The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-09-07
STRAUS NEVER A PARTY MAN.
First jew In the Cabinct-Thrir-
Envoy 10 Turkc!.


Oscar Solomon Straus, the first J.w -
be a member of the Presidents Cabiny..
was born in Germany on December -.
1850. He was the third son of l.azorta
Straus. who was the founder in New Norx
, Of the firm of l.. Straus 4 Sons impoi,,,r,
of pottery and glassware.
MIR. Strauss father took part in the
revolution of lsls, meeting at that time
Carl Schurz and beginning a friendship
that lasted until hi death. On account
of the part he had taken in the revolution
Lazarus Straus was driven from Germany
He came to this country and first settled
in Philadelphia, where he found many
small merchants who had been employed
, on his farm in Bavaria. He soon moved
South. settling in 1854 in Talbotton. Ga.
where he kept store. Afterward he
moved to Columbus. and most of Oscar
Strauss boyhood was spent in Georgia.
He received his early education from a
tutor and at the Colingsworth Institute.
| In 1865 Lazarus Straus came to New
York. He had lost all of his money during
4 he war and after having pa id his credl-
tors he began all over again as poor
! man in a small crockery store in Chambers
street. Soon after his father came to
New York Oscar Straus entered the Co.
! lumbia Grammar School TO prepare for
| Columbia University, which he entered
TWO years later. He was graduated from
Columbia fifth in class of which Stuyve-
sant Fish and Brander Matthews were
members.
Mr.. Straus and Prof. Matthews were
rivals for the place Of class poet and Mr.,
Straus won out. During his academic
course Mr.. Straus supported himself by
writing for the newspapers. He entered
the Columbia law school. from which he
was graduated in 1873. While in the law
school he was clerk in the law Office OF
Charles O'Connor. the prosecutor of
the Tweed ring.
MIR. Straus began the practice of Law
with James 4, Hudson under the firm
name Of Hudson 4 Straus. Later the
firm became Sterne. Straus Thompson
1t was counsel for the Chamber of Com
merce and the Board Of Trade and was
prominent i'll corporation practice.
In 1850 MIR. Strauss health broke down
from overwork and he retired from the
law, After resting for some months he
joined his fathers firm.
| Mr.. Straus was twice appointed Min
lister to Turkey and third appointment
came to him as Ambassador when the
Turkish mission was elevated to its pres
ent rank of embassy. In 1857 he was
appointed to Constantinopie by President
Cleveland. He served two years and his
mission was remarkably successful. In
1898 President Mckinley sent him back to
Turkey as Minister and he remained there
until 1901, when he resigned.
MIR. Straus was made Secretary OF Com
merce and Labor in President Roose-
vet's Cabinet in 1908 and served until
the accession of President Taft. Mr..
Taft asked him TO accept again the Turkish
mission and he went once more to Con
stantinople. this time as Ambassador,
He resigned in the fall OF 1910, giving as
his reason that he was tired OF the dip
lomatic service and wished to resume his
residence in this country.
Mr. Straus has never been -partv
man" He was secretary of the Citizen
Committee that helped elect William Il,
Grace Mayor, and he played an importau'
part in the Merchants and Business M-ns
Organization which supported the Demo
he supported Mckinley and in 1904 he va,
a strong hacker of Col. Roosevelt.