Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-09-05
LABOR DAY.

n was a fnc set OF l8boring mon in't
marched and countcrmarched ON Main
street today In their neat and clean
uniforms. by their erect bearing ana
their elastic step they showed indie
pendence and power Of self-ru'e pecu-
liar. we believe. 10 the American labor
en- who realizes his strength and I'M
portance as a factor I'm the government
Of one Of the greatest nations on earth.
II rs a pleasure TO see the American
workinginan. whether az work or ON
parade The laborer holds In his hands
the keys ~ peace and prosperity, and
the American workingman IL conscious
OF this fact II he preserves his indie
pondcnce against tyranny both inside
and outside his own ranks. the coun-
try will have peace and prosperity and
grow and progress untn the end ot
time
There Is AN old legend according 10
which King Frodi who Is said 20 have
reigncd In Denmark In the beginning
OF our era, was tho posscssor Of pair
OF magic mill stones so ponderous that
no ordinary man could turn them. Fin
ally however. he obtained two slaves Of
gigantic stature and strength, and they
turned the stones and ground out as
the legend has IT, gold. peace and pros
perity" Soon the Kings Golfers were
fun Of the precious metal and his land
enjoyed tranquility Merrily the slaves
sang, as they turned the mill stones:
Let us grind riches to Frodi.
Let us grind him happy
In plenty Of substance.
ON our gladdening queru"
But Frodi was not wise. Avarice got
hold OF him. and he soon overworked
hle willing serfs. He allowed them no
rest, hut drove them to continual labor
The mill stones had to be turned with
out ccssaslon. II was one everlasting
grind Then the slaves changed their
song and by their magic they pro-
duced an armed host instead Of peace
and prosperity, and soon the dreaded |
viking. Mysnger, landed and slew the
people.
The mill stones we're now placed on
board the ship. and the slaves were
told TO grind out salt This they did
Mysinger. too. became unreasonable,
and oyerworkcd them. whercupon they |
ground ou' such an abundance Of the |
precious substance that the ship sank, |
and the men persisted.
There are some important truths Inn |
beddod In this old myth. II shows us |
that peace and prosperity are depend
cnt upon labor While the mill stones
Of industry are kept moving the cof-
fers OF the king are full and prosperity |
is abundant But even prosperity, the
legend shows us. can become a curse,
II IL Is the result Of oppression The
mill stones that grind out peace may
also produce strife and war The very
prosperity that the viking obtained
through conquest. became his undoing
when he abused his willing slaves.
His vessel sank under the weight OF
wealth
There is. possibly, "A lesson in this,
not Inappropriate TO our own time.
No age has had greater opportunities
10 acquire wealth. The magic mill
stones OF industry are indeed grinding
,ut prosperity almost unlimited The
Industrial forces are gigantic It de-
,ends on the treatment OF these forces
whether they are to continue to bles.
he world or whether they are to turn
nto a curse The ship may sink under
he weight Of wealth as well as under
too heavy burden OF worth hal |