There is more to be said in favor of our civil than of our criminal courts.

In spite of a good deal of corruption and of subserviency to special interests, the judges are usually honest men and good average lawyers; but the fact that they are elected for comparatively short terms has made them the creatures of the political machine, and has demoralized their political standards.

They use court patronage largely for the benefit of the machine; and whatever influence they have in politics is usually exercised in favor of the professional politician.

If they do not constitute a positive weakness in the system of local government, they are certainly far from constituting a source of strength; and considering the extent to which our government is a government of judges, they should exercise a far more beneficent influence than they do.
Neither are the administrative and legislative responsibilities of the states redeemed with any more success.

The tax systems of the several states are in a chaotic condition.