Montana labor news., 1946-01-17
WASHINGTON
SCENE 49,.

WASIlINGTON. - NP)-America's
favoritc haven OF rcaotion-the COM
pany town-has been cast into oblivion.
The L. s. Supreme Court, in a telling
decision January 7, held by a. 5-to-3
vote that no firm or corporation may set
up a private domain in which it can
prohibit door-to-door distribution Of
literature or solicitation.
Although the case arose in connection
with the distribution OF literature for a
religious sect, Jchovah's Witnesses.
lawyers here quickly recognized the
value OF the decision to organized labor,
particularly in the southern states.
Textile corporations have been par
ticularly vicious in their practice of
setting up model villages in which
they operate the municipalities civic
services, own all the homes which they
rent 10 their employees. and see to it
that labor organizers have a difficult
time.
One such community is located at
Trion, Ga, which is owned by the
Trion 60. The firm makes textiles
and has a long history OF beating up
labor union representatives. The Iron
Co. operates a model dairy. runs a COM
pany store, and owns all the homes.
The Supreme Court case came from
Chickasaw. Ma, near Mobile, which is
owned by DC Guii %Shiphuildine ca. a
Grace Marsh Was arrested ior remaining
~ the premises distributing leaflets
AFTER 4 warning to depart.
Justice Hugo l.. Black, The courrs
leading liberal, wrote the majority opin-
ion III which he Vas joined by Justices
frank Murphy William Douglas, Frank
Murphy and Wiley kutlcdgc. Justice
lfclix Frankiurtcr wrote a separate,
c,ncurring opinion.
Blacks opinion held tina, the man
ayers col the town appointed by the
corporation cannot ~curtail the liberty
81 press and religion oi these people
consistently with the purposes OF the
constitutional guarantees. and a state
statute. such as the on here involved
which cniorccs such action by crimi-
nally furnishing those who attempt Il
distribute religious literature ~clcarl,
violates the iirst and l4ih amendments
to the L. s. Constitution.
Black argued that residents di com
pany-owncd towns, Just as residents Q
municipalities, are Tree citizens ane
Ito act as good citizens they must i,
informed. In order 10 be properly IN
formed, their information must be TN
censored
That doctrine did not ST vel will
the Supreme Court minority. with Jus
tee Stanley Reed hlunily calling j
novel constitutional doctrine III
opinion. in which he was joined by Che
Justice Harlan Stone and Justice liar
old II. Burton. said This is the frs
case to extend by law the privilege Q
religious exercise beyond public place.
or to private places without the asscn
oi the owncr.
Coupled with previous rulings oi tn
court on similar questions, crgani2cri
now have the right 10 make door to
door distributions Of literature, the,
cannot be taxed or forced to submit L
permit regulations to carry On thei
work, nor can such communities pro
hibit dissemination Of ideas on thci
streets or other public places on tn
grounds that a corporation owns th
streets.
Touching on the public streets 0
Chickasaw, Black wrote that ii does no
differ from any other town in this re
.spcct Tie lNsiacss block serves til
community as a shopping center, h
,aid. and is ~~ir,,ls accessible and cpc
TO the people * the area and ;hos
passing through
when wc ba'ancc the con tiiiona