The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-11-05
What They Have Done


True TO our promise, we herewith
set forth few of the things accom-
plished in the last fifty years by men
who have done time behind the walls.
Years ago before and till the Civil
War, our paper currency bore upon
the back of each bill these words:
1T Is Dealh to Counterfeit" 1t was
an old colonial law and had been
handed down to the Federal Govern
ment. Thus often an innocent person
might be found with a number of
courterteits on his person. although
he came by them III legitimate way
was executed. About twenty years
before the war, down in Alabama
near Tuscaloosa, man was arrested
charged with counlerfeiting, and he
made legal fight for bis life, making
such heroic plea before the court.
that the courtfxed his sentence al life
Imprisonment. In 1859 he made his
escape, and as he had befriened Lin
coin years before at New Orleans
he made his way to Illinois and went
to Hon. Jesse Harper, Llncoln's law
partner, and told him who he was
anu what he was. Jesse Harper he.
lieved the mans story, and little in
vestigatirg brC ught out the fact that
the man was not even guilty of hav-
ing counterfeit money in his posses
Sion at the time of his trial-wbat
he did have was number of test
So gold pieces of the Dalonaga, Ga.,
mintage. 1t was through this man
that new coinage law was passed.
In 1870 man walked out from
the gloom of cell where he had
spent rs years of his life in a Penn
syivania prison, put ia those long
years he had not been idle. For
while in durance vile, he had placed
before the American people that idea
of practical government, not by in
junction, but the Initiative and
Referendum and Recall"
Some years ago man was paroled
in New York, after doing half of
his time-he went to New York
City. and through his conception and
work built up the Great Christian
Missions, known to millions of peo-
pie. Few persons who ever visited
New York. but who have been to
All Night Mission. s Bowery,' to
Christ's Mission, 331 w. 57th St."
and McAuley's Water St. Mission,
3l6 Water ST. That was Jerry
McAuIev.
Down in Georgia in 1885 man
was sentenced to i've years IN prison,
while there he conceived an idea of
Uncle Sam delivering the mail to the
farmer daily. as we'll as to the city
business man, when he was released
he returned to his home county; star
ted in where he had left off. Took
his place in the front ranks. both in
church and state. joined the Far
mers' Alliance; helped to organize it
in every county in the state. and
while doing so he planted the seed
of the Rural Free Delivery System.
Hou. Thomas +. Watson, became a
convert to the ex-prisoners IDEAS
Watson was elected to Congress AID
while the U. S. Mail and Post Roads
Aspiration Bill was under consider
alton in Congress, or Feb. II, 1898,
Mr.. Watson introduced and had
passed the Rural Free Delivery
Mail Bill. and from which the great
system has grown-blessing and
reacEirg daily more than $4,000, 900
people in the United States.
About twenty-niDe years ago there
was man serving lie sentence In
the Minnesota Stale Prison at STILL
water. One night while he was sit
ting in his little narrow cell at the
old prison. he conceived the idea of
publishing a newspaper behind the