Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-25
Something Concerning the Man
Who Fills Secretary Taft's Shoes

Wright was appointed to fill it. The
subjects of legislation assigned to him
as member of the Philippine COM
mission were internal improvements,
franchises, militia, police and the
criminal code. He was also assigned
to give attention to the civil code in
connection with Governor Taft and
commissioner Ide Each commissioner
lions into the subjects assigned him.
The most important bills that were
prepared by General Wright and en-
acted by the Philippine commission
were the penal code, the bill for the
organization of the constabulary to
replace the army in many small gar
risons, the bill for the organization Of
the police force Of Manila and the bill
for the Improvement Of Manila har-
Dor,
In the absence Of Mr.. Taft from the
Philippines, General Wright was act
ing civil governor Of the islands from
November 4, 1901 to August %, 1902.
In what estimation Secretary Taft
holds the man may be judged from the
fact that on his return from the United
States to the islands he alluded to
General Wright in an address to the
natives as man of affairs, man OF
ability man of the firmness, Of the
tact and of the sweet solitary nature
of Governor Wright" This period was
critical and troubled one but Gen
eral Wright met all crises in fash
ion that met the approval of Score
tary Taft and President Roosevelt in
his address at Hartford August %,
1902, commended him among other
officials Of the Philippines.
General Wright visited the United
States in the winter of 1902 and 1903
and delivered an address at Canton on
President McKinley's birthday, Jan.
uary 20. 1908. He was nominated for
civil governor of the Philippines Jan
nary 4, 1904. He served as governor
until March 81, 1906, when he was
sent to Japan as ambassador He
served for a number of months in
that capacity and then at his own in.
stance returned to private life.
Necessarily, not much attention has
been paid in this country to the work
OF General Wright in the Philippines
liz III IliS i've years. IL
was tempestuous period formative
stage of American occupation. Gen
eral Wright insisted from the first
that what the islands needed was a
commercial, industrial and agricul
tural regeneration. He conducted the
| government of the islands in the
| terrible cholera scourge of the spring
of 1908. When he departed from the
Philippines for Japan he was giver
many tributes of high regard 1t was
said of him at that time by his adj
mirers in Manila that while In the
| Philippines he had been "the apostle
of stop talking and go to work"
AS ambassador to Toxic, Genera
Wright was placed in most Difficult,
and delicate position. He was the
representative of this country in Japar
in those momentous day following the
school trouble in San Francisco wher
war doomed UP ominously. II is true
that the idea of war was secuted II
many quarters in this country. How
near to war the country was, Is bes
known by President Roosevelt, Score
tary Root and General Wright. /
was highly critical time. Genera
Wright by his tact, flrmness and abil
ity did much to smooth things over
1t is admitted everywhere by thos,
familiar with the facts that Wright dit