New-York tribune., 1908-06-20

fever endemic of 1S7S-'79 which swept that city
and caused many deaths. He was a member CT
the Howard Association. composed OF men
pledged to face the calamity and risk their lives
to alleviate the suffering and preserve order In
the city devastated by of the worst cpl
denies of modern times. In that period he stuck
TO his post while dozens of his associates oieo
1t was necessary that some should remain The
population was scattered, and thieves. ghouis
and burglars rampant at first throughout
the town. Those who had been trapped py the
quarantine lines knew that almost certain death
awaited them. and all the veneering Of civiliza-
ton was thrown off. Men became brutes' anu
In their desperation committed many crimes
General Wright and his colleagues succoreo
the sick and suppressed crime by radical
means. Order was preserved at the point OF
the bayonet General Wright made house 10
house visits comforting and aiding the stricken
He constantly faced death, as cool ana delp-
crate as the soldier who goes into pattie'
In making the appointment OF Generai
Wright the President was influenced somewhat
by the desire to recognize in an emphauc way
that there is no longer any dlvlolns hiie pe
tween the North and the South, ana tnat al
good Americans are in thought and in deed one,
and the President was Influenced Still more pS
the fact that Governor Wright's personal at
for this particular position.
Memphis, June 19.-When seen by an
Associated Press representative General LUKE
E. Wright said he did not think 1t proper "
discuss the announcement that he would sue
ceed Secretary Taft in the War department
until he had received further advices from
Washington.
General Wright, who was formerly Amer
lived
last fall having resigned his portfolio
Luke E. Wright has been the successor OF Nj
Taft before taking his place as Civil Governor Oh
the Philippines in 1904. He was after"aro Iildue
Governor General of the Philippines. He suDse-
ouentIy served as Ambassador to Japan FOR 'iie
last wear he has been living at his home In Mem
phis. He is the OF the former Chief JUSTICE oi
Tennessee, Archibald W. Wright, and was oorn III
ls47 His education secured privately IN Neih-
pills. and he decided his fathers PROFESSION OF
law In 1873 he took active part in the measures
of relief for those suffering from yellow fever IN
Memphis. He made Attorney General OF the
in $780, and served eight years In that once
He was a Gold Democrat in the campaign OF 1880,
and supported Palmer and Buckner. President NC
Kinley appointed him a member of the second
Philippine commission in 1900 After Mr.. TAFT be-
came Civil Governor the office of Vice-Governor was
created. and Mr.. Wright appointed to I'LL IT. In
the absence of Governor Taft in this country anu
Rome Mr.. Wright was Acting Governor, ana ne
succeeded Mr. Taft when the latteTs resignation
took effect in 1904 He carried out the policy OF
his predecessor in years he filed the office,
resigning in 1906. He then went to Toxic as the
first American Ambassador, but resigned in 1907
His wife was a daughter of Admiral Raphael
semmes commander Of the famous cruiser Ala
bama Of the Confederate navy. and their three
sons served in the Spanish-Anerican War in 1898.
The degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on
Mr.. Wright by Hamilton College in 1903.