chairman Mrs. Sandie Okada.
• Demoted Nisei Police Officer Denied Hearing by Maui Group, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Maui police commission rescinded its earlier decision to hold a hearing for Tatsuo Murayama, a Nisei officer demoted to junior clerk on charges of disloyalty. Murayama’s supporters, including the Hawaiian Government Employees’ Association, protested the reversal.
• Sacramento JACL Names June Manji as Queen Candidate, by P.C. Staff, page 6. June Manji, a state civil service employee, was chosen as the Sacramento JACL candidate for the Northern California-Western Nevada district queen contest. Her attendants were Alice Kuwabara, Rosie Morita and Terry Ogata.
• Buddhist Album Now Ready for Public Distribution, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A pictorial album marking the 50th anniversary of the San Jose Buddhist church is now available. It features scenes from anniversary events, club activities and individual members.
• Denver JACL Queen Popularity Poll Leader Yoshiye Yamaga, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Yoshiye Yamaga took a strong lead in the Denver JACL queen popularity poll, with the final count set for Sept. 1. The top finalists will be selected at the Mountain Plains district convention.
• Two Outstanding Musicians Perform Benefit Concert for Japan Relief in New York, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Violinist Estelle Iwamoto and soprano Hizi Koyke performed a benefit concert for Japan relief sponsored by the Japanese Methodist church of New York City. The article includes a photo of the performers.
• California Nisei Collegians Plan Los Angeles Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Representatives of Nisei campus groups met in Fresno to plan a statewide conference in Los Angeles on Dec. 23. The meeting will be the first statewide gathering of Nisei students since World War II.
• Hawaii Minister to Study at Oberlin Seminary, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Rev. Hiro Higuchi, pastor of the Waipahu Community church, is taking a year’s leave to study at Oberlin Theological Seminary. His wife Hisako will also do graduate work there.
• JACL Program Described at Meet in Switzerland, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Denver teacher Winifred Gordon presented the JACL-ADC legislative program at an International Association of University Women convention in Zurich. Her presentation covered evacuation claims, deportation code amendment and naturalization equality.
• Mountain Plains JACL Council Plans Convention in Denver, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Mountain Plains JACL district council convention will be held in Denver over Labor Day weekend at the Shirley-Savoy Hotel. Planned events include a legislative meeting with Mike Masaoka and a coronation ball.
• Three Nisei Added to Staff of Illinois Public Aid Commission, by P.C. Staff, page 8. John Yoshino, Mrs. Helen Mukoyama and Chiaki Takizawa joined the Cook County staff of the Illinois Public Aid Commission. Each brings graduate training or public welfare experience.

National

• Walter Resolution Held Up by Land Mine Confusion in Korea War Era, by I. F. Gordon, page 1. The Walter Resolution, which would eliminate race as a barrier to naturalization, has been confused in reporting after Sen. Scott Lucas moved for reconsideration. The article explains the parliamentary situation and how the press and officials misreported its status.
• Walter Resolution Situation Confuses Officials, Newspapers, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Various newspapers, official journals and agencies reported the Walter Resolution as passed or law, despite it still being blocked in the Senate. The article documents the inaccurate reporting across outlets.
• Security Riders in Measure Cause Sen. Lucas to Enter Motion for Reconsideration, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A parliamentary motion by Sen. Scott Lucas is temporarily blocking the Walter Resolution from reaching the President. The security provisions added in conference, which target Communists among naturalization applicants, are the reason for the delay, according to JACL ADC legislative director Mike Masaoka.
• Nisei Canadian Enlists in Special Korea-Bound Unit, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Yoshiki Shirakawa of Toronto is believed to be the first Japanese Canadian to enlist in the Canadian brigade bound for Korea. He left with a draft on Aug. 11 for training at Petawawa.
• 21 Nisei Among 39 Hawaiians Facing Contempt Charges, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The U.S. House cited 39 Hawaii witnesses for contempt after they refused to answer questions about Communism, 21 of them of Japanese ancestry. Contempt of Congress carries a possible one-year jail term and $1,000 fine.
• Security Proposals Hold Up Passage of Walter Resolution, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Masaoka explained that the security provisions added to the Walter Resolution are aimed at Communists and unlikely to affect Asian aliens significantly. He noted the JACL ADC expected such safeguards might be added.
• Truck Driver Faces Hearing in Fatal Crash, by P.C. Staff, page 2. George Nakano of Oceanside was released pending an inquest after his fruit truck struck a car driven by Lamar Trotti Jr., killing Trotti and a family maid. The collision occurred on Highway 101 near San Clemente.
• Truman Vetoes Private Bill for Alien Widow, by P.C. Staff, page 8. President Truman vetoed a private bill to admit a 61-year-old Swedish-Japanese widow for permanent residence, saying her case did not justify an exception to immigration law. The JACL ADC noted that private bills passed by Congress do not automatically become law.

Military & Veterans

• Pfc. Goto Honored Recently in Rescue of Japanese Child, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Pfc. Mitsuru Goto of Denver, the first Colorado Nisei killed in the Korean War, died after his jeep hit a mine. He had earlier received an army citation for rescuing a Japanese girl from a river.
• Seattle Nisei Reported Hurt in Korea War, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sgt. Fred Y. Furukawa, a 442nd veteran, was wounded in Korea on July 31 and is hospitalized in Tokyo. He is one of five Furukawa sons who have served in the U.S. Army.
• Nisei Volunteer Leaves for Training with Army Air Force, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sam H. Maenaga of Guadalupe, the first Nisei volunteer from that town, reported for Air Force duty after passing his physical. He was ordered to Lackland Field, Texas for training.
• Five Nisei Attend Disabled American Veterans Meet from Hawaii, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Five Nisei were among seven Hawaii delegates heading to the Disabled American Veterans national convention in San Francisco. The delegates include chairman Albert Y. Oki.
• Veterans of Famous Red Bull Division Will Meet in Iowa, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. The 34th Infantry Division Association will hold its third reunion in Des Moines in September. Nisei veterans of the 100th Battalion and 442nd, who once served with the division, are encouraged to attend.
• 50 Hawaiians Interviewed for 442nd Picture, by P.C. Staff, page 8. About 50 Nisei war veterans in Hawaii were interviewed for roles in MGM’s Go for Broke, a film about the 442nd Combat Team. Writer-producer Robert Pirosh was expected to select the cast.

Obituaries

• Fresnan Killed, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Harry Mataichi Ono, 62, of Fresno was killed when his car was struck by a military train at a Fowler crossing on Aug. 10. He is survived by his widow, two daughters and three grandchildren.
• Explosion Burns Fatal to Issei, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Noboru Takiguchi, 52, died in Glendale, Arizona after burns from an exploding oil pipe while clearing grass. The incident occurred earlier in the day he died.

JACL

• Los Angeles Youth Wins 1950 Ben Masaoka Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Ken Tokiyama of Los Angeles won the 1950-51 Pvt. Ben Frank Masaoka Memorial scholarship. Paul S. Kato Jr. was the second choice, and Tokiyama plans to study medicine at the University of Utah.
• Nominate Sim Togasaki for JACL’s Leadership Award, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The National Recognitions Committee nominated Susumu Sim Togasaki of San Francisco for a JACL Distinguished Leadership Award. He was a founder of the JACL movement and served as its first elected national treasurer from 1932 to 1938.

Commentary

• Nisei Voice: Between Carbons, by Al T. Miyadi, page 5. A columnist reflects on the postwar lives of Nisei veterans in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the Korean War, and the stalled UN peace efforts. The column also includes a playful anecdote about singer Nat King Cole.
• A Second Look: A Returned Evacuee Finds New Concept of California, by Jobo Nakamura, page 5. A returned evacuee now living in Berkeley reflects on how his view of California has changed since his prewar childhood of economic hardship. He finds the state’s climate and job opportunities far better than before the war, though racial attitudes persist.
• Do You Know? National JACL Combatted Anti-Nisei Rumors on Coast, by Elmer R. Smith, page 5. Elmer Smith recounts how the JACL worked during 1942 to refute espionage and sabotage rumors against persons of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast. He describes how the organization’s efforts to prevent mass evacuation of citizens were unsuccessful.

Sports

• Ford Konno Beats Furuhashi, Sets New World’s Record in 800-Meter Event at Osaka, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Ford Konno, a 17-year-old Honolulu swimmer, defeated Japan’s Hironoshin Furuhashi in an 800-meter exhibition at Osaka. His performance helped the U.S. 800-yard relay team set a new world record.
• Yonamine Challenges Leaders in Hits, Runs, Stolen Bases, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Wally Yonamine of the Salt Lake Bees is competing for Pioneer League leadership in hits, runs and stolen bases with three weeks left. He also raised his batting average to .336 and hit a second home run.
• Zebras Schedule Rematch with Hawaiians, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The San Jose Zebras will face the Hawaiian All-Stars again after the National Baseball Congress. The Fresno and Denver Nisei clubs have also scheduled a series beginning Sept. 2.
• Matsubu Clouts First Homer to Lead Yuma to Win, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Hank Matsubu had a strong performance for the Yuma Panthers in a doubleheader sweep over San Bernardino on Aug. 13. He tripled, singled and hit his first homer since entering organized baseball.
• Roy Higa Slated to Fight Morales in Los Angeles, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Hawaiian bantamweight Roy Higa is scheduled to fight Jess Morales in a preliminary bout at Olympic Auditorium on Aug. 22. His manager says a win could lead to bigger bouts.

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