Leaflets in the Company Town

A town was wholly owned by a shipbuilding corporation, yet it looked like any other town: homes, streets, a business block, and a U.S. post office, all freely used by the public. The company posted notices in its stores that no street vendor, agent or solicitation of any kind was allowed without written permission. A woman belonging to a religious movement stood on a sidewalk near the post office handing out religious literature. She was told she could not do so without a permit and that none would be issued. She protested that the company rule violated her constitutional rights and refused to leave. A deputy sheriff arrested her under the state law against remaining on another's premises after being warned. She argued that the owner could not strip her of freedom of religion and press.