New-York tribune., 1912-03-05
ROOSEVELT FIRST, HE SAYS
Straus Declares T. R, Originated
Business Conferences y

oscar s. Straus, who was Secretary OF
the Department Of Commerce and Labor IN
the Cabinet Of President Roosevelt, walked
into Roosevelt headquarters. on the twenty
fourth floor Of the Metropolitan Tower yes
terday afternoon, passing through scores ot
rotaries public who were waiting in the
hall TO get a chance to earn 25 cents apiece
for names on the Roosevelt petitions. The
entire office staff was busy getting out the
petitions, but Mr.. Straus had talk win
Judge Duell, chairman Of the committee,
after which statement was issued from
Mr. Straus, in which he said Mr.. Roosevelt
had originated the idea Of having the busi-
ness men Get in touch with the government
for counsel as 10 the administration OF laws
affecting business. Mr. Straus said. in part
The morning papers report that President
Taft has taken the initiative in move
ment to bring the business men OF the coun-
try in touch with the government Tor adVice
end counsel in tho administration OF laws
and the enactment OF new statutes, tna'
under the direction Of the President me
Secretary of Commerce and LABOR mas
called a convention Of delegates from com
mercial organizations In all parts OF tne
country. 10 meet in Washington Aprl 10
for discussion and TO plan an orGanlZauoh
This is certainly q move IN the rlght ol'
rsction and OF great value 10 the govern
ment and TO the commercial men OF lh5
country. But the public and the com
lnercial bodies will remember that not onl'
was the initiative in this important moE Z
Oent taken by President Roosevelt, Du'
also under his inspiration. advice ana o.
rection While ] was Secretary OF Com
~ rec and Labor, this movement OF prlhg
ing together the commercial bodies OF TN,
country into relationship with the various
departments Of the government having 1
do with Congress was not only lhiuat te.
Eut also was organized, and in December
1905. some sixty 0f the leading commel Ga
bodies Of the country sent delegates 70
Washinlon, and in the office or the sec
i'ameiv the National Council OF Commerce
The first annual meeting was held In jar
uary, 1909. and the scope or >the counci
was enlarged and n central bureau tstab
Usbed in WASHINGTON. With sthe change o'
administration this National Council O.
Commerce. the ORGANIZATION II when haf
been initiated and perfected Inder the "a q,
NOT receive the encoura cement OF the new
administration, and therefore it fell into
desuetude.
Nj. Straus said he was going to Man
chester n r. to open ND the campaign
Of the Progressives there en- Friday night
1t is possible that former Senator Bever"
idge. Of Indiana, may speak at the sans
meeting.
Other callers at the Roosevelt headquar-
ters yesterday were former Postmaster
General Wynne and John Bass, brother OF
Governor Bass of New Hampshire.
william NJ. Bennett, former Assembly
man from the 18th Assembly District who
was defeated for Congress two years ago
has been named as chairman of the ex-
ecutive committee of the Roosevelt com
naittee Of the city Of New York, and took
up his work yesterday afternoon.
Judge Deuel. said that the dispatches in
the morning papers from Oklahoma did moi
state the situation out there as he had got
II from Senator Dixon, chairman Of The
National Roosevelt Committee.
I'm Oklahoma" he said, there are 50
delegates to the state convention, and We
have heard from forty-seven counties. They
give 2s3 delegates for Roosevelt 10 seventy
scr President Taft According to thest
figures. we need only eight more delegates
to have a majority of the state conyention
There are twenty-seYen counties yet to bt
heard from.
Governor Oddie Of Nevada sent word that
the entire delegation from that state would
be for Roosevelt in the national convention
Governor Glasscock of West Virginia re-
ported that a Roosevelt organization had
been completed there, with ex-GoVernol
Dawson as chairman.
Judge Deuel. said last night that the
Roosevelt committee had completed its pc
titions for independent designations for ma
tional delegates in the 18th, nth and 18th
Congress districts, and that the petitions
in the 22d and 23d districts would be com
pleted to-day
Just what districts in Kings County
would be chosen for independent tickets
Judge Duel said had not been decided
This wss to be left largely to ControlleI
Prendergast who was in Lakewood yester'
day. An independent ticket will be run In
the Richmond County district.