Evening star., 1926-05-03
OSCAR STRAUS DIES
IN NEW YORK AT b
First Jewish Cabinet Men,
ber Came to U. S. an I'M
migrant From Germany.
By the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
NEW YORK. May &.-Oscar S.
S'raus, former diplomat. cabiHet mem
h"r. philanthropist and f1nancier, died
Al his home. at 1910 Fifth avenue, tfis
morning at the age of 15. He had
been in i'll health for some time, SUIT
fering from complication of diseases.
Coming 10 this country as a jew
ish immig grant, MI. Straus entered
his public career " hen III 1887 he
VAS appointed Minister to Turkey by
President Cleveland. Ills life thence
forth was devoted to public service.
In 1906 he became the first member
of the Hebrew race to enter the
cabinet.
He then was appointed Secretary
OF Commerce by President Roosevelt.
In which capacity he had supervision
of immigrants.
IIOnOred by Five Presidents.
His public service included honors
nv five Presidents Of both major
political affiliations, and in 1912 he
Was nominated Progressive candidate
Tor Governor of New York.
Iis domestic political duties were
varied for IS years by attendance at
1bree,yeal- terms, beginning in 1902.
His other public duties included
membership on the advisory board OF
the commission for relief in Belgium,
nf which Herbert Hoover was chair
man.
He also was a, founder of the Ma
tional Civic Federation and the author
uf a number of books on economics.
Becan Career as Lawyer.
NIr. Straus began his career as
LAWYER in 1873, but forsook this in
1881 to Join a pottery and glassware
importing house under the firm name
Of /. StrauS Sons.
This corporation later became in
terested in department stores and Mr..
Straus became an important factor
in this field before he retired in 1907.
He gave generously 10 many chart
ties.
Mr.. Straus returned two weeks ago
from Florida, where he had spent the
Winter for his health. His end was
entirely peaceful and his wife and
son were with him when he died.
He was an old man." relatives
said, ''and his life just came to an
end
1t was said that funeral. services
would probably be held Wednesday
afternoon from Temple Bethel at 4
East Seventy-Sixth street.
Had Success i'm Turkey.
As American minister to the OF
tonaan empire he was instrumental
in reopening so schaals and protect
ing more than 500 missions from
harm. He brought about a better
understanding and more friendly re-
lations between the United States
and Turkey and promoted the estab-
Hshment of commerce between the
TWO countries.
AS Secretary of Commerce and
I.abor Mr.. Straus. once an inn
migrant himself. had charge OF all
Immigration to this country. One OF
the first things the new Secretary
did upon entering his ofitce was 10
order an investigation of the accomo-
dations for steerage passengers on
ocean steamers.
In a crisis in the Turkish empire
in 1909. Mr. Straus was persuaded by
President Taft to again take up the
duties of representing the United
states in that country, this time as
Ambassador. The next year Mr..
Straus was successful in obtaining
from the Turkish government a de-
cision whereby all foreign religious,
educational and benevolent instttu-
lions were permitted TO hold landed
nronerty. More than 300 American
oreaniza tions We're affected by THIS
decision.
Mr.. Straus was appointed by Gov.
Whitman in 1915 as a member OF the
first division Of the Public Service
Commission of New York State.
Born in Otterberg, Rhenish Ba-
varfa, Germany, December %, 1850,
Mr.. Straus was the son of Lazarus
Straus. an agriculturist, who fled
from his fatherland in 1852 because
of the part he had taken in revo-
luton in 1S4S. Settling in Philadel-
phia for q short time, Lazarus Straus
took his family to Talbotten, Ga,
where most of the boyhood of Oscar
Straus was spent and where he stu
died in CollingsWorth institute.
Later his father moved to New York
city and Oscar Straus continued his
studies at Columbia College. After
practicing law in New York City for
a time. Mr.. Straus and his two
brothers engaged in large depart
ment store enterprises i'll New York
end Brooklyn.
Author Of Several Books.
Mr.. Straus was d student of eco
nOIl1CS, NTOIt oSN CI al bOcAo va SAASAN
subject and was the author OF text
books in American universities.
Among his works are THE Origin of
tha Republican Form of Government
in the United States" Roger VII
Iiams, the Pioneer of Religious LIB
erty," 1.-The Development of Religious
Liberty in the United States" The
United States Doctrine of Citizenship
and THE Reform of Diplomatic Serv-
ice.'
Mr.. StrauS returned to the Near
East again in 1924 on a journey of
conciliation. when, at the request of
the Federated Council Of Churches of
christ in America. he used his good
Offices TO bring harmony into the re-
iations between the FIVE Christian
sects in the Holy Land.
Mr.. Straus was a strong advocate
of the League of Nations. expressing
his convictions on a number Of public
occasions
The approach of old age did not af-
feet his activities, and November rs of
last year, one month before his sew
enty-fisth birthday anniversary, he be-
came chairman OF the New York COM
nlittee of the Sesquicentennial Exposi-
ton at Philadelphia.