It is absurd to discuss American local governments as agents of individual and social amelioration until they begin to meet their most essential and ordinary responsibilities in a more satisfactory manner.
Take, for instance, the most essential function of all--that of maintaining order.

A state government which could not escape and had the courage to meet its responsibilities would necessarily demand from the people a police force which was really capable of keeping the peace.

It could not afford to rely upon local "posses" and the militia.

It would need a state constabulary, subject to its control and numerous enough for all ordinary emergencies.

Such bodies of state police, efficiently used, could not only prevent the lawlessness which frequently accompanies strikes, but it could gradually stamp out lynch law.
Lynching, which is the product of excited local feeling, will never be stopped by the sheriffs, because they are afraid of local public opinion.