Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-26

Gen. Luke E. Wright.
of the most capable men in office. and his
apo ntment as president OF the Philippine
comm. IS on by Pres.den. Mckinley n 1901
was received with hearty approval by all
classes.
Governor Taft is son of the late Attor-
ney General Alfonso Taft, and was born in
Cincinnati. September Is. 1857. After
graduation from the high school there he
entered Yale, graduating with the class of
1873 He at once began the study of law
in connection with newspaper work for the
Cincinnati Commercial and in 1880 was
graduated from the Cincinnati Law School
and began the practice of his profession.
Accepted Political Office.
In the following year Mr.. Taft was ap-
pointed assist TO the prosecuting attor-
ney for Ha.n:i -. county and served with
ability until 1872. when he resigned to ac-
cept from President Arthur an appoint
ment as collector of internal revenue for
the first Ohio district. He did not like
the work attached TO that position, and at
the end of a year resigned and returned to
the practice of law.
In 1885 he became assistant county solfc-
ftOr. and in the same year was appointed by
bench of Ohio to fill the uneXpired term OF
Judge Harmon. who retired to become At
torney General of the United States. In
1888 he was elected to the Office for the
full term. five years. but resigned to ac-
cept the office of solicitor general of rhe
United States, rendered him by President
Harrison. In 1892 he was appointed judge
of the United States circuit court for The
seventh district. and on the creation Of me
circuit court of appeals he was appointed
to the bench In that court. From that
time until his appointment to the Philippine
commission he was professor in the law
department of the University Of Cincinnati.
and from 1896 he was dean of that school.
He Is n brother of Charles p. Taft, former
representative from the first Ohio district,
and a Son-in-law of former United States
District Attorney John w Heron. having
married Miss Helen Heron in 1856. lie
has two children.
Gen. Wright's Career.
General Wright. the successor of Gov
ernor Taft. is highly held in the estimation
of the President, and will undoubtedly make
a fine executive officer at the head of the
Philippine commission. During the absence
in this country of Governor Taft he con-
Quoted the affairs of the Office in a manner
that was highly satisfactory to the admin
istratfon and sealed his own fate as the
future governor of the islands. He is said
to be as popular with the Filipinos as with
the Americans and his appointment will
be a source of qualification to all classes
He has been a member of the Philippine
commission since February, 1900 and Is
one Of the foremost lawyers Of the south
He was born in Tennessee, is fifty-six years
of age and graduate of the University of
Mississippi. He served in the confederate
army as private throughout the war of
the rebellion. and after that conflict prac-
ticed law in Memphis He was for years a
partner of Senator Turley, has been a
democrat all his life. but is an earnest ad-
Vocate of expansion. In 1876 and 1884 ne
was delegate to the national democratic
conventions.
Secretary Root.
Elihu Root. the retiring Secretary of War
was born in Clinton. N Y. in 1915. He re-
ceived his early education in the common
schools and was afterward graduated from
Hamilton College. where his father was q
professor of mathematics. In 1867 he fin
ished the course at the law school of the
College Of the City of New York was adj
mitted to the bar and entered into partner
ship with Judge willard Bartlett and John
II. Strahan. He devoted his talents tn the
study of corporation cases and was counsel
in the A. T. Stewart will contest He has
had many of the leading cases of corpora
tons during his career and is considered
one OF the foremost corporation lawyers of
the day.
Mr.. Root succeeded Russell A. Aleer az
Secretary of War in 1880. President McKin-
ley believing that the seat should be oc-
cupied by lawyer Of high executive DOW
ers. His handling, in cooperation with
Governor TAFT. of the friar question In the
philippines. 1t is claimed justifias that opin-
ion as we'll as his manipulation of many
other problems that have confronted him
during the course of his occupancy of the
office. To him much of the credit is due for
the establishment of civil government for
the insular possessions. The necessity for
the reorganization of the army was early
decided upon by him and he personally pre-
pared the reorganization bill that was made
law by Congress in February. 1901.
Was United States District Attroney.
Prior to his appointment as Secretary of
War the only office he ever held was that of
United States district attorney at New York
city to which place he was appointed by
President Arthur. He was chairman of the
republican county committee in 1886 and
1881, and has been president of the Union
League Club of New York and of the Re-
publican Club of that city,
Although a brainy man and a thorough
administrator he Is not easy to know and is
generally considered cold and unsympa-
thetfc- He has been successful with every
thing that he has ever handled and is a rich
man. His law practice Is said to be worth
100000 year. It Is to this practice that