Mauna Loa’s eruption, Nisei jobs and a call for faster evacuee claims

Vol. 30, No. 22, June 3, 1950. 8 pages. View this issue

Mauna Loa’s eruption on June 2 led the news in this eight-page issue, with at least 60 families, many of Japanese ancestry, driven from their homes in Hawaii. The paper also reported on Nisei seeking help to clear their citizenship status, and on a Milwaukee JACL committee working to open Wisconsin jobs to Nisei. An editorial warned that evacuee claims could take a generation to settle. Larry Tajiri traced the Yellow Peril in California politics, and Bill Hosokawa wrote about a family outing in Denver.

Other items include a JACL wreath laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Memorial Day, and a baptismal font dedicated in Los Angeles to four Nisei war dead. The sports page followed Fibber Hirayama’s batting title, Henry Aihara’s broad jump win, and Wally Yonamine’s hitting for the Salt Lake Bees. Chapter news came from Gardena Valley, Twin Cities and Snake River.

What’s in this issue

National

• Families Flee Lava Flow from Hawaii Volcano, by P.C. Staff, page 1. At least 60 families, many of Japanese ancestry, were driven from their homes when Mauna Loa erupted on June 2. Lava flows destroyed about 15 homes and a Catholic church on the northern side of the flow.
• Nisei Ask Agency Aid in Clearing Citizenship Status, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Several Nisei have requested help from the Japanese government’s Overseas agency in San Francisco to clear their citizenship status. Some Nisei were registered with the Japanese government at birth by their parents and have had difficulty clearing this since the war.
• Cherry Tree Man Offers New Group to United Nations, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Yukio Ozaki offered a gift of cherry trees to the United Nations for its new New York site on behalf of Japanese school children. He made the offer to Andrew Cordier, executive assistant to UN Secretary General Trygve Lie.

JACL

• Recognition Group Cites Noboru Honda for Leadership, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Noboru Honda, chairman of the Midwest JACL, was cited by the JACL national recognitions committee for his contributions. He was honored for his stabilizing leadership in midwest Nisei organizations during resettlement and the postwar years.

Military & Veterans

• Two Nisei Lay Wreath at Tomb of U.S. Unknown Soldier, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Fuku Yokoyama and Jack Hirose of the National JACL Arlington Cemetery Committee laid a JACL wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Memorial Day. Washington JACL members also decorated the graves of 20 Nisei war dead at Arlington.
• Two Nisei Soldiers Pushed by Crowd in Tokyo Plaza, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Nisei soldier testified that he was pushed by demonstrators at a Tokyo plaza on May 30 while trying to recover notes seized from a Japanese policeman. The incident involved five occupation soldiers and was reported as the first violence against American military personnel since the occupation.
• Nisei Employment Problems Studied in JACL Survey, by Elmer R. Smith, page 5. The article reviews JACL surveys from 1936-38 showing Nisei were well educated but lacked employment outlets. It describes the Second Generation Development program and its three projects on anti-alien legislation, juvenile delinquency, and personality adjustment.
• Dedicates New Font to Nisei War Dead, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A marble baptismal font was dedicated at St. Mary’s Episcopal church in Los Angeles in honor of four Nisei soldiers who died in World War II. A bronze plaque honoring 156 men from the church who served was also dedicated.
• Ishii Heads Orange County Veterans Post, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Charles Ishii became the first Nisei veteran to serve as commander of a Veterans of Foreign Wars post composed entirely of Japanese American members in Orange County. He previously held various offices since the post’s inception.

Community

• Milwaukee JACL Takes Lead in Opening Up Jobs for Nisei in Wisconsin Industries, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Led by the Milwaukee chapter, an interim committee of Milwaukee citizens was formed to explore employment opportunities for Nisei in Wisconsin industries. The committee pledged to place qualified Nisei in local jobs amid reports of continued discrimination on the West Coast.
• Twin Cities JACL Will Hold Annual Golf Tournament, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Twin Cities JACL chapter’s third annual golf tournament will begin June 10 at the Gross golf course in Minneapolis. A four-day medal-play schedule and two match-play tournaments are planned.
• Musical Artists Will Perform at Gardena Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Gardena Valley JACL’s first 1950 meeting will feature musicians Julia Fukuzaki, Karie Shindo, and Mary Minato, and will elect new chapter officers. Membership drive results were also reported.
• Snake River JACL Honors Graduates at Banquet, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The Snake River JACL held its fifth annual graduation banquet, greeting graduates and presenting pins to past presidents. Guest speaker Rev. Albert Rostron addressed the gathering.

Commentary

• Editorial: The Slowdown on Evacuee Claims, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial warns that the evacuation claims program may take a generation to complete, given slow adjudication and inadequate funding. It argues the evacuees deserve prompt payment of their just claims.
• Race in the Headlines, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial praises the San Francisco News for ceasing use of the word ‘Jap’ and notes a growing trend among newspapers to drop racial references when unnecessary. It observes that ‘Nisei’ can often substitute for ‘Japanese American’ in headlines.
• Yellow Peril and Politics, by Larry Tajiri, page 4. Tajiri traces the rise and decline of the Yellow Peril in California politics, from the Chinese Exclusion Act to the 1944 primaries. He argues that the myth was discredited by Japanese American conduct during World War II.
• Remember Father, Part II, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The columnist reflects on his father, an Issei who died young, and his strict, sentimental character. The piece recalls the immigrant dream of prosperity that the Issei passed on to their Nisei children.
• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa recounts a family outing to the park in Denver, including a pitching contest with his son Mike. He also describes a backyard garden damaged by snow and hail.

Sports

• Hirayama Wins Batting Crown in College League, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Fibber Hirayama of Fresno State won the CCAA batting title with a .437 average. He was also named utility player on the annual CCAA all-star team.
• Aihara Retains Coast Title in Broad Jump, by P.C. Staff, page 6. USC co-captain Henry Aihara won the Pacific Coast Conference broad jump title for the second straight year with a 24-foot 5.5-inch jump. He was then named a conference representative for the meet against the Big Ten champions.
• Santa Rosa JC Hopes to Send Nishita-Fujishige Battery on Army-Backed Tour of Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Santa Rosa civic leaders proposed sending the Santa Rosa JC baseball team, led by pitcher Bill Nishita and catcher George Fujishige, on a goodwill tour of Japan. The plan awaited approval from Gen. MacArthur and the Sixth Army.
• Wally Yonamine Leads Bees With .337 Batting Average, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Wally Yonamine of the Salt Lake Bees established himself as one of the most consistent hitters in the Pioneer League. He was batting .387 among regulars as of June 1 and had hit his first pro home run at Ogden.

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