The Washington herald., 1908-05-29
WRIGHT TO TAKE
PLACE IN CABINET
Democrat Will Succeed Taft
as War Secretary.
ADMITTED AT WHITE HOUSE
Formal Announcement Withheld,
but Selection Understood TO Have
Experienced in Philippine Affairs
and Former Confederate Soldier.

Secretary OF War Luke f. Wright. Gold
Democrat, OF Memphis, Tenn. it will be
after July /. next, when Mr.. Taft retires
from President Roosevelts Cabinet. That
was the authoritative word that came
from the White House last night. al
though it has not yet been made the sub
ject Of a formal announcement.
The President yielded in his purpose to
keep his Cabinet plans secret until after
the Chicago convention. He had had Gen
Wright in mind for several months. The
latter's services as a member OF the
Philippine Commission, and afterward as
governor general OF the archipelago and
later as first United States Ambassador
TO Japan. commended him to the Presi-
dent Mr. Roosevelt wished 70 give the
South some recognition in the Cabinet be
fore his administration came to a close.
He also wanted the benefit Of Gen.
Wrights experience In the Philippines and
at Tokyo. The conduct OF the Philippines
affairs comes under the War Department.
japanese questions Of Importance are con
stantly coming up for consideration.
Regarded n Valuable Adviser.
In these two particulars. at least. the
new Cabinet officer promises to be very
valuable accession among the Presi-
dents official advisers in the eight
months that remain Of his term. Beyond
this the selection is said 10 have no spe-
cial significance. II was not made with
the hope or carrying any Southern State.
for while Gen. Wright is highly esteemed
in Tennessee. and is known as one Of the
States most distinguished lawyers, he Is
said TO have but little political influence
there. and could not be expected 20 swing
II into the Republican column.
The politicians are already Fastening
with comments about the appointment OF
a Democrat 10 a Cabinet position. They
say it will displease the Southern Repub-
licans. and are citing the well-known
aversion TO association with the brown
and yellow races which the Wrights dis
played at Manila and Tokyo But il is
conceded on every hand that Gen. Wright
filed two important places in the Orient
with ability. and that his conduct Of Jap
anese questions in the embassy at Tokyo
was remarkably successful
A Conservative Democrat.
There seems TO be no question about the
new Secretary being a Democrat but he
has been a conservative. He was ap-
pointed 20 the Philippines Commission by
the late President Mckinley in 1900. and
classes himself as a gold Democrat.
Within few months he has been quoted
in Tennessee as saying that he intended
to support the Democratic ticket in this
years campaign. On a comparatively re-
| cent occasion. in Tennessee, he was repre-
sented as saying that a riot in the streets
of Memphis was like a Republican con
vention. AS an advocate at the bar. he is
without a peer in his State. While not a
man Of surprising eloquence, he is per-
suasive, and should the President want a
spokesman on any particular theme. his
prospective Secretary will be able 10 meet
all the requirements.
The new Secretary's family Is an in
teresting one. He himself comes from a
distinguished line. His father was chief
justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Mrs. Wright is described as an accom-
has long been famous for its hospitality.
She is the daughter Of Admiral Raphael
Semmes, who commanded the Sumter,
and afterward the famous Alabama, of
the Confederate navy.
Was n Confederate Soldier.
Gen. Wright was a Confederate soldier.
enlsting when he was only seventeen.
They had three sons in the Spanish war.
one of whom, Maj. T. Z. Wright. is a
prominent lawyer in Memphis. Another
OF these sons. Luke f. Wright. jr is 4
resident Of Memphis, as is a daughter.
Mrs. John II. Watkins. wife of a bank
and trust company president. The other
daughter married an attache of the en-
bassy at Tokyo.
The Wrights are not IN the millionaire
class. but have sufficient wealth TO main
tain a good position in Washington.
Wurfuo Hand NJ El,~x-~v