Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-17

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Mr.. Straus to go back to Constantinople
but he again refused.
offered Turkish Mission Fourth Time.
Having already been sought by two sue
cessive Presidents, Mr. Straus was to be
called upon counselor by the third.
Shortly after the outbreak of the war with
Spain President Mckinley sent for him and
sought his advice upon the Philippine situa-
ton 1t is understood that Mr. Straus adj
vised the withdrawal of Dewey, but his
vast fund of information as to oriental poll
tics and diplomacy so impressed the Presi-
dent that after the interview had concluded
he assured Mr.. Straus that he would shortly
need his services again. Mr.. Stratus regard
ed this merely as an intimation that he
would be called to Washington for SINH
lar consultation. He was greatly surprised,
a few weeks later to receive a dispatch
from the White House conveying the fourth
request of President-two from a demo-
cratic, two from republican executives
that he accept the mission to Constantine
pie. In reply to this he wired Mr. Mckin-
ley:
your request that should accept the
post of minister to Turkey, with which you
honor me, regard as a command and deem
1t my patriotic duty to you and to the coun-
try to accept.
He continued his forceful work in Tur-
key and did not hesitate to prod the Of
ficials of the sublime porte when they re-
sorted to their characteristic tactics Of
procrastination. During the festival Of
Bairam, in 1899, the Turks took national
holiday and among the other public build
ings which they closed was the custom
house. A ship bearing cargo of American
flour tried in vain to clear it, but the Turk
ish officials refused to worry about such a
material consideration as the ship owners
lncc moi Nd MryCc rlv,nnr -
conclude in peace the great ceremony of
the pilgrimage to Mecca? Was not every
householder commanded to sacrifice sheep
and divide the flesh with his household, his
relatives and the poor? Mr.. Stratus. in spite
OF great difficulties, had the vessel cleared
without delay.
An incident of Emperor Williams visit to
Constantinople, in 1898, was his mistaking
Mrs. Straus for the wife of one Of the Eu-
ropean ambassadors, also present at an en-
tertainment in the sultan's palace.
II know your queen very WELL" the kaiser
assured the surprised American woman. e.,
II presume, sir, that you mean Mrs. Nc
Kinley," she replied. The kaiser afterward
referred laughingly to his faux pas.
Mr.. Straus gained great influence with the
sultan, and he used this to help reconcile
the Mohammedan inhabitants Of the Sulu
archipelago to recognition of our suze-
rainty.
Brought Capital and Labor Together.
Mr. Straus retired from his mission in
1900 and the next year was made president
of the national conference of capital and
labor. Since 1891 he had been vice pres
ident of the National Civic Federation and
the noteworthy conference under its aus
pices brought capital and labor together in
New York for a peaceable settlement of
their disputes. 1t included labor leaders,
great employers, prominent politicians and
eminent clergymen who sat face to face
and We'd with one another in the express
sion of sensible views. While Oscar Straus
held the gavel they succeeded in appoint
ing a permanent committee of thirty-six
members organized to settle disputes and
prevent strikes. This included such labor
leaders as Mitchell and Gompers and such
men as Grover Cleveland, Chas. j. Bona
parte. Chas. NJ Schwab and John D. Rock
efeller. jr. Mr.. Straus is still member of
this permanent board to settle labor dis
putes." He has also been appointed on
commissions to investigate the New York
public schools and to improve the condi-
ton of the insane, has been president of
the National Primary League and of the
American Social Science Association. He is
also president of the New York board of
trade and transportation.
Highest Diplomatic Honor.
The highest diplomatic distinction which
can be conferred by a nation upon its pub
lcists was conferred upon Mr. Stratus by
President Roosevelt in 1902. He was ap-
pointed to succeed Benjamin Harrison as a
member of the permanent court of arbitra-
ton at The Hague
He is scholar as we'll as a publicist and
civic reformer. He has been a lecturer at
Yale and Harvard for some years and lee
lures annually upon international law be-
fore the naval war college at Annapolis
He has received the degree of L. H. d. from
Brown University; of LID. from Wash
ington and Lee. Columbia and the Univer-
Ha ic
number of works devoted to history and
reforms. notably THE Origin of the Repub
iican Form Of Government in the United
States, and Roger Williams the Pioneer
of Religious Liberty He was the first
president of the Jewish Historical Society
and Is member of the International Law
Association
Mr.. Straus is possessed of a wisdom
which sometimes seems to be almost super
human" the writer was told the other day
by close friend of the cabinet member
erect indeed, such wisdom In man now
not yet fifty-six years old seems at times
well-nigh uncanny. When he makes a pre-
diction / feel that / can count on its full
fillment when my own judgment is to the
consider such prediction from any other
man on earth"
A Palmer and Buckner Democrat.
Mr.. Straus was a Palmer and Buckner
democrat in 1896. He enters the cabinet by
the same political road as did Paul Nor
ton While he was stamping New York in
favor of Hughes his brother Nathan was
being quoted in interviews as favoring
Hearst.
Mrs. Straus was Miss Sarah Lavenberg
of New York. They have two daughters
both married. and son of about fourteen,
whom Mr.. Straus named Roger Williams
after 1.-The pioneer of religious liberty" In
addition TO their town house. at No. 8 West
18th street. New York, they usually MAIN
tain a summer home at Elberon. y. J. Per-