New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-12
STRAUS DEF|ES 7. R.;
ACCEPTS ENDORSEMENT
Saws Promise to independence
League Is More to Him than
Political ExpedlenCy.
NO LEGAL DIFFICULTIES
Committee of Lawyers Unani.
nous in Opinion Progressive
Party Will Not Suffer by
Taking Outside Aid.

oscar S. straus, Progressive candidate
,o- Governor. accepted the Endorsement
=, the independence League yesterday
:, was learned by The Tribune that Mr.
e,.ous accepted the Endorsement In spite
., the fact that Colonel Roosevelt had
urged him to decline,
Mr. straus gave his reasons for &C
osnting the Endorsement of the Indepen-
Aorcs League in a day letter. sent ly
hin, 10 state Chairman Hotchkiss and
made public in this city. The letter
follows
/ have received your several communi-
catinns in regard to my acceptance OIL the
SnSorsement Of the Independence League.
Rsfore replying to the request OF that
SDeei,e whether 1 would accept Its nomina-
ZION If rendered on platform supsten,
TALLY the same as that OF lslo ! conlerre3
nth YOU. and in your letter OF october
you stated that you had talked the mat
Ter over and advised me 10 reply In SUD
stance that If substantially such plat
; form as that of 1910 is adopted this year
+, ! wound not have much difficulty in stand
~ Ieague. provided, Of course, that legal
5Ificulties do not make such action In
superaole.
LAWYERS Committee Unanimous.
Accordingly, on the following day I an
s,ered the kilograms of Herbert n Lin
burg sent me in behalf OF the Inoepein 's
denoe League that ! would accept lts
nomination II rendered on platform sup,
/ stsntIally the same as that OF lNe ana
! that could see no reason why shoulo
not welcome the NOMINATION. OF 'ae
league provided the legal difhcultles 90
not make my acceptance insuperaole: You
F., further stated you felt that We should
submit TO some high class committee OF
lawyers to advise us as TO the lesai
status. This submission was accordingly
made by your appointing Learned Hand.
Judge OF the Circuit Court of the United
States; Robert H. Elder and b. r Elm
stein ] have before me their unanimous
report dated October g. which states IN
spbstauce there Is no such insuperable
lesai objection and concludes after re-
viewing the facts and the legal aspects as
follows.
strictly relevant to the acceptance by
Mr.. Straus of the Endorsement or the In
dependence League.
In view Of this decision and since the
Independence League nominated me. l
feel bound In good faith to my party and
TO the Independence League 10 accept Its
nomination. / have come TO TINS conciu-
sion after the most careful and deliberate
Consideration Of all the phases Of the SUD-
feet and l am sure ] can do no greater
service 10 the cause Of ProgressiVeS than
to abide In letter and in spirit by the
promise / have made regardless OF any
Consideration Of political expectancy.
A man prominent in the third party
said last night that not only did Mr..
Roosevelt personally urge Mr.. Stratus to
decline the offer Of the Independence
League, but he continued TO plead with
the candidate to follow his advice through
Chairman Hotchkiss.
Discussed Subject at Oyster Bay.
The conference held at Oyster Bay on
Sunday between Mr.. Roosevelt and the
Progressive candidate for Governor was
arranged for the purpose of reaching a
decision on this very point. Mr.. KOose-
welt pointed out that II would not be
good politics for the Progressive party to
tie up with the Independence League, as
he had repeatedly said the movement was
the birth of a new party and not affili-
ated with existing parties. lie also
pointed out that the Enlargement included
only three members of the Progressive
state ticket
Mr.. Straus replied that he had given
his word to Herbert r. Lmburg. Of the
league, that he would accept the indorse-
ment II their platform was along the
lines OF that adopted In 1910 and followed
the spirit of the Progressive platform.
The leagues convention, held on Octo-
Der 3, Endorsed straus. and adopted a
platform similar in spirit and in sub
stance TO that Of the Progressive party.
determined fight was made In the con-
vention to have Suizer Endorsed instead OF
straus, and. in fact. the Democrat was
beaten by only a few votes. Some OF
those who worked for Suffers nomination
were close friends OF Mr. Straus. and
were acting on the tip that they could re-
heve him from an embarrassing situation
Il they would see that some one else was
indorsed
When Roosevelt returned from the West
one Of the first things he did was to ar
range the conference with Mr. Strauss
Try as he would, the best he could get
from the Progressive candidate for Gov
ernor was the promise that ne would
delay his answer to the league for few
days. The declaration in his dispatch to
Chairman Hotchkiss that his word was
more TO him than political expediency was
a reference to his decision not to accept
the advice of Progressive leaders to de-
cline the Endorsement.