The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-20
One Time Confederate Cap.
tain Becomes Head Of War
Department on July lst.
PRESIDENT PRAISES
WORK HE HAS DONE
Resident of Tennessee, and One
Of Most Prominent Lawyers in
soutll-Governor Of Philip
pines and Ambassador
to Japan-Resigna-
ton Of Taft.

~- YAsHlNGION, ID. C., June 49,
Secretary Taft to-day ten
\A/ dered his resignation, to
wv take effect June Goth. Cen
eral Luke K. Wright, OF
Tennessee. Will be appointed to sue.
ceed him as head of the War Depart
ment.
The correspondence between the
President and Secretary Taft relating
to the latter's resignation is very
brief Secretary Taft simply said:
II hereby tender my resignation as
Secretary OF War TO take effect June
30th next
The President, in his reply, said.
Your resignation is hereby accept
ed, to take effect June GOTH
The resignation was dated yester-
day. and the acceptance to-day.
Appointment OF Wright.
The statement given out at the
White House concerning General
Wright's appointment says:
.'As Philippine commissioner and
later as Vive.Governor. and Gov
ernor he won the affection and
regard of the army to a high
degree. and many of the most dis
tinguished OF the men who served in
the army at the time he was in the
Philippines have urged his appoint
nient because they said that he was In
a peculiar way their champion and to
peculiar degree understood them and
their needs. This Is especially true us
regards the men who were Union vet
Grams OF the Civil War, for these grew
to feel that he was always specially
interested In their welfare. and, more
uIp i,,fC tf,sc an Ia-
gal ability both peculiarly ft him 10
deal with the problems In the Philip
pines. Panama and Cuba, for the work
OF the War Department is now such
that only a man with special fitness
snd unusual training is able to do Jug
tice to IT.
'Of all the men in the country the
President feels that Luke e. Wright Ii
t!ie man best equipped to take up the
work OF the department. which for the
last seven years has been under the
control first of Root and then OF Taf.
AS young man he was a captain in
the Confederate Army.
Ills is one OF the leading lawyers not
only Of his State, but OF the enrir.
South. He has also been foremost In
advocating and insisting upon fair
treatment for the coiored people. lie
first definitely established his reputa
tion in the terrible days OF the yellow
fover epidemic at Memphis when lie
practically made himself Mayor Of the
town, and took charge of all the re.
lief measures, showing what may just
~ be called devotion to duty and indif.
ference to his own life. together with
the masterful qualities of successful
administrators In a great crisis. Ha
was himself struck down by the
plague he was fighting. but lived to
SEQ 1t stamped out and himself t.
take part in introducing into Memphis
the hygienic measures which have
made 1t one OF the most healthy cities
in the world.
He was appointed by Mr.. Mckinley
as one OF the Philippine commission
ors and enjoyed Mr.. McKinley's heart.
lest confidence, being selected AS ont
OF those Southerners who were in sym.
pathy with his administration. Unde,
President Roosevelt he was promoted
first to be Vice.Governor and then Gov
ernor Of the Philippines. and was af.
teaward made the first ambassador te
Japan.
I'm all positions he served with sig
nal fidelity and ability, and has beer
IN hearty and outspoken accord will
the administration and with all 1t.
main policies.
Not Discussing IT.
MEMPHIS, TENN, June 19.-wher
seen by an Associated Press renreSent