Edward Herbert Wright

After Secretary Isaac N. Pearson's term ended, Wright left his position to work in the Chicago city clerk’s office for two years.

However, after he failed to be re-elected in 1900, Wright spent the next fifteen years confined largely to activism for racial equality in Republican county committee meetings.

After Thompson's election, he rewarded Wright with the position of assistant corporation counsel with a salary higher than any other African-American appointee.

Wright gained increased political power when he was elected Republican committeeman of the Second Ward, a position which allowed him to nominate African-American state senators, state representatives and municipal judges and send delegates to Republican conventions.

Wright's career political continued until he and Thompson, who ran again for mayor in 1927, had a falling out over the nomination of a First Ward Republican committeeman.