Document: 362 U.S. 60 80 S.Ct. 536 4 L.Ed.2d 559 Manuel D. TALLEY, Petitioner,v.STATE OF CALIFORNIA. No. 154. Argued Jan. 13, 14, 1960. Decided March 7, Mr. A. L. Wirin, Los Angeles, Cal., for the petitioner. Philip E. Grey, respondent. Justice BLACK delivered opinion of Court. 1 The question presented here is whether provisions a Angeles City ordinance restricting distribution handbills 'abridge freedom speech and press secured against state invasion by Fourteenth Amendment Constitution.'1 ordinance, § 28.06 Municipal Code provides: 2 'No person shall distribute any hand-bill in place under circumstances, which does not have printed on cover, or face thereof, name address following: 3 '(a) who printed, wrote, compiled manufactured same. '(b) caused same to be distributed; provided, however, that case fictitious club, addition such name, true names addresses owners, managers agents sponsoring said also appear thereon.' 5 petitioner was arrested tried Court violating this ordinance. It stipulated had distributed two them were evidence. Each it 6 National Consumers Mobilization, 7 Box 6533, 8 55, Calif. 9 PLeasant 9—1576. 10 urged readers help organization carry boycott certain merchants businessmen, whose given, ground that, as one set said, they carried products 'manufacturers will offer equal employment opportunities Negroes, Mexicans, Orientals.' There appeared blank, which, if signed, would request enrollment signer 'member Mobilization,' preceded statement 11 'I believe every man should an opportunity no matter what his race, religion, birth.' 12 held information did meet requirements found guilty charged, fined him $10. Appellate Department Superior County affirmed conviction, rejecting petitioner's contention, timely made both courts, invaded violation First Amendments Federal Constitution.2 172 Cal.App.2d Supp. 797, 332 P.2d 447. Since highest court available petitioner, we granted certiorari consider constitutional contention. 360 928, 79 1457, 1543. 13 In Lovell v. Griffin, 303 444, 58 666, 82 L.Ed. 949, void its comprehensively forbade literature at time Georgia, without license. Pamphlets leaflects pointed out, 'have been historic weapons defense liberty'3 enforcement Griffin 'would restore system license censorship baldest form.' Id., page 452, 669. A year later before us four ordinances each forbidding leaflets—one Irvington, New Jersey, California, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Worcester, Massachusetts. Schneider State Town 308 147, 146, 84 155. Efforts distinguish these from case. chief grounds distinction passed prevent either frauds, disorder, littering, according records cases, another applied only city areas. This refused uphold those pointing out there other ways accomplish legitimate aims abridging press. Frauds, street littering disorderly conduct could denounced punished offenses, said. Several years followed cases striking down Dallas, Texas, prohibit dissemination handbills. We although punish streets he violates valid law, 'one rightfully * carries with elsewhere right express views orderly fashion well spoken word.' Jamison 318 413, 416, 63 669, 672, 87 869. 14 broad now us, barring 'any circumstances,'4 falls precisely ban our prior unless saved qualification can persons prepared, sponsored them. For, limited content 'obscene offensive public morals advocates unlawful conduct.'5 Counsel has aimed providing way identify responsible fraud, false advertising libel. Yet manner so limited, nor referred legislative history indicating purpose. Therefore do pass validity supposed evils. simply bars all circumstances anywhere requires. 15 doubt identification requirement tend restrict thereby expression. 'Liberty circulating essential liberty publishing; indeed, circulation, publication little value.' 16 Anonymous pamphlets, leaflets, brochures even books played important role progress mankind. Persecuted groups sects throughout able criticize oppressive practices laws anonymously all. obnoxious licensing law England, enforced Colonies due part knowledge exposure printers, writers distributors lessen circulation critical government. old seditious libel England show lengths government go find rulers. John Lilburne whipped, pilloried refusing answer questions designed get evidence convict someone else secret England. Two Puritan Ministers, Penry Udal, sentenced death charges writing, printing publishing books.6 Before Revolutionary War colonial patriots frequently conceal their authorship easily brought prosecutions English-controlled courts. Along about Letters Junius written identity author unknown day.7 Even Federalist Papers, favor adoption Constitution, published names. plain anonymity sometimes assumed most constructive purposes. 17 recently occasion hold are times when States may compel members engaged ideas publicly identified. Bates Little Rock, 361 516, 412; N.A.A.C.P. Alabama, 357 449, 462, 78 1163, 1171, 1488. reason holdings fear reprisal might deter perfectly peaceful discussions matters importance. subject infirmity. it, like face. 18 judgment California reversed cause remanded further proceedings inconsistent opinion. 19 ordered. 20 Judgment directions. 21 HARLAN, concurring. 22 judging municipal action affecting rights association protected Amendment, I escape, Roberts 161, 151, 155, 'the delicate difficult task' weighing circumstances' appraising substantiality reasons advanced support regulation free enjoyment of' speech. More impinging sustained governmental interest asserted impingement compelling. See 463, 464, 1172, 1488; Sweezy Hampshire, 354 234, 265, 77 1203, 1219, 1311 (concurring opinion); see 412. 23 Here says prevention 'fraud, deceit, advertising, negligent use words, obscenity, libel,' aid detection spreading material character. But think say anonymous must suppressed order absence more substantial showing Angeles' actual experience handbills,* generality me too remote furnish constitutionally acceptable justification deterrent effect all-embracing likely have. 24 On concur 25 CLARK, whom FRANKFURTER WHITTAKER join, dissenting. 26 To me, cannot read being Certainly fair reading permit conclusion prohibits 'of kind time, place, manner,' 1938, 451, seems conclude. completely prohibited unlicensed As merely handbill 'printed, (or) caused' it. compelling requirement. implies much observes 'referred indicating' adopted purpose preventing libel.' background pertinent overlooks. At oral argument, City's officer stated originally suggested 1931 Chamber Commerce complaint Council urging 'do something misleading.' Upon inquiry Council, office, advised present valid. He relating original Commerce, thereafter drafted submitted Council. 1932. presumption enjoys, nevertheless strikes down, stating 'falls cases.' follow, three cited, 'forbade license,' supra, forbade, exception, streets, 1943, 869; or, 1939, covered different cities, outright bans restraints upon I, therefore, how conclude precisely' cases. contrary, my mind, neither control apposite fact, Schneider, depended Court, held, through Roberts, 'In where abridgment asserted, courts astute examine challenged legislation weigh appraise *.' 151. here, makes appraisal claims litigants, but 'void face.' party using device escape latest handed last month. 412.1 27 Therefore, passing interests claimed Talley. record barren claim, less proof, suffer injury whatever identifying name. Unlike 1958, 1488, relied upon, allegation proof Talley group 'economic reprisal, loss employment, threat physical coercion manifestations hostility.' Id. 1172. contention restraint result existence necessary strike down. 28 burden, not, sustains validity. Its prevents and, contrary Talley, appears entirely sufficient. 29 stand second none supporting Talley's speech—but anonymith. Constitution nothing approved requiring than submit require approval attack here. First, Lewis Publishing Co. Morgan, 1913, 229 288, 33 867, 57 1190, upheld Act Congress newspaper second-class mails publish editor, publisher, owner, stockholders. 39 U.S.C. 233, U.S.C.A. 233. Second, Regulation Lobbying Act, 267, requires lobbying divulge identities give 'a modicum information' Congress. United Harriss, 1954, 347 612, 625, 74 808, 816, 98 989. Third, several corrupt acts outlawing, inter alia, publications reference political candidates.2 While statutes leveled campaign election practices, underlying sustaining applies force 30 No civil greater claim protection calls rigorous safeguarding voting rights. area danger reprisals—economic otherwise—is common knowledge. statutes, disallowing promoting one's campaigns, expressed overwhelming policy Nation. Nevertheless silent impressive authority relevant disposition 31 All types mentioned abuses—libel, slander, accusations, etc. fact some elections, lobbying, palatable, abuses deleterious interest, 32 exercises writing distributing himself just speaks platform. responsibility utterance. When application given encroaches freedoms, then soom enough shown After all, 'harsh arbitrary itself.' Kovacs Cooper, 1949, 336 77, 88, 69 448, 454, 93 513. complete proscription uninvited door-to-door canvassing privacy. Breard Alexandria, 1951, 341 622, 71 920, 95 1233. Is restrictive distribution—regardless content—of signed handbill? And commercial declared verboten, Valentine Chrestensen, 1942, 316 52, 62 86 1262, regardless identification. handbill, destroy business establishment, very front door, attacking lawful comportable freedoms? not. expect international among nations, individual home.? more. Contrary arbitrarily deprive law. complains singled while media—books, magazines, newspapers—remain unrestrained. However, '(t)he problem classification perennial one, admitting doctrinaire definition. Evils field dimensions proportions, remedies. Or reform take step addressing itself phase acute mind. prohibition Equal Protection Clause goes invidious discrimination. (I) point reached here.' Williamson Lee Optical, 1955, 348 483, 489, 75 461, 465, 99 563. 34 dissent. 154, Cf. 450, 668, 949. Petitioner argues construed 'arbitrarily denies Due Process Protection' Clauses Amendment. argument based only, include within books, magazines newspapers. Our unnecessary Court's entire sentence was: 'These (pamphlets leaflets) indeed liberty, pamphlets Thomas Paine others own abundantly attest.' noted Paine's pseudonyms. Bleyer, Main Currents History American Journalism (1927), 90—93. Illustrations pseudonymous writings used discuss volume. Section 28.00 defines 'hand-bill' follows: "Hand-bill' mean hand-bill, dodger, circular, folder, booklet, letter, card, pamphlet, sheet, poster, sticker, banner, notice written, painted calculated attract attention public.' 668. executed Udal died confinement. Hallam, Constitutional (1855), 205—206, 232. letters May 28, 1770, asked following tea tax imposed country, hardly anonymity: 'What then, odious, unprofitable exertion speculative right, fixing badge slavery Americans, service masters?' (1821) 39. Attorney stated: 'We effort local misleading—had sponsors. They particularly interested 'Who people distributing; advertising; doing things sort?' meager indicates legal (sic). wrote back formed handbills, matters, firm officers Thereafter early 1932 drafted, them, related subject—unlawful person, advertisement handbill—or sponsors literature.' 'When threatens significantly impinge becomes duty determine bears reasonable relationship achievement justification.' 525, 417. Thirty-six prohibiting materials elections. E.g.: Kan.G.S.1949, 25—1714; M.S.A. 211.08; Page's Ohio R.C. 3599.09; Purdon's Pa.Stat.Ann., Title 25, 3546.

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