Vol. 5, No. 65, April 1933. 4 pages. View this issue
The April 1933 issue followed the visit of Japanese midshipmen and of Yosuke Matsuoka to the Bay Area. Young people of San Francisco hosted the midshipmen with games and dancing for about 400 guests, the N.Y.K. gave a boat party aboard the Taiyo Maru, and Matsuoka spoke to over 300 Japanese residents about Japan’s position at Geneva. An editorial by Earl Tanbara considered what the visits showed Americans of Japan. The J.A.C.L. also printed President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s reply to its inauguration telegram.
On page 3, V.S. McClatchy of the California Joint Immigration Committee argued against a Japanese quota. Elsewhere are editorials on the president and on Prohibition repeal, and chapter news from Portland to Southern California. Page 1 opens with a short story about a quarrelsome couple and their bridge games. Page 4 closes with practical notices on rabbit fever and shellfish poisoning.
What’s in this issue
Commentary
- A Tale of Tales of Humanity, by L. Thoverd Ture, page 1. Harriet and Richard Case, a seemingly devoted couple, constantly quarrel over bridge, disrupting their friends’ games. The story contrasts their discord with the budding romance of May Tani and Baron Hara, which is shrouded in gossip.
- Jottings Here and There, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Brief commentary covers inflation and deflation under the new administration, the return of legal beer, and a critique of Liberty Magazine’s anti-Japanese editorial. The writer urges citizens to challenge sensationalist publications.
- Editorial: President Roosevelt, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial praises President Roosevelt for steering the country out of the banking crisis and maintaining public confidence. It acknowledges the dictatorial powers granted by Congress as necessary in the emergency.
- Editorial: The Matsuoka Visit and the Naval Squadron, by Earl Tanbara, page 2. The editorial argues that the visit of the Japanese training squadron and Matsuoka gave Americans a humanizing view of Japan. It notes that American respect for Japan grew through these representatives.
- The Prohibition Repeal, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The article examines the Eighteenth Amendment and the proposed Twenty-First Amendment repealing it, as state legislatures prepare to vote. It notes the wets have waited patiently and the drys may become the minority.
- Letter from ‘The Farmer’ to a City Dweller, by The Farmer, page 2. A rural correspondent responds to a city friend’s letter about the bank moratorium, noting farm life buffered its hardships. The writer comments wryly on modern education through radio and print.
- Argument Opposed to a Japanese Quota, by V.S. McClatchy, page 3. McClatchy, of the California Joint Immigration Committee, argues that a quota for Japan would repeal the exclusion of Asians ineligible for citizenship. He contends that any quota would be temporary and would undermine the basic principle of the immigration law.
National
- Recognition from President Roosevelt, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The J.A.C.L. received a reply from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to its congratulatory telegram on his inauguration. The message expressed appreciation for the League’s pledge of cooperation and hope for lasting Japanese-American friendship.
- Matsuoka Addresses Japanese Audience, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Yosuke Matsuoka, Japan’s chief delegate to the League of Nations, addressed over 300 Japanese residents of Northern California on Japan’s position at Geneva. He discussed Manchuria, Japanese-American relations, and encouraged Japanese American citizens.
Community
- Young People of San Francisco Welcome Midshipmen, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Young people of San Francisco hosted midshipmen of the visiting Japanese training squadron at Golden Gate Institute on April 15 with games and dancing. The event drew about 400 attendees and was escorted by motorcycle police.
- N.Y.K. Gives Boat Party, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The N.Y.K. hosted over 350 guests aboard the Taiyo Maru on April 18 to celebrate the installation of a cabin class. The evening included movies of Japan and dancing until midnight.
- Northwest and California Chapter News, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Northwest District Council will hold its convention in Portland on Labor Day, featuring the regional oratorical contest. The Sacramento chapter successfully opposed discriminatory fishing and game bills, and Southern California chapters are forming new groups.
- Young People’s Council Reception Success, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Young People’s Council’s reception for the Japanese midshipmen was a financial and social success. The article praises police cooperation and the spirit of cooperation among local organizations that postponed their events.
- Pause and Muse, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The column reflects on the beauty of springtime and the value of pausing to appreciate nature and perspective. It also urges people to abandon racial animosity as a step toward world peace.
- Jottings Here and There (continued), by P.C. Staff, page 4. The column addresses rising racial tensions during the depression, including Filipino strikes and violence against Japanese farmers in Yakima Valley. It also notes upcoming oratorical contests and scheduling conflicts among youth organizations.
JACL
- Flashes from National Headquarters, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National Headquarters announced a monthly program for chapters to follow, with full reports to be remitted to headquarters. The editors argue that chapter cooperation is essential to the program’s success.
In-Depth
- Beware of Rabbits, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A public health notice explains how to avoid tularemia, or rabbit fever, when handling wild rabbits. It recommends rubber gloves, thorough cooking, and avoiding sickly rabbits.
- Mussel and Clam Poisoning, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Forty-two cases of shellfish poisoning were reported in California in 1932. Research found that cooking mussels with baking soda and discarding clam intestines greatly reduces the danger.
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