Fanatics, Racketeers Claim Japan Won War

Victory Clubs Are Organized; Main Centers On Two Islands

More than 3,000 Japanese residents throughout the Territory believe that Japan won the last war, the atomic bomb does not exist and the Russians did hot wage war against Japan.

This startling statement was made by Shohan Sunabe, president of "Hissho Kai" (Absolute Victory Club), at his home located at 1307 Lusitana St., which is now the headquarter of the organization.

Organized shortly after Japanese surrender on September 1, 1945, the Hawaii Hissho Kai gives its aims in its constitution as follows:

"To uphold the imperial way, adhere to the Emperor's wish and to display the Japanese spirit."

False Hope

Its statement of purpose says in part that the organization is "to console and encourage our countrymen who have been disappointed by newspaper reports and radio broadcasts stating that Japan's defeat meant the ruination of the country." [full story]

Official transcript of the Reinecke hearing is so full of errors of ommission and commission that without proper corrections it is absolutely useless as a true and substantial record of the hearing now in its third week before the Commissioners of Public Instruction.

This was stated by Richard Gladstein, attorney for Dr. and Mrs. John Reinecke, this (Tuesday) morning after he had spent all day yesterday checking the transcript of the court reporter as against the recording made on wire spools.

Before Ichiro Izuka, self-tyled [sic] ex-Communist, took the witness stand to answer direct questioning, Mr. Gladstein requested of the school board and the Attorney General a duplicate set of wire recordings of Louis F. Budenz's and Dr. W. Harold Loper's testimonies. He also asked that the official transcript of the hearing taken down by the court reporter be checked against the wire recording before it is entered as a permanent record. [full story]

Libby cannery executives and supervisory staff members were quick to suppress a leaflet distributed by the Hawaii Civil Liberties Committee.

Outside the cannery two Mondays ago HCLC members were passing out leaflets which explained the proceedings in the Reinecke hearing. As fast as the employees entered the plant, officials strategically placed at entrances took away leaflets from the workers' hands.

HCLC members complained against "thought control" but the officials turned deaf ears to this.

Last Saturday the HCLC distributed leaflets in greater quantities. This time they caught cannery workers as they came off their shifts at the various pineapple plants. According to an HCLC official, there weren't enough leaflets to go around, although thousands had been printed.

Two Republican county organizations have indorsed Delegate Joseph R. Farrington's re-election.

The Kauai county committee last week unanimously pledged support to the Delegate and commended him for his fight for statehood and legislation beneficial to the islands

Earlier the Maui county committee indorsed Mr. Farrington.

As Mr. Farrington returned to the city from the special congressional session in Washington, political observers said the feud between Oliver P. Soares, chairman of the GOP central committee for the territory, and the Delegate that had been carried on through the press seemed, on the surface at least, pacified.

But, the same observers added the fight between the two Republican factions is far from finished. They added that the Delegate's hand had been strengthened by the support given him by two Republican county committees.

By C-C Begins

An hour or so before sundown on Tuesday last week a crew of road workers began peeling the bumpy surface of Waialae Ave., at Kealaolu Ave. Mechanical equipment roared, hissed and coughed throughout the night. In the morning as people went to work they saw scrapers, shovels and heavy rollers parked on the roadside with kero­sene beacons placed around them as warning to motorists.

This continued night after night and the city-county's road resurfacing project was giving Waialae Ave., a new look.

Part of the $403,720 road rehabilitation program, the present work will take in the repair of five roads or a total of 14 miles. The roads include Waialae Ave., King, Beretania, Middle and Mokauea Sts.

The city will pay $94,771 and the federal government under the war rehabilitation program will contribute $308,949 as its share.

Wailuku—Eighty-seven Filipino residents of Maui County were granted their petitions for naturalization by Judge Cable A. Wirtz of the Second Circuit Court early this month.

When the Oahu Retail Food Dealers' Association voted last week to petition the coming legislature for a sales tax to replace the present gross income tax, the Honolulu Record spot-interviewed people on the streets for their reaction.

Almost all of the people interviewed discussed the territorial tax system openly. Practically all of them were laborers or white collar workers.

Here is their reaction:

A carpenter remarked: "I smell something fishy!"

Said an office clerk: "Maybe the retailers want clear designation of what is tax and what is not tax. At present the wholesalers and retailers are passing on to their customers as hidden sales tax what they pay for gross income tax. If sales tax is adopted it will be very simple. The customers will pay the tax and unlike now, with tax indicated on the price, the retailers will not be blamed for all of the high price markup,"

A truck driver said: "A flat gross, income tax is very bad. We poor workers shoulder the burden of this territorial revenue. But sales tax is bad also. There is a flat charge here. The poor gets soaked like the rich. What we need badly is a graduated tax system with the rich carrying their share of the tax load."

All of those interviewed were dissatisfied with the gross income tax. On remedial measures to cor­rect the "unfair" tax system, the graduated income tax received the most support.

Kona—In the blackened and charred area of Kainaliu which was razed to the ground by a recent fire, a ' concrete and aluminum building will rise shortly.

Rep. Earl Nielson (D.West Hawaii) who lost his photography studio, electrical appliance store and apartment—all worth $50,000— received permit to build a $3,000 store and living quarters.

Mr. Nielson, eager to re-open his business, ' said he is ambitious enough to think the store will open for business within a week.

The new building which will be one fourth the size of his former house will be made of concrete flooring and aluminum walls and roofing.

[PAGE 2] [back to the top]

In Hawaii the high point of the week was the Reinecke hearing. But incidents of less importance and less significance did take place.

Parade

On Maui the marines of reserve Co. "D" held a farewell review parade. The citizenry of Wailuku and Kahului turned out en masse to watch the doings. The parade and review, the last until next summer's training encampment, marked the first time in three years that the marines had put on a show for Valley Islanders.

Nuts

On the Big Island Castle and Cooke was going in for Macadamia nut raising in a big way. The company acquired a three year option on 3,000 acres of land and purchased outright another 1,000 acres at Keaau, Hawaii. Estimated cost of the nut raising venture is $1,250,000.

Expansion

On Kauai the police department was going "big time." Lt. J. S. Carvalho, of the Kauai police force, now in Honolulu, said that plans are underway for setting up a detective division of the Kauai police ' department. The lieutenant is here for two weeks to study Honolulu police force methods and equipment and surveying crime detection techniques.

Curfew

In Kaimuki, residents leap out of their chairs each evening at 8 o'clock. That's when the curfew siren starts to howl. Wahiawa wants one just like it. Last week the Y's Men's club joined the growing list of organizations demanding a curfew for that area.

East Coast

While government machinery was bending every effort to dismiss two school teachers in Hawaii, government machinery was doing its best to "protect" two Soviet school teachers in Washington D. C. The nation was bug-eyed last week in its attempt to keep up with the doings of J. Parnell Thomas and his un-American committee. From coast to coast headlines blazed and radios blared — but what it was all about no one could tell for certain.

The first report was that a Michael Samarin, with his wife and children, were under the wing of the FBI. It was said that Mr. Samarin, a Russian school teacher assigned to teach children of Soviet diplomats at the Russian consulate in New York, had reported to the FBI, stating that he and his family wished to remain in the United States. They were kept in well publicized hiding. Meantime, Mrs. Oksana Kosenkina, another Soviet school teacher on the same assignment, was reportedly spending a harrowing week. According to Soviet consul officials she was kidnapped and taken to the farm of the mysterious White Russian Countess Tolstoy. According to U.S. authorities she was a refugee from hounding Soviet agents. [full story]

No Conclusion

At Moscow Soviet Foreign Minister V. M. Molotov conferred for three hours with U.S., British, and French envoys last Thursday. This was the fourth time in two weeks that the four powers had gone into top level conferences. Said U.S. Ambassador Walter B. Smith, at the conclusion of the fourth meeting, "We are still without any conclusions."

Conclusion

In Japan, however, conclusions had been come to — by the Soviets. Major General A. P. Kislenko, Sovient member of the Allied Council for Japan, demanded that General MacArthur cancel his prohibition of strikes and collective bargaining by Japanese government workers. In a letter to the supreme commander General Kislenko declared that the ban violated principles laid down by the Allied Far East Commission. He also stated that the ban was in violation of the Potsdam agreement. [full story]

Well . . . this is it, the third, issue of the HONOLULU RECORD. We hope you'll like it. We hope you'll read it from cover to cover. We hope you'll urge your friends to read the HONOLULU RECORD too.

We need your support. Printing costs money. Paper costs money. The editor has to eat a meal now and then. And we plan to publish an issue each week.

None of us on the HONOLULU RECORD hope to become a millioniare [sic] from this venture. We don't expect to; we don't want to. All we want to do is publish a paper that speaks for the common man. We want to give him the voice that he doesn't have today. We want to take the independent, thoughtful stand which will best speak for the ma­jority of the people.

But in order to do that we need your kokua. (That's a Hawaiian word meaning "subscription".)

[PAGE 3] [back to the top]

By Anthony Piestra

Manila—At the Aug. 15 deadline for the surrender of guerrilla weapons in the Philippines, only about 10 of an estimated 200,000 members of the Hukbalahap (war­time anti-Japanese peasant forces) have turned in their arms, according to government officials.

The fierce fighting between Huks and Philippine troops, which lasted two and a half years and took thousands of lives, ceased early in July.

Under these conditions, the amnesty negotiated by Pres. Elpidio Quirino and Huk leader Luis Taruc two months ago remains an armed truce. No one knows how long the peace will last.

Seeds of Distrust Despite the Quirino-Taruc agreement, the peasants in the Hukbala­hap are suspicious. They have long and bitter memories. [full story]

Hilo—A play which has been widely publicized as one of the best amateur production in recent years will be presented at the Hilo High School auditorium on Aug. 27 and 28 by the AJA veterans.

"A Sound of Hunting" portrays a phase from the lives of AJA soldiers on the Arno river battlefront.

Proceeds of the play will go to defraying expenses for the war memorial monument to be erected in Kalakaua Park. The island's war dead will be honored by this monument.

Additional money raised will be used to start another project honoring men who were lost when the U. S. Army Transport Royal T. Frank sank in Jan. 1942 and comrades of the services missing in action in all theatres of war.

Richard T. Nishimoto is chairman of the committee in charge of presenting the play. Rev. M. Yamada and James S. Maeda are ticket committee co-chairman.

Lihue—Tourists from the mainland spent an average of approximately $40 each or a total of $16,000 on the island of Kauai during July, a survey disclosed.

Coca-Cola Workers Out

By the middle of this week, the local labor situation looked this way:

One hundred workers of the production department of the Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Ltd., all members of the AFL Brewery Workers Union, Local 502, were holding tight on their picket line, set up on Monday at 6:30 a.m.

Joseph Wong, president of the local, reported that negotiations for a 15 cent hourly wage increase and a union shop had failed.

He said that a union proposal for paid holidays was turned down by the company and that a five cent wage cut for eight holidays was not acceptable to the workers.

He mentioned that the union won a 96 to 4 vote in favor of the union shop in an NLRB conducted election in June.

J. Q. Adams, vice president and manager of the company, said that the strike was unprovoked and unnecessary.

Sugar Negotiations Still Continue

With the expiration date of August 31 fast approaching, the ILWU and the sugar industry continue to negotiate in Hilo with no sign of what the outcome will be.

An official bulletin issued by the negotiating committee of Local 142 on August 17 revealed that discussions on minor issues have been terminated with major concentration on job security, union security, rents and housing, job classification and wages.

The bulletin maintains that the employer insists on taking rents out of the collective bargaining process and that the industry has not given any answer on the job security proposal.

The union committee also indicated that the employers have no case on which to base their proposed wage cuts.

Love's Bakery Issues Unsettled

Meanwhile, another ILWU outfit, Local 150, is continuing negotiations with Love's Biscuit and Bread Company on the matter of wage increases and a job classification system, despite a strike notice filed with the department of labor.

Officials of the union and the company are still unable to get together on the two issues under discussion.

Wailuku—Maui county supervisors voted down the request of Hana Ranch Co., to draw water at a flat rate, irrespective of the amount of water used.

The board voted unanimously to charge the company on the actual amount of water used by installing a meter.

The company was given surplus water rights by the county on a flat rate basis under the old contract.

[PAGE 4] [back to the top]

Letter From New York

Editor, The Honolulu Record:

I am a veteran who served in your islands during the war. I do not know the Reineckes but their case is interesting to us because we have somewhat the same type of school commissioners here who want to impose thought-control in our city.

They speak of "subversive elements" advocating force and violence to overthrow our government. The New York City Board of Education and its law secretary (in your case the attorney general) recommended in their brief that no Communist Party member or "fellow-traveler" or person with the wrong kind of "associations" should be allowed to teach in our public schools.

* * *

The board and its legal counsel criticized the State Eduation [sic] Commissioner—who had handed down a diametrically opposed opinion— that he had "overlooked or disregarded the historic public policy of the state."

I don't know what the historic public policy of the Territory is. I did some reading while there, however. If I am not mistaken it was the missionary families and their growing big-business alliance that effected the coup d'etat and overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy by force and violence a little more than 50 years ago. You are now celebrating your fiftieth anniversary of the annexation and I am sure the average islander had no picnic during this time with regard to civil rights.

With the meat boycott entering its second week, a number of stores throughout the city are beginning to feel the pinch of consumer resistance.

Several stores have announced declines in their meat sales, while others indicate that there might be some unemployment and temporary layoffs as a result of the boycott. Officials of the Sensible Shoppers, original sponsors of the boycott, said that the organization is impressed with the support it has received, but could not say that there has been any general break in the price line.

Meanwhile, national consumer boycotts are continuing, although there are conflicting reports on their effectiveness.

Richard Gladstein, chief counsel for the defense in the Reinecke hearing now being conducted before the school commissioners, comes to Honolulu with a rich background of civil liberties and labor cases.

His recitation of cases in which he has figured over the past 12 years is a chronicle of battles for the "little man."

Leaves Corporation Law Firm

When asked how he had first turned to labor law, Mr. Gladstein said that following his graduation from law school in 1931, he was associated with corporation lawyers for five years. The "straw that broke the camel's back" was a case in which he was required to go to court for a chain of bakeries and get an eight hour day law thrown out.

"I just couldn't do it," Gladstein said, "for it would have meant that I would be breaking the backs of the workers."

Thence, he left the firm in Oakland and started his own law firm in San Francisco in 1936, just on the eve of the maritime strike.

From then on, he became involved with the trade unions and since that time, he has devoted his time, energy and interest to labor and civil liberties cases. [full story]

Washington — A group of more than a hundred clergymen called for protest against peace­time conscription by asking that Aug. 22, a week before the begin­ning of draft registration, be observed as a day of mourning and repentence [sic].

Among those issuing the call were Dr. Harry E. Fosdick, Methodist Bishop W. E. Hammacker, Episcopal Bishop "Walter Mitchell , and Dean Walter G. Muelder of the Boston U. school of theology.

[PAGE 5] [back to the top]

By Allan Beekman

Like any other bibliophile I hold certain literary works in especial esteem. There is a certain world famous encyclopedia, for example, for which I have always entertained a genuine heartfelt reverence.

At the close of the war an alert sales manager for this publication intimated that he would welcome my services in selling this work. I had never tried to sell. But did it require unusual selling ability to dispose of such a product as this!

An Unbelievable Bargain!

Here in 24 handsome volumes was the knowledge and wisdom of 5000 years of civilization, compiled and indexed by the greatest scholars and scientists on earth. Here the most humble had at his fingertips access to the greatest thoughts of the world's greatest minds. [full story]

Patience, Time Required

By Betty Eshelman

Lauhala weaving is one of the important small industries of Kona. Driving through the district one sees the work in all stages, but even then one does not realize the vast amount of work involved. The principles of weaving are very simple and once the lauhala is prepared, an article can be finished very quickly. However much time and labor go into that preparation.

Step by Step

First, dry leaves are picked  preferably those that are newly dried. Then the tips must be taken off both ends. Spines are removed, next, which is a tedious job resulting in sore fingers, especially for the beginner. The lauhala is then wiped clean of any dirt and rolled with the outer side in. In storing away the lauhala, these are re­rolled in packs of 50 or more, depending on the length of the leaves. Then comes stripping which is removing the center ribs. [full story]

By Walter Warner

(By Special Correspondence) NEW YORK—As the pitcher deliverd, the big Negro took a quick step forward and shouted, "Here she comes!"

The hitter wasn't Jackie Robinson—he's chunky, but not big— and it wasn't Larry Doby, or Satchel Paige. It was a man who has struck heavier blows than any of these for the right of Negro ball­players to compete on even terms with Caucasians, a man who has fought for the right of his people to eat at the same restaurants, live in the same hotels, or attend the same theaters as John Rankin of Mississippi, or Harry Truman of Missouri.

The hitter was Paul Robeson and the ball game was at Camp Wo-Chi-Ca, one of the few inter­racial camps for children in these parts. [full story]

[PAGE 6] [back to the top]

K.O. Warren

Next week the writer will comment on the set-up at the Civic Auditorium, the price hike in the general admission tickets and will make suggestions for improving conditions for the benefit of boxing fans. The recent shelving by the commissioners of a dozen or more fighters for "no ability," "no condition," and other reasons has removed a number of liabilities from the boxing community. But there are still others who have not been removed.

Let's take the case of fighter Mamoru Hirota.

Hirota has fought seven times in the last nine weeks—five of them in succession. Commission rules and regulations states under Rule 56, and I quote: [full story]

The 14th Olympic Games came to a close last Saturday, August 14, with the United States grabbing 38 first place medals. Sweden finished second with 17 firsts. The Games were held in the remodelled clog track in Wembley, England, starting on July 29.

Other championship winners were: Hungary, 10; France, 9; Italy, 8; Turkey, 6; Holland, 5; Czechoslovakia, 5; Finland; 4; Denmark, 4; Britain, 3; Argenti­na, 3; South Africa, 2; Australia, 2; Belgium, 2; Egypt, 2; and Peru, Jamaica, Austria, Norway and India, one each. The Games attracted six thou­sand, athletes from 58 nations, and drew more than 1,500,000 spectators despite uncertain weather. 

The U. S. made one of its poorest Olympic showings in boxing by failing to win a single title. Six of the eight world’s professional championships are currently held by Americans and the U. S. is considered to be the cradle of the game. South Africa won the team scoring in boxing with 29 points.

The U. S. made a clean sweep in the men's swimming and diving events. Hawaii's Bill Smith cracked Jack Medica's 400-meter freestyle with a 4:41.0 effort. The U. S. also dominated the track and field events. One of the highlights of the Olympics was the outstanding performance of Mrs. Fanny Blankers-Koen, the 30 year old Dutch housewife, who won the women's 100-meter, and 200-meter sprints and the 80-meter hurdles, in the track events. Her times for the latter two events were world and Olympic records.

New York —Story of a 1,500-mile manhunt of mercy that led after a year to a tiny village in Puerto Rico was revealed here by a New York union, which had been searching for two poverty-stricken children to pay them a $1,000 life insurance policy.

The two boys—Francisco, 14, and Dionisio Cabrera, 16—were located by Local 65, Wholesale & Warehouse Workers Union (CIO) in the village of Buena Vista following a persistent search that included inquiries by mail, personal investigations, newspaper announcements and radio broadcasts. [full story]

Hilo—A public hearing has been called for 10 a.m. Aug. 21 at the Waimea courthouse in connection with proposed studies of lease agreements on pasture land.

Territorial land agent for the Big Island, Frank G. Serrao, said the ranchers of this island are expected to express their desires and interests at the hearing.

Preliminary meetings had been concluded in Honolulu on existing lease and lease conditions.

Football is gradually becoming the top topic of discussion among local sports rail birds.

Punahou and Kaimuki will tangle on September 24, to open hostilities in the Honolulu prep school grid conference. The McKinley high Blackngolds are defending champions.

The possibility of signing Wally Yonamine, recently returned from the San Francisco 49er's training camp due to hand injury, to the folds of the local Hawaiian Warriors has injected added interest in the forthcoming Los Angeles Rams' two-game Honolulu showing. Yonamine, who hurt his hand at Hilo while playing baseball for the Athletics in July returned to Honolulu on Monday. There has also been some talk that Yon­mine be picked up by the Los Angeles Dons of the All-American circuit.

The L. A. Rams, featuring Bob Waterfield, Kenny Washington, et al; are slated to show on the stadium greensward on September 6 and 10, both games against the Warriors.

Meanwhile the stage is all set for the season's official lid-lifter, bringing together the Moiliili Car­dinals, coached by Johnny McColgan, and the Islanders (ex-Mickalum and Kaialum) tutored by Ching Do Kim, in the Democratic Party's benefit game, scheduled to be played under the stadium lights on September 1. Both teams are members of the Honolulu senior loop. Tickets for the game may be purchased by any member of the Bourbon party.

As the week started, the following was the situation in territorial baseball play:

The Kekaha Shieks were leading the Kauai Senior baseball loop with eight victories against one loss. The Lihue Planters and the Pono Giants are tied for the second spot.

Maui won the right to represent the territory in the Western Regional play-offs in an American Legion teen-age baseball tourney held at the Honolulu stadium. They defeated the Kauai nine 13-4 to earn the right to make the trip to Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Rural Red Sox and the Braves were tied for the leadership of the Hawaii diamond circuit. The Athletics roosted in the runner-up post. Following the close of the regular season, the four leading teams will compete in the annual Cartwright Series.

The Waiakea Pirates are presently in the van as the Hilo senior baseball league goes into the homestretch. In second place are the Olaa Green Waves.

Hilo—Henry Davis took a clear-cut verdict over Freddie Sylvano in Hilo's second pro fight, held in the Hilo armory before a little over 1000 fans, last Friday night. Honolulu Promoter Leo Leavitt's second Crescent city effort fell below expectations. The fights drew a gross gate of $2,505.

The next pro card in Hilo is tentatively slated for September 10.

In copping the fight easily, Davis weighed 127 1/2 to Sylvano's 126 1/2. The scrap went 10 rounds, with Sad Sam Ichinose's dusky protege easily outboxing the Pepeekeo Filipino belter in nine of the 10 rounds, with sharp-shooting jabs and hooks.

Other results of the card were:

Jaime Basquez, 126 1/2 decisioned William Candido, 130.

Eddie Reyes, 121 1/2, TKO'd Al­fred Kalua, 126, of Hilo, fourth round.

Mike Ines, 128 3/4, decisioned Mamoru Hirota, 127 3/4.

Billy Bolilan, 117 3/4 decisioned Mokey Hanagami, 116 3/4.

[PAGE 7] [back to the top]

Nashville, Tenn. (FP)—The political machine of Edward H. (Boss) Crump suffered its first statewide defeat in 20 years when organized labor united behind anti-Crump candidates in the Aug. 5 Democratic primary elections.

With AFL, CIO and railroad union backing, Rep. Estes Kefauver swept the senatorial contest and former Gov. Gordon Browning topped the governor's race. Democratic nomination in Tennessee usually means election.

This joint labor campaign mark­ed the first time in 10 years that the AFL and CIO pooled resources in a political campaign. The victory came despite efforts by Crump to smear Kefauver as a tool of CIO-PAC, a "foreigner and a red."

In the 3-man Senate contest, Kefauver chalked up more than 150,000 votes, incumbent Sen. Tom Stewart rolled up more than 115,000 and Crump's nominee, John A. Mitchell, polled only 75,000. [full story]

Washington (FP) — Annual awards of the CIO Committee to Abolish discrimination were announced Aug. 8. Six individuals and one organization were honored for their contributions to the work of freeing the U. S. from discrimination.

The award winners were: Most Rev. Joseph Hitter, Catholic Archbishop of St. Louis;

Branch Rickey, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers;

Allan S. Haywood, CIO vice president and director of organization;

Carl Holderman, president of the New Jersey CIO council;

The American Veterans Committee, through its chairman Chat Paterson;

Dr. Frank M. Furstenberg, Baltimore physician;

Clement Nitka, of the CIO Paper Workers, who led a successful, campaign to end racial discrimination in the Elkhart, Ind. public schools.

By RICHARD SASULY Federated Press Correspondent

Throughout the time that the Sherman and Clayton anti-trust laws have been on the books, no businessman has ever been sent to jail for monopoly practices.

On the other hand, the honor roll of workers who have been rail­roaded to jail for going on strike would fill this page and dozens like it.

This double standard of justice was never better shown than by the recent Univis strike in Dayton, O. For more than three months Local 768, United Electrical Radio & Machine Workers (CIO) was on strike against the Univis Lens Co. During that time the strikers suffered every known type of employer attack.

Who Goes To Jail?

At least a dozen strikers were beaten so badly by the Dayton police that they had to be sent to the hospital.

At least 22 were arrested. The local court warned five of the strike leaders that they would be fined $2,000 a day each if they even approached the vicinity of the picket-line.

The full weight of the state was brought to bear on the 600 Univis strikers when 1,500 National Guardsmen were brought in, supposedly to protect scabs. The troops used bayonets and tear gas. They rolled up a Sherman tank and an armored car.

Univis makes bifocal lenses. In 1931 it organized an efficient monopoly. Through control of patents it issued licenses to manufacture only to companies which would agree to maintain high prices. In Darel McConkey's book Out Of Your Pocket appears the following quote from a Univis statement: ". . . the secret of our perpetual success is that we do not license anyone who has the slightest idea of cutting prices on any kind of merchandise." As extra protection for its high prices, Univis would not license dealers who advertized [sic] installment buying. That meant you had to be able to put cash on the line for Univis bifocals even if you were going blind.

Keeps Competition Out

In 1939 a competitor appeared, the Titmus Optical Co. Under pressure of Univis' threat to bring suit for patent infringement, Titmus backed out of the market.

All of this was clearly anti­social. It was also illegal. The Justice Dept. entered a complaint against Univis in 1940. The gov­ernment suit was upheld in the Supreme Court in 1942. But, while the company was ordered to stop violating the anti­trust laws, no one was sent to jail. No police appeared at the company's offices to work the Univis executives over with clubs. Actually, it is unlikely under present conditions that the bulk of anti-trust cases will ever come to trial. More than 1,100 complaints of anti-trust violations have been made by the Justice Dept. Yet, in the last three years only 86 cases were disposed of through the courts.

By Betty Eshelman

The annual Achievement Day of the Kona Home Demonstration Clubs was held August 7 at Kona Maluhia Camp, Keei, Kona, with 52 members and guests present.

Sister Gregoria of Honolulu spoke on home life in the Orient. Having spent four years in Japan, she has become familiar with the life and customs of the people there. She also speaks fluent Japa­nese.

Mrs. Esther Nicol gave a report of the Kona clubs' participation in National Home Demonstration week when two Kona club members spoke over station KIPA in Hilo.

Mr. John Iwane, County Extension Agent for Kona, also gave a report of the work accomplished during the year.

Stunts and a coffee bean guessing contest followed. The Kealakekua club was awarded the prize for the best stunt; the Holualoa club received first prize for the most original stunt; the Napoopoo club was awarded first place for the best musical number.

In the coffee bean contest, Mrs. Margaret Gaskill received first prize, Mrs. Ann Crisafe won sec­ond prize and Mrs. H. Yamamoto received third place.

[PAGE 8] [back to the top]

Three years after Japanese surrender we find in our Territory Japanese fanatics and racketeers who persist in propagating the myth that Japan won the war.

Undoubtedly there are sincere but foolishly blind patriots, among them. But there is no doubt that the well-organized ABSOLUTE VICTORY CLUB is led by people who evidently know that Japan is a vanquished nation. They are intelligent enough to know this.

This organization charges a $10 initiation fee. It takes in contributions. It holds no membership meetings. It is run by a "permanent" board of directors.

Where the money is spent no one knows, excepting the top leadership that has been criticized for dining and banqueting too often and too lavishly.

Besides this the leaders receive chicken, eggs, vegetables, and all sorts of gifts from the duped followers who read the organization's literature and believe— some with hope—that one of these days when Japan takes over Hawaii they will be rewarded.

It is preposterous that among our island residents there are ones who think, believe or propagandize that Japan controls Pearl Harbor, that the ships in the Harbor are Japanese warships captured from the U.S.

They antagonize, argue and quarrel with Japanese aliens who send relief packages to Japan. Their point of view is this: Why send relief packages to Japan when her people are living prosperously. They will tell you that there is no such thing as the atomic bomb. If you mention Hiroshima or Nagasaki, they will pity you for "believing" so gullibly the "propaganda" handouts of the Anglo-Americans.

This is all very comical if it does not have gravely tragic implications. Homes are being broken up. Innocent people are being robbed. Some "believers" are returning to Japan, leaving their wives and children behind because the latter will not be convinced that Japan is the peer of the world.

Yasutaro Soga., columnist and former editor of the Hawaii Times, wrote in his column on June 12 of this year:

"The majority of them (Absolute Victory Club members) are motivated by greed and they are not necessarily blind patriots. . . . There are leaders who fatten their pockets by inciting the simple blind pat­riots. This is a sort of swindle."

The president of this club boasts that his organization has not been investigated by the authorities.

What is the FBI and other intelligence organizations going to do about this situation?

Honolulu's Bubonic Plague

On December 11, 1899 there occurred the mysterious death of a young Chinese in Honolulu's Chi­natown. Dr. C. B. Wood, at that time president of the board of health, conducted an autopsy. At its completion he looked up from the cadaver and said two words that froze those around him. "Bubonic plague!" The history of the plague is a story in itself. A story of the revolting misery of more than 4,000 Chinese, Japanese, Hawaiians and others who were forced by rigid, although unwrit­ten, rules of racial segregation and by extreme poverty to live in this overcrowded, rat infested, sewage strewn area of Honolulu. It was here that the plague was bred.

Advertiser Places Blame

In an editorial of the December 28 issue of the Pacific Commerical Advertiser the blame was placed in this way: "We have heard it said that the trustees of the Bishop Estate are more to blame for the filth of Chinatown than any other persons in this place . . . Indeed, by a species of rack rent they have discouraged improvements, sanitary or otherwise . . .

Have these comfortable gentlemen no other thought than the selfish one of dividends?" This opinion of the Advertiser was born but in fact by a state­ment of the sanitary investigators made to the board of health. "The evil (of Chinatown's filth) is largely due to the negligence, indifference or greed of the property-owners themselves."

The spokesman for the Bishop Estate smoothly replied, as reported in the Advertiser, that no one was, forcing the inhabitants of Chinatown to live there if they didn’t like it. However, even as this "comfortable gentleman" spoke, he must have been aware of the regid [sic] segregation practices of the time.

Ignores Racial Problem

Although the Advertiser had the insight to clarify the economic issues underlying the plague, throughout the gastly [sic] 40 days in which the plague ran its course it was curiously blind and blandly cruel in its attitude toward the racial problem involved. On January 1, 1900 the Advertiser ran this statement at the head of its editorial columns. "Memorandum for early risers: Do not read the report of the Board of Health’s investigating committee until after breakfast." Three days later, on January 3, some of the Japanese rebelled against the board of health's quarantine [sic] which confined the  inhabitants and, it was hoped, the plague in the Chinatown quarter. The next day the Advertiser commented on the affair in an editorial. "The lower class Japanese are getting pretty ugly over the quarentine [sic]. It may be well to remind them as was done in the case of the Chinese that the white inhabitants here will stand no nonsense. We are strong enough, with or without the aid of the Federal garrison, to en­force the laws of the Board of Health no matter who opposes. The sooner the coolies are taught by their intelligent fellow-countrymen to appreciate this fact the better for them and for all concerned."

The Advertiser's Solution

Throughout this "historical period” it was the custom to burn each tenement in which a plague death was discovered.  But on January 18, as the death list rapidly lengthened, the authorities decided to burn an entire block of these filthy hovels. However, in the course of the burning a stiff wind began to rush down from the Pali. In a matter of minutes the whole of Chinatown was in flames and 4,000 homeless Orientals were madly seeking escape. The following Monday, while the ruins still smouldered, the Advertiser spoke thus. "The ruins of Chinatown are a melancholy sight from one point of view but a cheerful one from another. Doctors agree that the fife has given the plague a thorough set-back. That is the main advantage to which may be added the chance to build up a new Chinatown of stone, brick and concrete with a park separating it from the white quarter." But the hopes of the Advertiser — and those who supported its views — were never realized, as the most casual eye can plainly see.

W. K. Bassett

The Strain on Advertiser Square

The Advertiser's editorial Monday morning, entitled "The Odds for Montie Richards," shows what a tough time that newspaper's editorial writers are going to have this year. It called for a lot of "blood, sweat and tears" to bring forth this mouse. It is quite pitiful.

"Montie Richards is a proven executive in business and politics" says the Advertiser.

His executive record in business is, because of the Atherton interests in Castle and Cooke, that he has risen to the exalted position, at 43 years old, of assistant secretary of that corporation.

As an "executive" in politics he made a clown of himself in the primary election in 1946 and his campaign had to be taken over by the Republican Party politicians for the final election.

"He has served two years on the Board of Supervisors." The Advertiser put a period right there, and well it should. There was nothing more to say. Montie Richards never did anything on the Board of Supervisors.

"He has profited politically from the experience of the last campaign" says the Advertiser.

Anybody else who had squandered $50,000 of his own and his family's money in a losing political campaign would have profited to the extent of not trying it again. It is certainly a dubious "profit" that inspires another flinging around of another $50,000.

"He has an impeccable record and youthful enthusiasm" says the Advertiser.

"He has an impeccable record" for what?

His still "youthful enthusiasm", at 43 years old, seems to be solely to be mayor, to which office he is signally unfitted because of his insignificance as a businessman, his naivete as a politician, and his recorded impotence as a member of the Board of Supervisors.

Richard Gladstein's Strange Bedfellow

You will notice that about every third day the newspapers in their reports of the Reinecke case identify Richard Gladstein, the Reineckes' attorney, as having successfully defended Harry Bridges before the United States Supreme Court when the government sought to have Bridges deported.

It is perfectly apparent that what is intended by the newspapers is to discredit Mr. Gladstein in the eyes of their readers because of his connection with the Bridges case.

In 1943, the government's attempt to take away the citizenship of William Schneiderman was argued before the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Schneiderman was and still is an avowed Communist. At the time of the Supreme Court hearing he was and he still is secretary of the Communist Party of California.

The attorney who successfully defended. Mr. Schneiderman in this case and won the unanimous decision of the court for his client was— Wendell Willkie, Republican candidate for President in 1940.

"In the first place, it is my opinion that while spokesmen for big business in Hawaii voice approval for statehood, there is underground opposition to statehood on the part of the moneyed interests here. That, it seems to me, can be readily understood.

"Certain corporations here now have connections in Washington which keep them continually in touch with matters that affect their interests in any way. These connections are on the spot and can advise their employers in Hawaii how the wind is going to blow before, you might say, it has started blowing. Under a territorial form of government such as we have it is much easier for these interests to be represented in Washington than it is for the people of Hawaii to be represented there."