Labor a Blessing

An editorial in the Sept. 1, 1924 issue of The Casper Herald proclaims:

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.

If any man will not work, neither let him eat.

There is no place in the modern world or in society for the idle. Activity of either production or service is obligatory on all.

This is an obligation which springs from the need of society, but even more so from the need of the individual. Work is our protection against moral, intellectual and physical atrophy. The rich man is not freed from this obligation. He is released from the common burden, but by this very fact, he is the more obligated to serve society.

However, we must not look upon labor as merely the expenditure of muscular or intellectual energy or as a commodity to be bought and sold. There is a moral element which must be considered. Man is not an irresponsible machine. He has intellect and free will – an immortal soul. He is personally responsible for his acts.

Advertising messages in the same issue of the newspaper further relate:

Today we set aside an entire day in honor of the builders of our nation – our laboring men. It is a day of rest from toil, and a day upon which the whole world honors the working man. All of us are working men in one sense or another, so let us do honor to each other today.

There is no force, however mighty, that can successfully cross swords with the power of labor. Slumbering peacefully and continuing each day with its work of creation, labor is nevertheless a great potential power worthy of consideration by the entire world.

Today we will devote to the worker and producer he or she may review the past year and look with pride upon labor’s strides to advance the welfare of all mankind in the pursuit of happiness.