The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-10
OSCAR S.STRAUS
NAMEDTOTAKE
M'CALL'SPLACE
Whitman Makes Progress
sive Head of Public
Service Board.
SHREWD POLITICS
FOR 1916 IS SEEN

ALBANY. Dec. s--Oscar $. Straus Of
New York. who was the Bull Moose can-
didate for Governor I'm 1912. was named
by Gov. Whitman to-day to succeed
Judge Edward T.. Mccall az member
and chairman of the public Service Com
mission for the First district. Mr.. straus
has accepted the appointment and will
begin his new duties week from next
Monday.
The Governor made 1t plain that Mr..
Straus. who will be as years old on De-
cember 20. was reluctant to accept the
appointment. Since Tuesday morning.
the day after the announcement OF judge
McCalls removal. the Governor mad been
trying to get Mr. Straus to accept but
he had declined To consider 1t until 10
o clock this morning. At that time Gov.
Whitman talked with him over the tele-
phone and finally persuaded him.
II was suggested IN political circles
here that the appointment would not
prove accepta hle 20 the organization Re-
publicans, hut Gov. whitman expressed
the belief that the organization would
indorse the apppintment when II comes
befor, the state Senate for confirmation
in January.
Does the apr,-intment Of Mr. Straus
mean that you are breaking away from
the Republican orgarization9" was .
question put to the Governor.
Seeking Best Man.
ut means nothing more than that I
am making sincere effort To get the
very best men possible regardless or
whether they are indorsed by the or
IA nization or not. N, not see how my
appointment OF Ordway. Duney, Pratt
and the rest can show anything different
II the Republican organization puts up
"a good man ] snail sccept him. but !
do not propose to be bound by afE-
suggestions the organization may make.
Tn. organization certainly had no part
In the appointment of Mr.. Straus, but
I have no doubt IL will indorse the ap-
pointment'
The appointment. OF Mr. Straus Is taken
as AN indication that Gov. Whitman has
Increased hopes that with Charles f..
hughes and Elihu Root out OF the way
he has the best chance Of anv In the
field to obtain the Republican nomina-
ton for President
Gov Whitmans friends say that there
l. no doubt OF his denomination and re-
Tn" only doubt that exists In their mind
Is over the Presidency. Gov. Whitman
has made il plain that he Is not a cam
didate flr Nice-President and has en-
phatically told the friends II would be
an easy JOB TO refuse the Nice-Presi-
d.ncy, even II the convention insisted
upon nominating him. He has made up
his mind either that he shall be Gov
ernor again or President.
New Impetus 20 Hopes.
That his Presidential hopes have re-
! ceivcd new impetus since Charles T..
| Hughes took his name OF the Nebraska
primary ballot and IN. people defeated
the ncw Constitution is made plain by
! his appontment OF Mr. Straus.
Aside from tho politics Of tho situa-
| tiou NJ. strauss appointment Is looked
upon as one that will mean much to the
| business interests OF New York city and
| one that will put the Public Service Com
| mission on the high plane designed for
| IL by former Governor Hughes
Commissioner Hayward made a hur-
ried trip to Albany yesterday and had
IA talk with Gov. Whitman AT the Ex-
| ccu,ive Mansion early last night. and
| he was then told cf the Governors Of
/ fer OF the Mccall vacancy to Mr.. Straus.
/ The Straus appointment is also taken
I as an indication that no mere politicians
/ hut equally high class men will be ap-
| pointed to SUCCEED Commissioners Cram
| and Wood and perhaps Commissioner
| Williams.