Ke Alakai o Hawaii, Volume IX, Number 26, 8 October 1936 — Democrats Have Strong Candidates For Board Of Oahu Supervisors [ARTICLE]

Democrats Have Strong Candidates For Board Of Oahu Supervisors

In thēir confidence that the Democratic party wili foe able to gain control of the board of supervisors in the genral election, party leaders are counting strongly upon the caliber and character of the seven successful Democratic candidates, as compared with those on the Re~ puhliean ticket. The leaders said that the present line-up, consisting of Senator Lester Petrie, Charles D. Rosecrans, Joseph V. Esposito, Walter Jarrett, Dr. Harry I. Kurisaki, George C, Benevedes ahd Mrs. Rose Schilling, presents the best-rounded and outstanding list of supervisorial candidates ever considered by the voters of Oahu. Dr. Kurisaki's KeeoM Regarding Dr, Kurisaki, the "Kurisaki Supporters' Club" has issued a formal statement whieh reads in part: "Dr. Kurisaki is an outstanding citlzen of Hawaii, not only as a leading representative of American citizen»s of Japanese ancestry but also as one of the most successful practitioners of his profession in the Territory, regardless of racial ancestry. His preejnfcience in his profession has been recognized on two oecasions by the inter-racial Dental Society of Hawaii when he was eiected Treasurer in 1928 and President of that organization in 1930. Dr. Kurisaki also served as President of the Japanese Dental Society of Hawaii for two terms. "Dr. Kurisaki was one of the organizers of the Society of Amcrican Citizens of Japanese Ancestry and served as its president. The primary purposes of this organization were the Americanization of citizens of Japanese aneestry and the clariflcation of the former dua]-clti-zenshlp situation. As the result of the society's act3vities the Parliament of Japan provided in 1924 for the present stat*ite whereby Amenean citizens of Japanese ancestry may renounce their forroer dual-citizenship to Japan without difficulty. Dr. Kurisaki was one of five Ameriean citizens of Japanese ancestry who was appointed to go to Japan as representatives of Hawail and thank officially the Japanese Government for simplifving the expatriation procedure. On this trip Dr. Kurisaki travelled throughout Japan s ehina, Manchuria and Korea. "In recognition of Dr. Kurisaki's general interest in eommunity welfare and his outstanding position among American citizens of Japanese ancestry, he was appoinwd by former Governor Judd as the Japanese member of the Governor's Commission on Crime, on whieh he served with such a leading cit-i--zen as Senator William H. Heen. "Dr. Kurisaki also has been deeply intrested in recreation, sports and athietics in Hawaii, having been one of the members of the original Asahi team in the Hawaii BMebaii League, playing left field. Since 1834 Br. Kurisaki also has been instrumental in revivin£ Japanese aumo ī.Wrestling) iii Hawaii, having been president and now advisor of the Japanese Sumo (Wrestling) Association of Hawaii, "Dr. Kurisuki was born in Paauilo, Hawaii, January 3, 1893, and was graduated iu the Hawaii PubLc ,md St. Louis Colleuc. He g: ,vauated from the ruj/u.l of thv Univei"sit,- 3o.iihoi'i C;Uifornia with thc degre<. ol Doctor oi Dentiil :317. He has been .n Honolulu ; since that time. "Since the Ameiiean citlzens of Japanese *"i£ycestry form a; large part of IHe populaiion of Oahu and are without represen- ( tation on the Board ofSupervl- | sors, we induced Dr. Kurisaki to hi-eumi .i eai-aiiA'iale īox ihe B>'.\i o :hv Demooratic ucket " Witli the \musuiil distmetion x-ī .vs.ng 'iegTCes and experi-

enee in two professions—Doetor of Medicine and Counsellor at I,aw—Esp6lto is seeMng election as supervlsor on the Democratic ticket on the doublebarrelled platform that the city and county board needs a doctor and a lawyet to make lt function properlv—but above all, to aid "The Forgotten Man."

E«posito's further experience mcludes one term as Senator in ihe State Legislature of Conneeticutt, to whieh he was elected in 1926.

As tbe on!y medicat doctor eandidate for the board on any ticket, Esposito pledged himself to aid and support any and all

[meas(ires that would tend to improve healUi and sanitation «onditions ou O&hu. In particuiar he bases his campaign on additloaal help for the emergency hospitai and the construction of a sub-station of that institution ia the fifth district, or at Jeast the stationix>£ of an ambuUnce in some strategic point in that district for the benefit of the xesidents who may meei mishap.

Esposito also fayors a contiiiu-

; ation of the pTese"nt medical proi gram in the schools and instruc|tion of parents and children in t tttberculosls prevenUon an d l ti*eatment. Re also p!edges himfs€ftf to work for the establlshment of a mißc fund for the bencf!t of destitute school ehlldren and to extend the excellent work now belng done in that direction by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Parent~Teachers associations. He 1 also strongly advocates increased sanitatioh and hygienic facilities in the schools.

Supports President

. But, above all, Esposito is particularly concemed wilh the contirftiation of Presiaent Eoosevelt's New Deal policies as applied to Hawaii and advocacy of the President's theory that human rights are superior to mere property rights in the interests !of "The Forgotten Man."

lEsposito was born in New Haven, Conn«, in 1899, the son of poor, illifcerate Italian immigrants who had settled there in lff?0. A self-made mān, he was i newsboy, bootblack, barb e r, 1 patoter and plumber ln order to earn his way through sc.hool. In 1912 he was graduated as an honor student from the Jefferison Medical College, Philadel!phia. In a competitive civQ ser|vice examlnat!on ln whleh 1.800 'medical doctors particīpated, for !the position ?.s internes in St. !Louis City hospiUl, Dr. Esposito stood at the head of the list and served a year in Uiat position.

In 1913 Dr. Esposito was resi~ tfent phjrs!clan and surfeon lti Atlar)t{f City hospita!, New Strsey, &nd in the foilowtng year lie t>«g&n his pmaie practice of medicine in N«vc Haveii« Later lie was appointed associat-e sur-g-eon of New Haven Dispensary, fwerned t>y the medical facalty ol ¥ate University

While in praciiem* medicine f Dr. Espoiito aisxj took np stndies at the Yale Law Scliw>!, from wh!ch lte was grad«ated in 192« Ht then decided to limit his profes&ional actlvitim to % oC Uūs $ro-le-ssion.

Bspostto, who eame to the ieV|rttory ln 1931, is a xnen,ber o? [t#« Bar Assoc?aticn of HawaU, ts marrie<i and has four cliiidreu, two ol wlioiu ar« ip aeliooi ia Eoooiulu.