JACL chapters organize and install leaders across the West, 1938

Vol. 10, No. 17, February 1938. 4 pages. View this issue

Chapter life across the West filled this four-page issue from February 1938. The Northern California District Council met in Sacramento to set its program for the year, and the Bay Region chapter seated new leaders before roughly 850 guests at the St. Francis Hotel. National president James Sakamoto presented charters and installed officers in Seattle and Auburn, Washington. National officers set the national convention for September 1 through 5 in Los Angeles. Editorials on page 2 looked at the League’s year ahead, and Dorsey E. Dent wrote on the four bases of American democracy.

Other items cover a Los Angeles membership drive, Nisei Week plans, storm damage to California crops, and a decline in the sardine catch. Smaller stories note an essay contest won by seven Seattle students, a flag presented to the Portland chapter, and a sonnet by Toyo Suyemoto chosen for an anthology of verse.

What’s in this issue

Community

  • Northern Council Launches Program for Work of Year, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Northern California District Council of the JACL met in Sacramento to plan its 1938 program supporting the Second Generation Development Project and the national convention. Actions included protecting the League’s title, electing officers, accepting the Florin chapter, and planning a regional oratorical contest.
  • Northwest Board to Elect Leaders, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Northwest District Council will meet at Auburn in connection with the White River Valley chapter’s inaugural ceremonies to elect officers and plan the year’s work. Preparations for a large delegation to the national convention in Los Angeles will also be discussed.
  • Huge Crowd Sees Bay Region Folks Seat New Leaders, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Roughly 850 persons attended the Bay Region JACL installation ball at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco on February 12. Walter Tsukamoto installed officers, and Wallace Alexander was honored for his aid in passing the Oriental Veterans’ Act.
  • The Four Bases of Our Democracy, by Dorsey E. Dent, page 2. Dorsey Dent, adjutant of Gresham Post No. 30, American Legion, delivered this patriotic address to the Japanese American Fellowship League of Gresham on Lincoln’s birthday. He urged members to uphold citizenship, free government, civic responsibility, and duty as pillars of American democracy.
  • Los Angeles Sets Mighty Drive for Chapter Members, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Los Angeles JACL chapter began a three-week membership drive, with President Ken Matsumoto urging the second generation to unite. Support was pledged by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and produce houses, and early results showed many employed young people had already joined.
  • San Gabriel People Select New Cabinet, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The San Gabriel Valley JACL chapter installed its new cabinet at a well-attended general meeting at the El Monte Civic Center. President Masaru Kawashima gave an address on the needs and duties of the JACL.
  • Santa Clara County Has Named Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The San Jose unit of the United Citizens League of Santa Clara County chose Phillip Matsumura as president along with a new cabinet. Dr. Nakahara attended the Sacramento Council convention as official delegate.
  • California Storm Hits Nippon Crop, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Unprecedented rain and wind storms caused an estimated $2,000,000 in crop losses across California in mid-February. Damage was heavy in the Sacramento Valley, Florin, and Southern California vegetable gardens.
  • Sardine Industry Is Down in California, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The California sardine industry is nearing the close of its most disastrous season, with the 1937-1938 catch expected to drop by 327,000 tons from last year. Fishermen in Monterey, San Francisco, and San Pedro face lost wages and some plan to move north.
  • Brawley Chapter People to Gather at Annual Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Brawley JACL chapter scheduled its annual dinner for February 27 and outlined a calendar of events including an outing, a pre-graduation dance, and a wienie bake. Meeting reports covered finances, delegate selection, and membership plans.
  • Nippon Grocers Aid League at Oakland, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Nippon Grocery Association donated $200 from its sinking fund to the Oakland JACL chapter upon dissolving. The association had set aside funds to help second-generation members start grocery businesses.
  • Placer County Folk Movie Party Guests, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Members of the Placer County JACL were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Ricky with a color film of their travels through Holland, Germany, and Italy. Refreshments were arranged by the social committee.
  • Second Generation Poetess Has Place in Coming Volume, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Toyo Suyemoto, a second-generation poet from Northern California, has a sonnet titled Improvement included in the forthcoming Crown Anthology of Verse. She has also published poetry and news articles in newspapers and magazines.
  • Officers Elected for Contra Costa, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Contra Costa County JACL chapter elected Hideo Ajari as president and a full slate of officers for the year. The chapter reported a treasury balance and launched a night school sponsored by the Japanese Association.
  • League and Scout Assistance Given for Conservation, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Los Angeles JACL chapter, under chairman Dr. M. M. Horii, will sponsor a poster contest for Conservation Week from March 7 to 14. Forester Spence Turner praised the cooperation of the League and Boy Scouts in fire prevention.
  • Large Crowd Sees Seattle Chapter Seat Its Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Seattle JACL chapter installed its 1938 officers at a dinner dance attended by a large crowd on February 11. National president James Sakamoto administered the oath, and American Legion official Col. Fred Fueker gave a patriotic address.
  • Idaho League Folks Plan Work for Year, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Henry Suyehira was elected president of the Idaho Committee of the JACL, which reported active work and planned a broad program for the year. Other officers and advisers were also named.
  • Boy Scout Week Has Support at Seattle, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Japanese community and the Seattle JACL supported Boy Scout Week with a banquet attended by Saburo Nishimura. The scouts planned an annual circus on April 1 and 2 to raise funds.
  • Japanese Respects Paid Panay Victim by Flower Wreath, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Acting Consul Midzuho Ishide and Kunizo Mayeno laid a wreath on the casket of Edgar Hulsebus, a U.S.S. Panay coxswain killed in the December bombing, when the liner arrived in Seattle. Seattle newspapers ran photographs of the tribute.
  • Seattle Election Topic of Meeting, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A well-attended nonpartisan meeting of the Seattle JACL at the Japanese Chamber of Commerce discussed the city election, with mayoral and council candidates attending. The gathering reflected the growing political importance of the estimated 1,000 second-generation voters in Seattle.
  • Seven Seattle Boys Winners for Essays, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Seven second-generation students won honors in an essay contest sponsored by the Seattle Traffic and Safety Council. Kazus Kimura took first place and received a portable typewriter.
  • Patriotic Society Presents Flag to Portland Chapter, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Wahkena chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented a flag to the Rose City JACL chapter in Portland, with Mrs. William B. Powell instrumental in securing it. National president James Sakamoto was scheduled to install the new cabinet led by Mamoru Wakasugi.
  • Second Generation Girl Given Honors in Home Economics, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Miss Setsuko Kawauchi of Yakima received a $10 prize for the best home economics work of the year. Katsu Oikawa was also recognized as the only Washington Junior High graduate to receive a gold W pin.
  • Young Folk Start League in Oregon, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Japanese American Fellowship League of Gresham, Oregon held its inaugural banquet on Lincoln’s birthday with American Legion adjutant Dorsey Dent as principal speaker. National president James Sakamoto also spoke about the aims of the organization.
  • White River Folk Install Officers; Board Is Present, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The White River Valley JACL chapter installed its 1938 officers at a dinner-dance in Auburn, Washington, with national president James Sakamoto presiding. Minoru Okura became president and the evening featured a Boy Scout flag ceremony and entertainment.

National

  • Americans Are Idealists, States Takaishi; Praises League Work, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Japanese editor Shingoro Takaishi, touring the United States, urged second-generation Japanese Americans to be loyal citizens and praised the JACL for promoting better relations. He observed that Americans are idealists due to national security while Japanese are realists.
  • Young College Graduates Given Work Promptly; Demand to Gain, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Japanese Welfare Ministry survey found that 60.4 percent of graduates from higher schools obtained employment shortly after leaving school last year. Demand for graduates was expected to rise further, driven by munitions industry needs.

JACL

  • Executive Board Sets Session Date, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL officers meeting in Los Angeles on February 19 set the national convention for September 1 through 5. Local convention committee plans, including a Nisei Week program and a convention queen contest, were also outlined.
  • District Council Pushes Drive for South California, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Southern California District Council met at Santa Monica on February 20 and reported prospects for adding five to nine new chapters. National president James Sakamoto presented charters and urged chapters to work as a group.
  • Nisei Week Starts August 30; Guests Are League People, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Los Angeles chapter will host Nisei Week from August 30 to September 5 in conjunction with the national JACL convention. The festival is expected to be large given the number of visiting delegations.

Commentary

  • League Strikes Stride, by P.C. Staff, page 2. This editorial observes that the JACL has gained enthusiasm, expansion, and public esteem over the past year. It highlights the upcoming national convention and the Second Generation Development Project as central to the League’s future.
  • The Four Pillars, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial summarizes American Legion official Dorsey Dent’s address on the four pillars of democracy: citizenship, free government, civic responsibility, and duty. It urges young people to embrace these principles.
  • League-Conscious, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial explores why some chapters struggle with member interest, suggesting more social programming and countering the belief that League membership detracts from American status. It argues that League membership is compatible with preserving cultural heritage.

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