Draft:Thomas v. Collins

Thomas v. Collins, 323 U.S. 516 (1945) was a case dealing with the First Amendment, and whether a state could require a person going to speak at a union organizing meeting, who was a paid employee of the union, to register with the state in advance and obtain a labor organizer's card. The court found, the mere giving of a speech in public, to encourage people to join a union, even if paid to do so, is a core part of the free speech provisions of the amendment, and absent there being a clear and present danger to the public welfare, prohibiting or restricting such speech, violates the First Amendment, which, as incorporated by the 14th Amendment, was held applicable to the State of Texas.

Background of the case

Thomas, The appellant, was the president of the International Union U.A.W. (United Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implements Workers) and a vice president of the C.I.O.