The First Amendment of the United States Constitution provides for the guarantee of free speech among other protections. Since the coal company operators wished to quell the influence of any union sentiments in their towns, it was vital to institute restrictions in this area. During the summer 1931 strike in Harlan County, Kentucky, at least seven large coal companies in the surrounding states forbid the possession or the delivery of the Knoxville News-Sentinel in their towns. The reason behind this prohibition was because this particular paper had expressed union sympathies at times in the past. In addition to this invasion of freedom, it was not at all uncommon during the labor struggles for the coal companies to search the miners' mail. If a letter was read which was deemed by the company to be offensive or in any way derogatory towards the owners, then the mail was destroyed. Since the only post office which was available in the town was located at the company store, the miners were unable to obtain the freedom of speech which is federally guaranteed to all other citizens.

Besides the restrictions placed upon free speech, the coal towns in many states also outlawed peaceful assemblies of miners out of fear that the groups might discuss union issues or plot against the operators. Following the 1931 Harlan County strikes, the state governor promised to at least protect the miners' rights to peaceably assemble during daylight hours. The May 24^th, 1931 United Mine