Doc. 5. Major-General Rosecrans' order.
It having come to the knowledge of the corn manding General that combinations exist in the city of St. Louis, having for their object to prevent journeymen mechanics, apprentices, and
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laborers from working in manufacturing establishments, except on terms prescribed to the proprietors thereof, by parties not interested therein, which terms have no relation to the matter of wages to be paid to employees, but to the internal management of such establishments; and it appearing that, in consequence of such combinations, and the practices of those concerned in them, the operations of some establishments where articles are produced which are required for use in the navigation of the Western waters, and in the military, naval, and transport service of the United States, have been broken up, and the production of such articles stopped or suspended, the following order is promulgated, and any violation thereof will be punished as a military offence:
First.--No person shall, directly or indirectly, attempt to deter or prevent any other person from working on such terms as he may agree upon, in any manufacturing establishment where any article is ordinarily made which may be required for use in the navigation of the Western waters, or in the military, naval, or transport service of the United States.
Second.--No person shall watch around or hang about any such establishment for the purpose of annoying the employees thereof, or learning who are employed therein.
Third.--No association or combination shall be formed or continue, or meeting held, having for its object to prescribe to the proprietor of any such establishment whom they shall employ therein, or how they shall conduct the operations thereof.
Fourth.--All employees in such establishments will be protected by military authority against all attempts by any person to interfere with or annoy them in work, in consequence of their being engaged in it.
Fifth.--The proprietors of every such establishment in the county of St. Louis will forthwith transmit to the office of the Provost-Marshal-General the names of all persons who have, since the fifteenth day of March, 1864, left their employ to engage in any such combination or association as that above referred to, or have been induced to leave by the operations of any such combination or association, or by the individual effort of any one concerned therein.
The place of residence of such persons, so far as known, will be stated, together with a list by name of all who have taken an active part in any combination or effort to control the conduct of any such establishment, or to prevent persons from working therein.
Sixth.--The Post-Commander, Colonel J. H. Baker, Tenth Minnesota volunteers, is charged, under the direction of the District-Commander, with the execution of this order.
All persons applying for the aid of the military forced in this connection will report direct to Colonel Baker.
Seventh.--In putting down this attack upon private rights and the military powers of the nation, by organizations led by bad men, the General commanding confidently relies upon the support and aid of the city authorities, and all right-minded men.
By command of
