The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-11-25
LUKE {. WRIGHT
TAKEN BY DEATH
SECRETARY OF WAR DURING
ROOSEVELT ADMINISTRATION.
CONDOLENCES ARE MANY
Memphis Most Distinguished Citizen
Died After Illness Covering Sew.
erai Months-Had Gained
Notable Place in Country.

Memphis.-The death of Gen. Luke
E. Wright, former secretary of war,
first ambassador to Japan, governor Of
the Philippines and Memphis most
distinguished citizen, brought a steady
flow Of messages of sympathy and con-
dolence to the widow at the Wright
family home on jefferson avenue
Friends of the general in all walks of
life, people whom he had known in his
long and useful career as lawyer, SOL
ldier and statesman, wired from all
parts of America and the Philippines,
expressing their sorrow at his death,
which occurred recently at his home,
after months illness.
Funeral services were held in St.
Peters Catholic church. The Rev. j.
L. Pastorelli, o. p, officiated. He was
assisted by the Rev. Albert O'Brien, o.
p, the Rev. Innocent Damiani, o. p,
and the Rev. William Marchant, o. P.
Special music was rendered by St. Pc
ter's choir and Mrs. G. P. ]. Mooney
was the soloist.
A delegation from the Memphis Bar
Association attended the funeral in a
, body. The general was for many years
a leader in the local legal profession.
Secretary of War Weeks, in a gen.
eral order issued to the army, eulo-
gized the life of General Wright. AS
q mark of respect to his memory, the
flags in all military posts were dis
! played at half mast. 1t was singular
to note that the general order to the
army was signed by none other than
General John ]. Pershing, who was
General Wright's aid in Tokyo, when
he was Americas first ambassador to
Japan.
While tribute was being paid by men
in high positions in Washington, New
York and other places, Gen. Wrights
friends in Memphis, many of whom
had known him since he began his
career as a lawyer a half century ago,
called at the home to extend personal
sympathy to his family. The recep-
ton hall was filled with flowers. The
burden of sorrow was somewhat light
ened when expressions Of love and es-
TEEN came trickling into Mrs. Wrights
apartment from the four corners OF
the earth.
Chief Justice William Howard Taft
wired the following to Mrs. Wright
from Washington MRS. Taft and
wish to express to you our deepest
sympathy in your great sorrow. A
great and good man who deserved well
of the state has gone to his rest after
q most honorable and useful career"
A. Cameron Forbes, former govern
or general of the Philippines, wired
message of sympathy. Mrs. Edith
| Cofbin, widow of Gen. H. c. Corbin of
the Philippines, wired.
General Leonard Wood, governor
general of the Philippines, sent the
following cablegram from Manila:
deepest sympathy" He was a close
friend of General Wright. Newton w.
Gilbert, ALSO chief executive for the
United States In the Philippines, said
in his message, "He was man among
men,"
j. M. Dickinson, who succeeded Gen.
! Wright as secretary of war, in his
message to Mrs. Wright, expressed
himself as follows: "An able lawyer,
an upright and patriotic citizen, whose
distinguished career reflected great
honor upon Tennessee and our entire
country"
Hundreds of other kilograms were
received from all parts of the country.