Nisei in Hawaii’s legislature and the push for naturalization and claims

Vol. 28, No. 8, February 26, 1949. 8 pages. View this issue

Twelve Nisei serving in the Hawaii Territorial Legislature led the front page, with Lawrence Nakatsuka profiling their occupations and political backgrounds. The issue also followed bills in Washington. The Judd naturalization bill, which would open naturalization to Issei, cleared the House Rules Committee, and a House Judiciary report recommended it. Mike Masaoka’s commentary expected the Justice Department to request funds so evacuation claims could be paid, and Edward J. Ennis answered readers’ questions on those claims.

Elsewhere in these 8 pages, Bill Hosokawa wrote two columns about Nisei friends living with illness, and Larry Tajiri looked at how Hollywood films treated Nisei. A Seattle memorial to Nisei war dead was announced, and national Nisei bowling tournaments in Salt Lake City drew 36 men’s teams and 14 women’s teams. Passengers aboard the General Gordon were listed by destination.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Twelve Japanese American Representatives Serve in Two Houses of Hawaii Legislature, by LAWRENCE NAKATSUKA, page 1. Twelve Nisei serve in the Hawaii Territorial Legislature, eight of them Republicans and most of them freshmen. The article profiles their varied occupations and political backgrounds.
• Aged Man Found Dead at California Welfare Camp, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hachinosuke Tanabe, 82, a resident of the River Junction Camp for Aged Japanese in Manteca, died by suicide on Feb. 17. He had lived at the camp for three years.
• Appoint Nisei Girl To Teaching Staff Of School in L.A., by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rowena Kubo was appointed to the teaching staff of East First Street elementary school in the Los Angeles public school system. She previously worked at the Aliso Village nursery school.
• Estate Given To Four Nisei In Sacramento, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Superior Court Judge Peter Shields awarded the $13,750 estate of Carl Scholz to the Osaki family after Soviet restrictions prevented delivery to his German heirs. The decision ended more than two years of litigation.
• Justice Department Advises Care in Filing Claims Forms, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Justice Department warned that evacuation claims must cover only losses directly caused by the evacuation, not vested property or contraband. Contraband claims fall under a separate bill, S29.
• Report Increase In CARE Service To Japan Residents, by P.C. Staff, page 2. CARE reports rising demand in Japan, with clothing and blanket packages in greater demand than food packages. Paul Gordon, chief of CARE missions in the Orient, made the observations in an interview with the Midwest JACL office.
• Unusual Nisei Attends Classes At Minnesota, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Cecil Uyehara, a Japanese-father and English-mother student born in England, is enrolled at the University of Minnesota. He hopes to enter journalism and praised Japanese American communities for their generosity.
• Chicago’s Human Relations Group Wins Wide Recognition, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Chicago Council Against Racial and Religious Discrimination, a coalition including JACL, has gained national standing. Dr. Waitstill Sharp will succeed Dr. Homer Jack as executive director.
• Large Group of War-Stranded Nisei Return on Gen. Gordon, by P.C. Staff, page 3. 153 persons of Japanese ancestry arrived in San Francisco aboard the General Gordon, the second largest group from Japan since the war. The ship also carried 195 passengers to Honolulu.
• Buddhists to Use Applause-o-meter At Talent Show, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Westem Young Buddhist League conference talent show in Fresno will use an applause meter. Misa Asakawa is chairman of the event.
• Large Group of War-Stranded Nisei Return, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A list of 153 passengers arriving in San Francisco from Japan on the General Gordon, including destinations in California, other states, Canada and Mexico. The Nichi Bei Times supplied the passenger information.
• Son of Noted Japanese Artist Arrives for Permanent Stay, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Makoto Iwamatsu, son of artist Jun Iwamatsu, arrived in San Francisco under a special bill allowing his permanent residence. The bill also granted residence to his parents.
• Glad U.S. Won War, Says Nisei Businessman, by P.C. Staff, page 5. John S. Nitta reported after a three-month world tour that many Japanese were glad the United States won the war. He described poverty and shortages in Japan and in other countries he visited.
• Former 442nd Chaplain Takes New Pastorate in Chicago, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Rev. George Aki will leave the Fresno Japanese Congregational church for a pastorate in Chicago. He had reactivated the church after serving as a 442nd combat team chaplain.
• President Line Revises Entire Ship Schedule, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The American President Line will call at Yokohama on all passenger voyages following the Army’s lifting of travel restrictions to Japan. The change gives Issei and Nisei more opportunities to visit relatives.

National

• DC Sponsors Legislation to Amend Enemy Trading Act, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A bill introduced by Senator Magnuson at the JACL ADC request would let paroled internees file claims for vested property and extend the filing deadline. Mike Masaoka argues that former internees were largely non-dangerous and should be eligible.
• Rules Committee Approves Judd Naturalization Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House Rules Committee approved the Judd bill, which would open naturalization to Issei and end racial immigration restrictions. The measure is expected to reach the House floor around March 1.
• Fujino Loses Claim for Land Seized by U.S., by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling denying Kaname Fujino’s claim to land seized under the Trading with the Enemy Act. The court found the land belonged to his father, an enemy alien in Japan.
• Body of Nisei Arrives in U.S. for Final Burial, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The remains of Sgt. Toshi Teramoto, son of a Parlier, California family, were among those returned from the Pacific for burial in the United States. The Army announced the return on Feb. 15.
• National Young Buddhist Group Seeks Recognition by Army of Religious Cemetery Markers, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The National Young Buddhist Coordinating Council will ask the Army to recognize Buddhist markers at national cemeteries and to permit Issei ministers to visit nearby posts. The council also proposed a Buddhist consultant for the chief of chaplains.
• House Group Approves Bill On Contraband, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A House Judiciary subcommittee unanimously approved S29 to compensate persons of Japanese ancestry for damage or loss to contraband items deposited with the Justice Department. The bill now goes to the full House Judiciary Committee.
• Masaoka Participates In National Meeting On Civil Liberties, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Mike Masaoka served as a resource speaker at the civil rights section of the National Citizens’ Conference on Civil Liberties in Washington. JACL ADC delegates attended with representatives of many national organizations.
• Noted Painter Named to U.S. Arts Institute, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Yasuo Kuniyoshi was elected an honorary associate of the National Institute of Arts and Letters. Because he is ineligible for citizenship, he was elected in an honorary capacity.
• House Judiciary Committee Report Favors Passage of Naturalization Equality Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A House Judiciary Committee report recommends the Judd bill, HR 199, which would extend naturalization and immigration equality to Asian and Pacific peoples. The report cites testimony from Mike Masaoka and the State Department.

Military & Veterans

• Nisei Veterans Plan Dedication of GI Memorial, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A 21-foot granite memorial to Nisei war dead will be dedicated in Seattle on Memorial Day. It was funded by $10,000 in contributions and will list the campaigns in which Nisei GIs fought.
• Nisei Fights in Washington, D.C., by P.C. Staff, page 8. Pvt. Hanford K. Maeda, flyweight champion of the Army Pacific Command, competes in the All-Army World-Wide boxing tournament. The article describes his Army record and background.
• American Veterans Committee Backs Naturalization Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The AVC Bulletin highlighted the Sadao S. Munemori chapter in Los Angeles and urged support for pending immigration and naturalization bills. It noted that Mrs. Munemori was living in a relocation center when her son received the Medal of Honor.

JACL

• Attorney Cites Evidence Rule for Evacuation Loss Claims, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Frank Chuman advises that claimants without written records should still file, since oral testimony, affidavits and other evidence can establish losses. He outlines several types of evidence acceptable to the Justice Department.
• Satow Visits JACL Units in Southwest Area, by P.C. Staff, page 2. JACL national director Masao Satow is visiting New Mexico and Texas to organize chapters. Groups in the Rio Grande Valley and Albuquerque have petitioned for chapter charters.

Sports

• JACL Delegate Takes Part In Protest on ABC Race Ban, by Everett James Starr, page 2. Dick Akagi of the New York JACL joined a demonstration against the American Bowling Congress’s white-only membership policy in Atlantic City. He spoke at the rally on behalf of the JACL and Nisei bowlers.
• First Negro Enrolls at Santa Clara; Dodgers Sign Another Negro Player, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Melvin Lewis became the first Negro student at the University of Santa Clara through a football scholarship. The Brooklyn Dodgers also signed their seventh Negro player, Richard Robinson.
• Hawaii All-Stars Favored as 36 Teams Enter National Nisei Bowling Tourney, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The 3rd annual National JACL bowling tournament in Salt Lake City features 36 teams, with the Hawaii All-Stars favored. Prizes total about $2,500 and last year’s champions Okada Insurance return to defend their title.
• Fourteen Teams Enter Women’s Bowling Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Fourteen teams will compete in the 3rd annual Nisei Women’s bowling tournament in Salt Lake City. The Los Angeles All-Stars, Denver All-Stars and Seattle’s Over the Top team are expected to lead.
• Murray Taiyos, Temple Zephyrs Tied in League, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Temple Noodle Zephyrs and the Murray Taiyos are tied for first in the Salt Lake JACL basketball league. Other results of the Feb. 23 games were also reported.

Commentary

• Expect Justice Department To Request Funds for Claims, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Mike Masaoka expects the Justice Department to request funds so evacuation claims can be paid in the next fiscal year. Without a request, payments could be delayed for 18 months.
• Nisei in Hollywood: RKO and the Kawakita Case, by Larry Tajiri, page 4. The column examines RKO’s film The Clay Pigeon, which uses the basic situation of the Kawakita treason case. It also discusses MGM’s Battleground, which includes a Nisei GI character.
• Happy Ending, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial praises St. Paul and Minneapolis for their campaign against discrimination against Jews, Negroes and Nisei. It cites a state FEPC and new job opportunities as signs of progress.
• Still Scapegoats, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial criticizes Senator Bricker’s proposed public housing amendment as a possible attempt to wreck the federal housing program. It recalls his earlier support for local option against Japanese Americans.
• Exile, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Australia is deporting the Indonesian wife of citizen John O’Keefe under its White Australia policy. The editorial criticizes the policy and notes O’Keefe’s decision to follow his wife into exile.
• There’s Always Hope, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Hosokawa writes about a Nisei friend who has survived decades of tuberculosis and remains cheerful and generous. The friend is now about to be discharged, take a laboratory job and marry.
• We Remember Another Nisei, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Hosokawa recalls a Malaya-born Nisei who contracted leprosy and continued to hope and write while in a leprosarium. The column describes their visits and encouragement.
• Questions on Evacuee Claims, by Edward J. Ennis, page 6. Ennis answers questions about evacuation claims for lost crops, farm losses, and rose bushes. He explains how losses should be calculated under the Evacuation Claims Act.

Arts & Entertainment

• Black Dark and Other Notes on Nisei in Arts, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Milton Ozaki’s short novel The Black Dark appears in Detective Story magazine and Yasuo Kuniyoshi’s painting is in a touring exhibition. Sessue Hayakawa’s paintings also go on exhibition in Los Angeles.

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