Local American legislative organization has courted failure.

Both the system of representation and functions of the representative body have been admirably calculated to debase the quality of the representatives and to nullify the value of their work.

American state legislatures have really never had a fair opportunity.

They have almost from the beginning been deprived of any effective responsibility.
The state constitutions have gradually hedged them in with so many restrictions, have gone so much into detail in respect to state organization and policy that the legislatures really had comparatively little to do, except to deal with matters of current business.

They offered no opportunity for a man of ability and public spirit.