The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-01-03
Oscar Solomon Straus.


The American, or Know-Nothing
party, urging a Government con-
Quoted by native citizens only, se-
cret In its operations and formidable
was then strong In the North, and
Straus was counseled to go South.
Two or three Wholesale merchants,
also Jews. promising to sell goods to
him on credit, he settled in Talbot
tom, Ga, In 1854. Afterward he
moved to Columbus, Ga.
Oscar S. Straus spent most OF his
boyhood in Georgia. At the age of
ten he was placed in care of pri-
vate tutor by his father, and then
was sent to Collingsworth Institute.
In 1865 Lazarus Straus came to New
York. The war had forced him to the
wall. He paid off all his creditors,
who were New Workers, and then
again poor man. opened crockery
store In Chambers street. The bust
ness grew and flourished.
Oscar, following his fathers belief
In the value of an education, was de-
sirous of preparing for college soon
after the arrival Of the family in New
York. He entered Columbia Gram
mar School and attended It for two
years, and then entered Columbia
College. Mr.. Straus supported him
self while In college by writing for
the newspapers. He was graduated
from the Columbia Law School in
1873. While a student in this school
he was clerk In the law firm of
Charles O'Conor. the prosecutor of
the Tweed ring.
Mr.. Straus was appointed Minis
ter to Turkey in 1887 by President
Cleveland to succeed the late S. s.
Cox His mission to that country was
remarkably successful. His knowl-
edge of international law brought
him into intimate relations with the
Porte, and this enabled him to OBJ
tain great concessions for the Amer
lean mission schools. He obtained
letter from the Sultan which acted
as charter, and under this fifty
schools that had been closed for years
were opened, and all the $50 mis-
sions were amply protected.
In Europe Mr.. Straus met Baron
de Hirsch. who conferred with him
relative to the establishment OF the
Baron de Hrsch fund for the relief
of immigrants. Mr.. Straus agreed to
be trustee Of the fund. In 1889 he
returned to America. He was reap
pointed to the office of Minister to
Turkey in 1897 by President Nc
Kinley and retained 1t for three
years. In 1902 President Roosevelt
appointed him to the vacancy in the
Permanent Court Of Arbitration at
The Hague, caused by the death Of
ex-President Harrison.
Mr.. Straus has all his life been
deep student of history and interna-
tional law and Is the author of nu-
merous publications dealing with
these subjects. In 1885 he published
"The Origin of the Republican Form
of Government in the United States"
He is also the author of "A Life of
Roger Williams" and THE Develop
ment of Religious Liberty in the
United States" treatise on THE
Reform of the Diplomatic Service"
came from his pen about the time
when the Venezuelan controversy
started.
Mr.. Straus is president of the New
York Board of Trade and Transpor-
tation and Of the National Primary
League, vice-president of the Ma
tional Civic Federation and mem
ber of the International Law Asso-
citation. He is a director Of the He
brew Orphan Asylum and OF several
other sectarian and -sectarian in
stitutions. He was one of the foun-
ders of the Young Mems Hebrew
Association, and was for years con
nectsd with the DeafMute Institute