[Footnote 37: Reported in 14 Howell's State Trials, pp. 1-114.] [Footnote 38: 188 United States Reports, p. 543.] [Footnote 39: 114 United States Reports, p. 270.] [Footnote 40: 9 Wheaton's Reports, p. 738.] [Footnote 41: 16 Wallace's Reports, p. 220.] [Footnote 42: In re Ayers, 123 United States Reports, p. 487.] [Footnote 43: 123 United States Reports, p. 443.] [Footnote 44: 172 United States Reports, p. 516.] [Footnote 45: Ex parte Young (Attorney General of Minnesota), reported in 209 United States Reports, p. 123, and the case of Hunter (Sheriff of Buncombe County, N.C.) _vs._ Wood, 209 United States Reports, p. 205.] [Footnote 46: Willcox _vs._ Consolidated Gas Co., 212 United States Reports, p. 19.] [Footnote 47: Cotting _vs._ Kansas City Stock Yards Co., 183 United States Reports, p. 79.] [Footnote 48: 1 Cranch's Reports, p. 163.] [Footnote 49: 4 Cranch's Reports, Appendix, pp. 507-508.] CRITICISM OF THE COURTS[50] The attacks upon our courts which are constantly being published in the press throughout the country disclose a feeling of hostility towards the present system of administering justice that is probably the most portentous sign of our times. That the lawlessly inclined, who are fortunately still in the minority, should be hostile to those who are charged with the duty of enforcing and compelling obedience to the laws of the state or nation is not at all surprising and is perhaps almost inevitable in populous communities. But it is indeed surprising, and a legitimate cause for profound anxiety and misgiving, that thousands of honest, industrious, moral and law-abiding citizens should believe that the laws are not being impartially or justly administered, and that this erroneous belief should be inculcated, not only by the press and unprincipled demagogues and politicians but by reputable leaders of American labor and American public opinion, and even by educators. This belief has become so widespread and so fixed in the minds of vast numbers of our people of all classes, educated and uneducated, that only the most exhaustive consideration and discussion of the subject would be now adequate. Numerous letters received by the sub-committee of the New York State Bar Association, some of which are submitted with its report, show the intensity of the hostility towards the courts and the extent to which it is based upon ignorance, prejudice and malice. The fact that the writers of most of these letters are sincere need not be challenged, but, this being conceded, many of the statements show an utter failure to investigate the facts and an entire indifference to the truth, and some are obviously puerile, or inexcusably inaccurate and reckless. On the other hand, the spirit shown in letters from some of the labor leaders must inspire the hope of their loyal assistance in an impartial and thorough investigation. A great amount of good might be accomplished by cooperation with them. Such a letter, for example,